The takeover, the break is indeed over. As you may’ve read about over the last week, I’ve got a new band called Black Cards. When FOB went on hiatus, I wasn’t really sure what to do with myself. I know I wanted to keep travelling the world with my family. We had been to Jamaica recently. I spent a lot of time hanging around the beaches and I started to get inspired again by songs like “two sevens clash” and “warriors”.

Read more…..

Make sure to check out the Black Cards website; some fun tracks are lingering on there waiting for your ears to give them a listen! Wentz admits in a statement posted on the site:

Check out some of what we’ve been working on here at www.blackcardsmusic.com. I know this won’t be for everyone but honestly its a chance for me to try something different. I remain Fall Out Boy’s #1 fan.

With FALL OUT BOY being on a hiatus, there will be a slew of new projects launching assiciated to bassis Pete Wentz. A new side project has been announced including Craig Owens (Chiodos), a new clothing line, and much more for this busy individual. It’s a wonder he still has time to be an amazing father. This boy can do it all, from make the ladies faint to make the boys jealous.

About UNICEF:
UNICEF is a renound humanitarian organization which is recognized for having saved the most children’s lives. While working in over 150 countries they provide help to children in need of health care, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF’s work through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States.

About World Water Day:
In December of 1992, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 22nd of each year World Day for Water. Countries were invited to devote the day to concrete activities such as the promotion of public awareness, conferences, round tables, seminars and expositions related to the conservation and development of water resources.

Press Release from PRNewsWire.com:

Pete Wentz Named UNICEF Tap Project National
Spokesperson

Musician Lends His Voice To Help Provide Safe Drinking Water To Children Around The World

Waterborne illnesses are the second highest cause of preventable childhood deaths

NEW YORK, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The U.S. Fund for UNICEF today announced that musician/entrepreneur and social philanthropist, Pete Wentz will be the national spokesperson for the 2010 UNICEF Tap Project.

Now in its fourth year, the UNICEF Tap Project is a grassroots initiative that will take place during World Water Week 2010 (March 21-27) and invites individuals to donate $1 or more for tap water at participating restaurants to provide clean water to children around the world.

Best known as the bassist for the immensely popular rock band, Fall Out Boy, Wentz has been regularly active—both at home and abroad—in supporting social causes which impact the well-being of children.

“It’s truly an honor to be the national spokesperson for the Tap Project and support efforts to provide clean water to children in the developing world,” said Wentz. “Water is something that we as Americans often take for granted but the reality is, the lack of clean and accessible drinking water kills 4,100 children under the age of five every day and as a new father I have become highly attuned to the needs of children everywhere. Unfortunately, it’s usually when emergencies like Haiti occur, that the importance of clean water really becomes apparent to the rest of us.”

In its four years of existence, the UNICEF Tap Project has become a uniquely hip, award-winning national campaign which has attracted a wide swath of volunteers and celebrity supporters. With a dynamic presence in social media and vibrant advertising creative as a mainstay, the Tap Project has been particularly popular among the college-aged demographic and the young urban professional set.

As national spokesperson for the UNICEF Tap Project, Wentz will be the face and voice of the campaign offering the Tap Project to individuals and restaurants across the nation as a simple and effective way to make a difference in a child’s life. Wentz will not only lend his name and likeness to support the initiative, but will also be available for national media opportunities which allow him to raise awareness of the global water crisis and its impact on children.

Since its inception in 2007, the UNICEF Tap Project has raised nearly $1.5 million in the U.S. and has helped to provide clean water to millions of children around the world. Countries slated to receive 2010 funding include: Central African Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Togo and Vietnam.

In 2009 alone, more than 1,500 restaurants from 40 states and more than 3100 volunteers participated in the national campaign, making it the largest volunteer mobilization effort for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.

“Whether it’s supporting the psychosocial needs of children affected by conflict in Uganda, or helping organize American youth to lobby Congress on social justice issues, Pete has been a true and dedicated friend to the world’s children,” said Caryl M. Stern, president and CEO, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. “We feel strongly that Pete is the right fit for Tap and we’re thrilled he has agreed to join us in our larger mission to reduce the number of preventable childhood deaths from 24,000 daily to zero.”

This year’s initiative will rely heavily on volunteers expanding their efforts beyond restaurant recruitment to include other grassroots activities like community water walks, dinner parties, fundraisers, concerts and more.

Previous national spokespeople for the Tap Project have included, UNICEF ambassadors: Sarah Jessica Parker (2007), Lucy Liu (2008) and Joel and Benji Madden (2009).

Nearly 900 million people do not have access to clean water and nearly half of those people are children. Young children are the first to get sick and die from waterborne and sanitation-related illnesses including diarrheal diseases and malaria.

UNICEF works in more than 100 countries around the world to improve access to safe water and sanitation facilities in schools and communities, and to promote safe hygiene practices. Over the past 15 years, more than a billion people gained access to improved drinking water and sanitation facilities thanks to UNICEF’s efforts. Every day, 24,000 children die of preventable causes, and UNICEF is committed to doing whatever it takes to make that number zero. With $1, UNICEF can provide one child access to safe, clean water for 40 days.

