Straylight Run

Every unsigned band dreams of Straylight Run's overnight Internet success.

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More About

• Shaun Cooper
• John Nolan
• Taking Back Sunday
• Michelle Nolan
• Straylight Run

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Straylight Run is one of those Internet-success fairy tales all unsigned bands dream about. The band started in May 2003 when friends John Nolan (guitar/piano/vocals) and Shaun Cooper (bass) decided to leave the band Taking Back Sunday to form their own group. They recruited Will Noon (drums) and John's sister Michelle Nolan (piano/guitar/vocals), and after they posted six demo songs on the Web, bam, four months later they were suddenly playing to sold-out crowds. At least, that's the story. The fact that John Nolan and Shaun Cooper were known from the popular Taking Back Sunday and that the two were already under contract to Victory Records didn't hurt. Their self-titled debut, released in 2004 under Victory, did really well, but the emo/indie group says their next CD, due next spring, is more authentic and true to their Straylight sound -- no pesky record company execs getting in the way, huh?