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In January, Fall Out Boy announced their eighth studio album and dropped its lead single and accompanying video. Guitarist Joe Trohman didn’t appear in the video at all — the three other band members were there with a guitarist in a raccoon suit, but it didn’t seem that odd at first because there were a lot of llamas hanging around with their seventh album. But, Joe quickly announced that he was stepping back from the band to focus on his mental health. He didn’t put a timeline on it, but apparently he’s feeling better! Joe announced via Instagram that he’s officially back, thanking fans and the guitar tech who filled in for him. Joe will be back touring with Fall Out Boy this summer.
Fall Out Boy guitarist and founding member Joe Trohman has returned to the band after taking a several-month hiatus from the band to focus on his mental health. The guitarist announced his return on social media on Monday.
“Hey everyone, I’m officially back!,” he wrote. “I want to thank everyone for the love and support while I took some time away to focus on my brain and get healthy for my family, my friends and myself.”
He also thanked Ben Young, the band’s longtime guitar tech, who filled in for him during the hiatus. Trohman announced his mental-health break in January, shortly after the band announced its eighth album, “So Much (for) Stardust,” and a new label deal with Fueled by Ramen/ Elektra Records.
“I also want to thank Ben Young for stepping up and filling in on the shows I missed – he is a true gentleman and a scholar,” he added. “I’m stoked to be back in action and I can’t wait to see everyone on tour this summer!”
The band begins a North America tour with Bring Me the Horizon in support in its home town of Chicago on June 21 and before heading over to Japan and Europe for headlining dates later in the year.
In his announcement back in January, Trohman wrote, “Neil Young once howled that it’s better to burn out than to fade away. But I can tell you unequivocally that burning out is dreadful. Without divulging all the details, I must disclose that my mental health has rapidly deteriorated over the past several years.
“So, to avoid fading away and never returning, I will be taking a break from work which regrettably includes stepping away from Fall Out Boy for a spell. It pains me to make this decision, especially when we are releasing a new album that fills me with great pride (the sin I’m most proud of).”
I wrote at the time of Joe’s first announcement that I believed him when he said he’d be back because FOB is typically pretty honest with their fans, including when they took a hiatus back in 2009. But Joe is back more quickly than I thought he’d be. Despite stepping away, he was still a little involved with the promo and appeared briefly in the second and third videos they released from the new album. And he popped up to play guitar in at least one of their recent appearance. I’m really glad Joe will be back in time for the tour because it bodes well for him and selfishly because I have tickets to the New York show. It wasn’t quite the same without him; he and Pete balance each other out so well while they perform. It’s really good that he prioritized his mental health and was able to come back. By Patrick’s account, this is the guitar-heavy FOB album that Joe has been advocating for for years and he was deeply involved in its production so it makes sense that he wouldn’t want to miss the tour. I’m glad Joe is doing well and I’m glad the band’s back together for what’s sure to be a great summer tour.
This is so important. I’m beyond grateful to these public figures in different arenas speaking openly about mental health. Wishing Joe, his family, and the rest of the band all good things.
So glad he is doing better and is feeling ready to come back. Speaking openly about his mental health and caring for it will hopefully encourage fans to do the same.
I have tickets to see FOB in July and absolutely cannot wait. Have had Love From the Other Side on repeat since it came out. Takes me back to when their first album came out when I was in college 20(!!) years ago.
I think I play The Kintsugi Kid at least once per day. So Much for Stardust is a really great album, and reminds me of why I fell in love with this band.
Yah, so excited!!!
I also applaud this outlook from a musician. How many incredibly talented people would have been with us longer if they had been able to step away from the noise for awhile and take some time to heal and recenter, instead of an endless self destructive cycle of giving everything and then trying to replenish yourself with empty vices?
So glad Joe is keeping on keeping on. He’s given so much to fans over the years
It’s wonderful that he was able to do this. I’m very glad that his band and management all clearly listened to him and supported his decision. I’d imagine that might have helped him feel like he could start his healing as soon as he stepped back, which I’m sure isn’t the case for so many artists, and people in general.
Good for him for making his mental health a priority (and that he’s rich enough to take a break). Just wondering, in a regular job, can you take off time for mental health maintenance? And is there a guarantee they’d take you back (bc of the stigma) and not fire you after you did come back?
💕