How a personal dispute and a mistaken identity fueled an emo boom
In short: In the early 2000s, Taking Back Sunday became a cornerstone of the emo movement. Their rise was marked by a highly publicized feud with Brand New, a near-breakup caused by internal friction, and a record label offer that was based entirely on a case of mistaken identity.
Formed in Amityville, New York, in November 1999 by Eddie Reyes and Jesse Lacey, the band's early trajectory was defined by constant instability. Lacey left the group shortly after its inception following a personal incident with guitarist John Nolan, eventually forming the band Brand New. This departure sparked a long-standing feud between the two groups. The band's early recruitment was equally chaotic; Adam Lazzara joined after meeting the band during a show in North Carolina, and drummer Mark O'Connell was brought in to replace Steven DeJoseph.
The band's path to success was nearly derailed by administrative errors. Before signing with Victory Records in December 2001, the group received a contract offer from Drive-Thru Records because co-owner Richard Reines had mistaken John Nolan for Jesse Lacey. While they eventually found success with their debut, Tell All Your Friends, internal tensions remained high. In 2003, Nolan and bassist Shaun Cooper left the band—officially citing exhaustion—following a period of intense fighting and personal conflicts involving Lazzara.
Despite these fractures, the band achieved significant commercial milestones. Their 2004 album, Where You Want to Be, reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and became one of the best-selling independent rock albums of its time, selling 634,000 copies by June 2005. By 2006, they had transitioned to the major label Warner Bros. Records with the release of Louder Now, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 900,000 copies, driven by the hit single "MakeDamnSure".
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Taking Back Sunday
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-taking-back-sunday.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
