Patrick Stump was on top of the world. At 24 Stump's pop punk outfit, Fall Out Boy already had two platinum records, a slew of hit songs on the modern rock circuit, and an ever-growing fan base. He had also lent his hand to such successful commercial bands as Cobra Starship and Gym Class Heroes in producing and co-writing tracks. What could have gone wrong? In 2009 the group disbanded in pursuit of other musical ventures, Stump's being an indulgent solo album. Soul Punk was released in 2011 along with a new, thinner Stump. The album truly was a solo effort as the former drummer turned frontman manned all instrumentation and production tasks. The project allowed Stump to flex his ethnomusicologist skills as he sampled from a variety of different genres and influences (Stump is most notably a Michael Jackson fanatic). The expected result would be an overwhelming support from both the music community and Stump's acquired fan base, but it seems the outcome was quite the opposite. Though Soul Punk initially received positive reviews, the album only went on to sell 23,000 copies in the United States and ultimately prompted Stump to post to his blog an emotional letter in which at one point he quips, "It's tempting to say I won't ever play/tour/record again..." In the letter the refined singer proceeds to explain the amount of negative reception he's experienced around Fall Out Boy's last album and the solo effort, particularly fans denouncing his change in musical direction and stating a clear preference towards the singer when he was "fat."
So who is to blame for the demise of Stump's popularity amongst fans. An evermore timid and particular audience vehemently opposes evolution in an artist. This is a clear sign about the current state of the music industry. It's not about the music. It is not about the art. It is about what sells. In the beginning, Stump and Fall Out Boy produced a certain aesthetic that captivated fans. That singular sound fit cookie cutter mold of what pop music was at the moment, and as the band began to evolve, their pop/rock constituency did not. Stump's case is proof that fame does not guarantee longevity and though he poured his heart and soul into Soul Punk it seemed his fifteen minutes were up...
Or were they? A month ago Fall Out Boy surprised everyone as they announced a new album, released lead single "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark," and plotted an North American tour to be played in moderately small venues. The single already receives consistent airplay on modern rock stations and much of the tour sold out immediately. Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz even went so far as to admit, "We didn't think anyone would care." Goes to show the power of a moniker. On the success of Fall Out Boy's upcoming release? Time will tell.
So who is to blame for the demise of Stump's popularity amongst fans. An evermore timid and particular audience vehemently opposes evolution in an artist. This is a clear sign about the current state of the music industry. It's not about the music. It is not about the art. It is about what sells. In the beginning, Stump and Fall Out Boy produced a certain aesthetic that captivated fans. That singular sound fit cookie cutter mold of what pop music was at the moment, and as the band began to evolve, their pop/rock constituency did not. Stump's case is proof that fame does not guarantee longevity and though he poured his heart and soul into Soul Punk it seemed his fifteen minutes were up...
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