In more and more cities, DJs are tossing aside their Serato set-ups, leaving the soul records at home and playing vintage post-hardcore from the '90s and early 2000s. These sadsack parties have been dubbed emo nights and, well, Taking Back Sunday frontman Adam Lazzara is not having it.
In a new interview with Billboard, Lazzara reveals that he is specifically pissed off about Los Angeles' long-running emo night at the Echoplex. His reason? It was initially dubbed "Taking Back Tuesday."
"Those motherfuckers owe me some money," he said. "They're using our name, they didn't ask."
More than just the name, however, Lazzara is worried that he's become a punchline.
"It's flattering, I get it. But also, I don't want to become a parody of something I take real seriously," he added. "That's the line that those people are walking. They need to understand that they've got to take care with that shit. You don't make shirts that say, 'Sad as fuck.' Like you're making a fucking joke out of it? Fuck you."
"Taking Back Tuesday" has since been renamed to just "Emo Nite," and its founders Barbara Szabo, Morgan Freed and T.J. Petracca explain that they've had a "rather unpleasant" run-in with Lazzara in the past. They sent their own statement to Billboard:
When we started this night in December 2014, it came from a place of love and admiration for the genre that saved our lives and made us who we are. This was never to be seen as a joke, and the response from our event attendees and the artists who have been involved has been incredibly positive…
It is unfortunate that Adam feels so much animosity towards a night created to celebrate and support the genre of music that continues to embrace his band. Our events have brought together like-minded people who have become a family that support each other. In regards to the financial compensation, what began as Taking Back Tuesday (We never once used the name "Taking Back Sunday") turned into Emo Nite in a full rebrand in 2016…
We have always respected and been fans of this genre and will continue to support it. If Adam ever wants to come experience the event for himself, we're positive he'd have a different opinion and we'd welcome him with open arms. And, at the end of the day, the night was meant for everyone to just have a great time.
Perhaps it makes sense that Lazzara is worried he's become a joke from the past. After all, Taking Back Sunday is gearing up to release a new album called Tidal Wave on September 16 through Hopeless Records.
In a new interview with Billboard, Lazzara reveals that he is specifically pissed off about Los Angeles' long-running emo night at the Echoplex. His reason? It was initially dubbed "Taking Back Tuesday."
"Those motherfuckers owe me some money," he said. "They're using our name, they didn't ask."
More than just the name, however, Lazzara is worried that he's become a punchline.
"It's flattering, I get it. But also, I don't want to become a parody of something I take real seriously," he added. "That's the line that those people are walking. They need to understand that they've got to take care with that shit. You don't make shirts that say, 'Sad as fuck.' Like you're making a fucking joke out of it? Fuck you."
"Taking Back Tuesday" has since been renamed to just "Emo Nite," and its founders Barbara Szabo, Morgan Freed and T.J. Petracca explain that they've had a "rather unpleasant" run-in with Lazzara in the past. They sent their own statement to Billboard:
When we started this night in December 2014, it came from a place of love and admiration for the genre that saved our lives and made us who we are. This was never to be seen as a joke, and the response from our event attendees and the artists who have been involved has been incredibly positive…
It is unfortunate that Adam feels so much animosity towards a night created to celebrate and support the genre of music that continues to embrace his band. Our events have brought together like-minded people who have become a family that support each other. In regards to the financial compensation, what began as Taking Back Tuesday (We never once used the name "Taking Back Sunday") turned into Emo Nite in a full rebrand in 2016…
We have always respected and been fans of this genre and will continue to support it. If Adam ever wants to come experience the event for himself, we're positive he'd have a different opinion and we'd welcome him with open arms. And, at the end of the day, the night was meant for everyone to just have a great time.
Perhaps it makes sense that Lazzara is worried he's become a joke from the past. After all, Taking Back Sunday is gearing up to release a new album called Tidal Wave on September 16 through Hopeless Records.
