Joe Trohman
He co-founded Fall Out Boy, a band that turned pop-punk into a stadium-filling, chart-topping cultural force.
Born 1984 (age 42)·American guitarist·Birthday: September 1·Millennials
Biography
Joe Trohman didn't just join a band; he helped build an empire from a Chicago basement. In 2001, alongside bassist Pete Wentz, he formed Fall Out Boy as a creative escape from the local hardcore scene, a decision that would reshape the sound of a generation. As the band's lead guitarist, his riffs—often a blend of melodic urgency and raw power—provided the backbone for anthems that dominated radio and defined mid-2000s youth culture. Beyond the pop-punk phenomenon, Trohman showcased a different musical muscle as a founding member of the heavy metal side-project The Damned Things, proving his artistic range wasn't confined to one genre. His journey, marked by both massive commercial success and periods of personal struggle, reflects the complex reality of life at the center of a musical hurricane.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Joe was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Joe Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Joe's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-founded the multi-platinum rock band Fall Out Boy in 2001.
- Played guitar on four US Billboard 200 number-one albums with Fall Out Boy.
- Is a founding member and lead guitarist of the heavy metal supergroup The Damned Things.
- Co-wrote numerous platinum and multi-platinum singles in the US and internationally.
Did You Know?
He is a self-described comic book and horror movie enthusiast.
Trohman temporarily stepped away from Fall Out Boy in 2023 to focus on his mental health.
He has cited bands like Anthrax and Metallica as major influences alongside punk acts.
He made a cameo appearance in the 2006 film 'John Tucker Must Die'.
“I think the best art comes from a place of discomfort.”
