FALL OUT BOY, WALKER TAKE FANS INTO SONGWRITING

In a one-of-a-kind event at the Key Club in Los Angeles, Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump and songwriter/producer Butch Walker were among a distinguished panel giving their insights to fans about songwriting, one day before last Sunday’s Grammy Awards telecast. The sold out event took place in the bright afternoon sun, but the line-up also consisting of Sean Garrett, Dallas Austin, Kara DioGuardi, and John Legend gave the intimate crowd stories and performances.

Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump talked about being involved in the event.

“Being invited to be here is really awesome. It kind of feels like it’s validating of…because I take the craft of song very seriously, and I think in rock music it’s not really necessarily respected to, like, pay so much attention to it. I think there’s something to learn about writing rock songs that you can learn from everything from Chopin to Burt Bacharach to Cee-Lo. I think it’s awesome to be invited to be here amongst so many other talented people and talk about my little songs.”

Butch Walker, straight out of the studio with Avril Lavigne, talked about the balance between work as a musician, songwriter, and producer.

“I’m going to keep writing songs and putting out my own records, just because I do them for my fans. I don’t really try to do my records for the masses or for radio or TV or anything like that. That’s why my songs are probably a little bit quirkier and a little more uncomfortable, but I like that and my fans like that. So, I’ll probably continue doing those, but my release to the other side of the coin is being able to go out and write a good three minute pop song for somebody that wants to be real big — and do it. And then I can still take some the check home at the end of the day and buy groceries.”

Walker was also integral in the Marvelous 3 and songs and albums various artists including Bowling For Soup, Sevendust, and Simple Plan. Fall Out Boy has a unique songwriting relationship. Stump writes the music and sings the songs and bandmate, bassist Pete Wentz writes the lyrics.