William Beckett (singer)
William Beckett (born February 11, 1985) is an American musician who is the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the Chicago-based rock band The Academy Is..., who signed to Atlantic Records/Fueled by Ramen/Decaydance Records. While still in high school in 2003, Beckett and guitarist Mike Carden came together from rival bands in Chicago to form The Academy Is...[1] In addition to founding the band, Beckett and Carden are credited as the primary songwriters.[2] A third core member of the band was Adam T. Siska, Beckett's classmate and friend from Barrington High School.[3]
For other people named William Beckett, see William Beckett (disambiguation).
William Beckett
February 11, 1985
Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Barrington, Illinois, U.S.
Singer, songwriter, musician
Vocals, piano, guitar
2003–present
- The Academy Is... (2005–2011, 2015, 2022–present)
Remember Maine
Christine Bandy (married 2007–present)
In 2007, Alex Davies from the BBC described Beckett as a mix of Adam Lazzara and Prince, labeling him "utterly captivating".[4]
The Academy Is... reunited at Riot Fest 2015 in the fall of 2015 in Chicago.[3] Although Beckett had said the occasion would serve as a "farewell" show,[5] the band later had an additional final tour later in the year.
Side projects[edit]
William Beckett makes a cameo in Fall Out Boy's music video for the song "A Little Less Sixteen Candles, a Little More "Touch Me"" as the lead vampire and in "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" video as the same vampire. He also appears in the music video for "Bring It (Snakes on a Plane)" by Cobra Starship, following his vocal appearance in the song.
According to Us Magazine, he is co-authoring a book with Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz,[20] who had originally recommended the band to label Fueled by Ramen.[21]
On April 16, 2009, Beckett posted the first chapter of the book he hopes to have published, entitled The Folding.[22]
Beckett announced via his blog on July 12, 2010 (the post has now been deleted and replaced with an update post)[23] that he would be starring in a short film based on Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher.
Beckett wrote the theme song for John Scalzi's novel, Lock In, released on August 28, 2014.
Personal life[edit]
In a November 2009 interview with Alternative Press, Beckett confirmed that he has a child.[24]
He has been married to Christine Bandy since May 2007.[25]
Beckett performed a DJ set at Emo Nite Day, a festival hosted by Emo Nite, in Los Angeles in December 2017.[26]