Gym Class Heroes

When Gym Class Heroes frontman Travis McCoy spoke to Westword in September 2006, his band was searching for a niche between youth rock, represented by the group's patrons in Fall Out Boy, and hip-hop, whose aficionados regularly attacked the outfit for watering down the medium. Since then, McCoy and his...

By Michael Roberts

November 22, 2007

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When Gym Class Heroes frontman Travis McCoy spoke to Westword in September 2006, his band was searching for a niche between youth rock, represented by the group's patrons in Fall Out Boy, and hip-hop, whose aficionados regularly attacked the outfit for watering down the medium. Since then, McCoy and his fellow Heroes have found their happy place. "Cupid's Chokehold," a track from last year's As Cruel As School Children CD featuring a cameo by singing Boy Patrick Stump and a hook borrowed from Supertramp's "Breakfast in America," sashayed to hit-single status, helping the band to earn the Best New Artist bauble at September's MTV Video Music Awards. Of course, these achievements haven't won over the rap community, and that's understandable, since School Children is an easygoing hybrid, not a beat-driven rhymefest. But such distinctions mean little to the sort of suburban teens who'll no doubt come out in force to see the combo play alongside FOB, Plain White T's and Cute Is What We Aim For. They already know the real McCoy.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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