History

Gym Class Heroes was formed in late 1997 by four high school students. Their first record, For the Kids, released in 2002. After this release, lead singer Travis McCoy won MTV's Direct Effect MC Battle.^[1] He was later featured in Styles P's video "Daddy Get That Cash".

Members

• Travis "Schleprok" McCoy - Vocals
• Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo - Guitar
• Matt McGinley - Drums
• Eric Roberts - Bass Guitar

Former members

• Ryan Geise - Bass
• Milo Bonacci - Guitar
• Sie One - Turntables

Discography

Recurring lyrical elements

• Many of their songs make multiple references to drug use, particularly using pills to get high.
• Travis frequently references other songs by Gym Class Heroes. In "Cupid's Chokehold", he references "Makeout Club" ("and I know you heard that last song, about those girls who didn't last long"). In their cover of "Under the Bridge", they reference "Simple Living" ("from the poorest of poor to the richest of rich, I already told you once, simple living's a bitch"). "
• On The Papercut Chronicles, "Papercuts" is referenced in a number of GCH songs (in addition to the remix of the Papercuts): "Band Aids", "through all the papercuts and all the broken hearts..." ; "Pillmatic", "a couple meds to ease the pain of the papercuts..."
• In the song Pillmatic they also reference a previous album, "...For The Kids". ("this ain't a song for the kids like our last album.")
• GCH has frequently referenced Bob Ross, even dedicating a song to him ("To Bob Ross With Love").
• GCH frequently pays tribute to other musical influences, their favorite artists, and other people who have generally helped them. "Taxi Driver" uses several band names as lyrics.
• The song "Scandalous Scholastics", about an affair between a student and his teacher, makes reference to "Don't Stand so Close to Me", a song by the Police based around the same premise.
• "Band Aids" and "On My Own Time (Write On)" also thank their hometown, people who have helped through the years, and other artists.
• GCH have made a reference to the community website MySpace several times in their songs, in fact their song "New Friend Request" is about finding love through it.