Pete Wentz, born as Peter Lewis Kingston Wentz III on June 5, 1979, in Wilmette, Illinois, is the primary lyricist of the Chicago-based pop-punk band, Fall Out Boy. He is the oldest of three children, still lives with his parents, and unlike a lot of punk stars, doesn’t drink, smoke, or do drugs.

Wentz grew up in the Chicago suburb and attended New Trier Township High School and North Shore Country Day School where he played soccer. After graduating from high school in 1997, Wentz went to DePaul University where he studied political science. He didn’t finish his degree but instead chose to drop out one semester shy of graduation in order to focus on his music.

While in school he was heavily involved in the hardcore punk scene and played in several bands before Fall Out Boy. Some of the bands Wentz played in include Firstborn, Arma Angelus, 7 Angels of the Apocalypse / Culture of Violence, Extinction, Forever Ended Today, and Yellow Road Priest.

In 2001 he co-founded Fall Out Boy with Joe Trohman, whom he grew up with, and Patrick Stump. Andy Hurley later joined the band.

Besides being the bassist and primary lyricist for Fall Out Boy, Wentz has also branched out into book writing. In 2005 he published his first book called The Boy With the Thorn in His Side with Clandestine Industries. The book describes the nightmares he experienced as a child that still seem to haunt him even during his adult years. The book, which is illustrated by Joe Tesauro, was said to be a form of closure for Wentz. The Boy With the Thorn in His Side was inspired by tattoo artist Tim Biedron and is named after a song on the album The Queen is Dead by The Smiths, of whom Wentz is a big fan.

Wentz had plans to release his second book with Clandestine Industries, a 200-page novel called Rainy Day Kids, on February 14, 2006, but that date was postponed. He is also in the process of co-writing another book with the lead singer of The Academy Is…, William Beckett.

Wentz owns Clandestine Industries, a company that distributes books, jewelry, and clothing. In the fall of 2006 the company held its first fashion show in New York City. He also owns Decaydance Records with has signed several bands including Panic! At the Disco, October Fall, Gym Class Heroes, The Hush Sound, Cobra Starship and Lifetime. The five foot seven lyricist also has a film production company called Bartskull Films.

In 2005 Wentz overdosed on the anxiety medicine Ativan, in what appeared to be a suicide attempt, and had to spend a week in the hospital. In March of 2006 nude photos were somehow stolen from Wentz and ended up posted on the Internet making him “feel badly about [it] for about 24 hours.”

During the fall of 2006 he modeled in a GAP ad. He also appeared as himself in three episodes of the American teen television drama One Tree Hill in the 2005/2006 season.

YUDDY