Band Crushes

Band crushes: Where are they now?

Everyone remembers their first band crush. For me, it was Martin Johnson of Boys Like Girls. The long hair, piercing eyes and hypnotizing voice were more than enough to make him my ideal band crush—but what is he up to now?

We’ve gathered some of those early band crushes to give you a little insight and put your mind at ease.

Read more: Gerard Way releases new song, working on first album in four years

1. Martin Johnson, BOYS LIKE GIRLS

Then:

Boys Like Girls 2012

Now:

Boys Like Girls vocalist Martin Johnson has been busy with his latest project the Night Game, debuting their first single “The Outfield” early last year with his debut full-length dropping this past September. While it doesn’t quite hold the Boys Like Girls vibe, the Night Game flaunts an ’80s throwback style we can’t help but love.

2. Kyle Burns, FOREVER THE SICKEST KIDS

Then:

https://www.instagram.com/p/YgQ0A7tW4a/

Now:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Baj6W-tjwbD/

Our hearts were so full when Forever The Sickest Kids reunited for the first time in three-and-a-half years in Dallas, Texas, for a hometown show. They performed on day two of 2017’s So What?! Music Festival, and the nostalgia was real. While we were hoping for an anniversary tour, FTSK did celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Underdog Alma Mater by releasing a limited-edition vinyl of the album. Drummer Kyle Burns still has some killer hair and married his longtime girlfriend Mindy White last year (RIP broken hearts everywhere). Needless to say, the two are still some serious couple goals.

3. Chris Kamrada, THERE FOR TOMORROW

Then: 

Now:

There For Tomorrow drummer Chris Kamrada is nothing short of busy these days. Not only is he kicking ass as Dashboard Confessional’s drummer, but he assists musicians in the studio with songwriting and arrangements as well. His credits include PVRIS, Young Guns, Wage War and more. We’ve been eagerly awaiting more from his project AFTRHR while keeping our fingers crossed for a TFT reunion that may be happening sooner than we think.

4. Andrew Goldstein, FRIDAY NIGHT BOYS

Then:

Now: 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjsMxUbB-04/

You’ve probably unknowingly heard the work of the former the Friday Night Boys vocalist without even realizing it. The multiplatinum songwriter and producer has credits that include 5SOS, All Time Low, blackbear, Selena Gomez, Against The Current and more. He recently released a six-track EP Before You I Didn’t Exist for his side project FRND, which we highly recommend checking out.

5. Cassadee Pope, HEY MONDAY

Then:

Now:

Now a singer/songwriter in the country music genre, former Hey Monday vocalist Cassadee Pope went on to win the third season of NBC’s The Voice and has been making waves in the industry ever since. Have no fear, though: Pope hasn’t forgotten her roots, which she proved with her Lip Sync Battle performance with none other than Brendon Urie. Pope was even a special guest at the Charlotte date of this year’s Vans Warped Tour where she busted out Hey Monday jams “Homecoming” and “How You Love Me Now.”

https://youtu.be/DsAXd0LH4Pg

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6. Nick Santino, A ROCKET TO THE MOON

Then:

Now:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSOaghGgbXJ/

After A Rocket To The Moon disbanded in 2013, Nick Santino pursued a solo project where he released four EPs and a full-length before forming indie-pop band Beach Weather. In the band’s two-year span, they released two EPs, What A Drag and Chit Chat before dispersing to work on their own creative projects. Just last month, a fan-posted photo surfaced of Santino and Tay Jardine, which still has us on the edge of our seats waiting for these archived jams to drop.

7. Tay Jardine, WE ARE THE IN CROWD

Then:

https://www.instagram.com/p/qVJZ3iRoBA/

Now:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmJsCYFAGq9/

Tay Jardine’s new project SAINTE includes fellow We Are The In Crowd members Cameron Hurley and Mike Ferri and focuses on more poppy jams. The band’s EP smile, and wave dropped in June 2017. Jardine has been teasing her project’s next EP on social media, stating she was finishing up the last bit of the EP back in October. And now we wait…

8. Jared Leto, THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS

Then:

https://www.instagram.com/p/-UNN-9gPtL/

Now:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpPcg4qDVx3/

Few have had quite the transformation like Jared Leto has had over the years. From fronting Thirty Seconds To Mars to hitting the big screen in films such as Suicide Squad and Fight Club, Leto has been nothing short of busy. The band’s fifth album America dropped in April, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and becoming the band’s highest entry on the chart to date.

9. Gabe Saporta, COBRA STARSHIP

Then:

Now:

Gabe Saporta started Cobra Starship in 2005 after his emo-rock band Midtown disbanded. The band went on to record four full-length albums and record a track for the 2006 film Snakes On A Plane. Spaorta later made his acting debut in the Season 5 finale of Gossip Girl before stepping away from the limelight to focus on working behind the scenes by helping younger bands under his talent management firm, The Artist Group.

10. Gerard Way, MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE

Then:

Which MCR song reflects your Myers-Briggs personality type?

Now:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BhwqqCQnskV/

While we all still mourn for My Chemical Romance, we’ve at least been blessed with three iconic solo singles from Gerard Way. “Baby You’re A Haunted House” was released at the end of October with his second single, “Getting Down The Germs” (co-written by former bandmate Ray Toro), following shortly after. The most recent track, “Dasher” featured the Regrettes Lydia Night and debuted earlier this month. Rumor has it Way has a record in the works, slated to be completed and released sometime next year. We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed.

Who was your first band crush? Sound off in the comments below!