For more information or to register as a volunteer, visit www.tapproject.org

Pete Wentz and all the other boys in Fall Out Boy shocked the world when they announced they were on a, well, not even hiatus, more of a break. Rumos quickly spread throughout the internet and tabloids after they wrapped up the  Blink-182 comeback tour, where they were support the band. Fall Out Boy has sold out arenas, toured the world, and showed the world they were serious business. Throughout the last while there had been some speculations about the band, and now they are on a break.

Since the break Pete Wentz has collaborated with artist Mark Hoppus for the alice in wonderland soundtrack, as well as been seen working with many other artists. Patrick Stump has also announced that he is working on a new album and will be producing,writing and playing all instruments on the album, while both remaining  members have formed a new band with members of Every Time I Die, and Anthrax named The Damned Things.  

Back a few months ago, in september, Chiodos announced they they were letting Craig Owens go as their frontman. Craig Owens took this pretty shockingly as he was on tour as a solo act at the time. Craig Owens has since been seen traveling performing solo. Since his solo tour the musician has announced that he has been heading into the studio to record some new material, and has wrapped up some final tours with his other project Cinematic Sunrise performing their final show just months ago. Leaked news have since announced that Chiodos have a new frontman and are back in the studio.

Wentz and Owens have since been spotted many times performing together in not so subtle clues, and now there is a reason. It’s announced that Wentz and Owenz are working on a new project and will be officially announced later this month.  It’s also been said, according to online reports, the new project will be signed to Decaydance, and managed by Crush Management.

p.s; I still dislike Johnny Depp.

You can check out the Tracklisting below:

1. “Alice (Underground)” performed by Avril Lavigne
2. “The Poison” performed by The All-American Rejects
3. “The Technicolor Phase” performed by Owl City
4. “Her Name Is Alice” performed by Shinedown
5. “Painting Flowers” performed by All Time Low
6. “Where’s My Angel” performed by Metro Station
7. “Strange” performed by Tokio Hotel and Kerli
8. “Follow Me Down” performed by 3OH!3 featuring Neon Hitch
9. “Very Good Advice” performed by Robert Smith
10. “In Transit” performed by Mark Hoppus with Pete Wentz
11. “Welcome to Mystery” performed by Plain White T’s
12. “Tea Party” performed by Kerli
13. “The Lobster Quadrille” performed by Franz Ferdinand
14. “Running Out of Time” performed by Motion City Soundtrack
15. “Fell Down a Hole” performed by Wolfmother
16. “White Rabbit” performed by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

Of the rare items to be auctioned for the Haiti Earthquake Relief Effort will be test pressings from Fall Out Boy, New Found Glory, Gym Class Heroes, Panic! At The Disco, The Gaslight Anthem, Thursday, Phantom Planet, Lifetime, Hot Water Music, Less Than Jake, and more. Additional test pressings and rare collectors items such as a signed cymbal and drumhead by The Gaslight Anthem, a signed Against Me! poster from April 2009, and more will be added as the auction items are confirmed. A full list of auction items will be updated constantly and can be viewed here: http://limitedpressing.com/auctions.

Some great things on there to bid for so head on over quickly and place some bids!

According to Fall Out Boy guitarist Joe Trohman‘s recent tweets:

“9 out of 12 songs for The Damned Things forthcoming album are fully demo’d. Really liking how this sounds as a whole. Stay tuned.”

I for one am looking forward to hearing what this sounds like! Anyone else excited?

The past few weeks have had a slew of rumors circulating the internet as to who would be featured on the ALICE IN WODNERLAND soundtrack (Movie hits theaters March 5th) and names were leaked. Among those names were the likes of All Time Low, Avril Lavigne, a collaboration between Mark Hoppus and Pete Wentz, and many more. As of today those rumors are marked as, well, the truth. These names will all be featured on the soundtrack along acts such as: Metro Station, Owl City, Robert Smith from The Cure, 3OH!3 , Franz Ferdinand and many many more.

At least something good comes out of another movie with Johnny Depp.
(P.S: I hate that guy.)
Tracklisting below:

1. “Alice (Underground)” performed by Avril Lavigne
2. “The Poison” performed by The All-American Rejects
3. “The Technicolor Phase” performed by Owl City
4. “Her Name Is Alice” performed by Shinedown
5. “Painting Flowers” performed by All Time Low
6. “Where’s My Angel” performed by Metro Station
7. “Strange” performed by Tokio Hotel and Kerli
8. “Follow Me Down” performed by 3OH!3 featuring Neon Hitch
9. “Very Good Advice” performed by Robert Smith
10. “In Transit” performed by Mark Hoppus with Pete Wentz
11. “Welcome to Mystery” performed by Plain White T’s
12. “Tea Party” performed by Kerli
13. “The Lobster Quadrille” performed by Franz Ferdinand
14. “Running Out of Time” performed by Motion City Soundtrack
15. “Fell Down a Hole” performed by Wolfmother
16. “White Rabbit” performed by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals