Gym Class Heroes
Travie McCoy's band bent rap, rock and pop into one radio-shaped thing, and Cupid's Chokehold and Stereo Hearts are the proof. Live they play it as a party rather than a nostalgia set.
Gym Class Heroes formed in 1997 when Travie McCoy and drummer Matt McGinley, ninth-graders in Geneva, New York, met in a high school gym class. An early lineup with bassist Ryan Geise played parties and small venues around upstate New York before the band self-released several records and built a following through years on the Warped Tour.
Guitarist Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo and bassist Eric Roberts joined in 2003, and the retooled band caught the attention of Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz, who signed them to his Decaydance imprint through Fueled by Ramen. The Papercut Chronicles followed in 2005, putting the group alongside the era's emo and pop-punk acts despite having little musically in common with them.
McCoy rapped over live guitar and drums, and the band's biggest singles were built on borrowed hooks. As Cruel as School Children (2006) went gold and produced "Cupid's Chokehold," which lifts its chorus from Supertramp's "Breakfast in America" and reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100, alongside the UK top-ten hit "Clothes Off!!"; the band won the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist in 2007.
After a 2008 album, The Quilt, the group went on hiatus in 2009 while McCoy released the solo record Lazarus. They returned in 2011 with The Papercut Chronicles II, led by "Stereo Hearts," which pairs McCoy's verses with Adam Levine on the refrain and also reached number four on the Hot 100. The band was inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame in 2025.
Festivals Gym Class Heroes is playing
Gym Class Heroes at a glance
What festivals is Gym Class Heroes playing in 2026?
Gym Class Heroes is booked at 1 festival: Warped Tour Orlando 2026.
Is Gym Class Heroes playing Warped Tour Orlando 2026?
Yes — Gym Class Heroes is on the Warped Tour Orlando 2026 lineup, November 14–15, 2026 at Camping World Stadium Campus, Orlando, FL. They play Saturday, November 14.
Where is Gym Class Heroes from?
Gym Class Heroes is from Geneva, NY.
What kind of music does Gym Class Heroes play?
Gym Class Heroes is tagged pop-rap and alt-rock.
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