Taking Back Sunday

Early years (1999–2002)[edit]

Guitarist Eddie Reyes, who had played in the Movielife, Mind Over Matter and Inside, and guitarist Jesse Lacey of the Rookie Lot founded Taking Back Sunday in Amityville, New York in November 1999.^[3][4] The band's name was taken from a song by Long Island band The Waiting Process.^[5][6] Lacey moved to bass with the addition of guitarist John Nolan. The group also included vocalist Antonio Longo of One True Thing^[3] and drummer Steven DeJoseph.^[7] At a party, Nolan reportedly romanced Lacey's girlfriend, after which Lacey left the band.^{[8][nb 1]} Lacey formed Brand New a year later.^[10] Nolan contacted Adam Lazzara to fill in on bass, which resulted in Lazzara moving from North Carolina to New York.^[3] Lazzara had met the band when they played a show near his hometown in North Carolina.^{[4][nb 2]}


DeJoseph was unable to tour extensively because of personal issues and was waiting until the band had another drummer before leaving the group.^[12] Mark O'Connell, a friend of Reyes, heard about the opening and joined the group.^[13] After recording Taking Back Sunday's self-titled EP, Longo left the band and eventually played with The Prizefighter and the Mirror.^[10] In December 2000, Lazzara switched from bass to lead vocals.^[14] He never thought he would become the group's singer: "I remember getting into [Reyes'] Windstar with that [EP] and just driving around singing those songs, just to make myself actually do it."^[15] O'Connell suggested that the group needed a bassist, and brought in Shaun Cooper.^[15] Lazzara spoke of his initial thoughts on Cooper's talent in an interview with AP magazine, saying with Cooper it was "the best bass playing I'd ever seen in my life. I was like, "Oh my God, people can do that?'"^[15] In February 2001, Taking Back Sunday released a five-track demo before touring for a year.^[16][14]


While performing as an unsigned band, they received contract offers from labels that ultimately amounted to nothing.^[17][16] These included Triple Crown Records, who was apprehensive as they had just signed Brand New, and Drive-Thru Records' offer resulted from co-owner Richard Reines having mistaken Nolan for Lacey. Eventually, a friend of the band shared a demo with Victory Records sales and A&R representative Angel Juarbe.^[12] Jurabe then sent a copy to Victory founder Tony Brummel, who asked to see a live performance.^[12] Within two weeks of seeing them live, a contract was written up, and the band signed to Victory in December 2001.^[14][18]