What's up with Wentz

With the release of their highly-anticipated album “Folie A Deux,” Pete and Fall Out Boy band-mates Patrick Stump, Joe Trohman and Andy Hurley are set to perform in Manila on Feb. 13 at the Araneta Coliseum in a concert presented by Jack TV, ETC Entertainment Central and www.friendsorenemies.com.

Pete gives his take on “Folie A Deux,” his famous naked Internet shots and why he’s turned his back on his famous eyeliner:

With the new album title translating to “The Shared Madness of Two” (a reference to a rare psychiatric syndrome), why did you opt for such a title — and does anyone in the band truly suffer from it?

Pete Wentz: Nope, no one is mad. Apart from maybe me considering I chose a French name and I don’t speak French.

You’re spot on, though, with your translation. It is a French psychiatric term from the ’30s and ’40s. It’s a very bizarre concept. Madness is such a relative term. It was my decision to give the album that name because it’s such a relatable idea. It could mean anything at all. For example America and the world, Sid and Nancy… It doesn’t have to be related.

Patrick (Fall Out Boy’s lead singer) said in a recent interview that you almost quit the band after the nude pictures were posted on the Internet. Was that the darkest moment in your career?

It was certainly one of them. I remember calling Patrick and saying I quit. It’s the equivalent of someone walking in on you in the shower, apart from it is on Google. It’s not fun. The first thing that I would think if I saw the pictures would be that ‘They released them themselves,’ but it wasn’t (me). I would have done a better job if I’d released them myself.

There have been a few low points as people are well aware of. Two years ago in Brazil I nearly died after my hoodie got twisted when I was crowd surfing. I couldn’t breathe and I nearly got hung which I was probably fit for at the time.

It’s also well known about the time I almost took my life.

Was it your intention to go for a fresher new sound on the LP?

I don’t like to write the same song twice but at the same time we appreciate our fans and I’ve always found it particularly boring and pompous when bands write songs only to alienate their fans or because they feel they ought to write something more credible. We write songs that we believe in and of course that changes over a seven-year, five-album period. This album is my favorite of course, because it’s my new puppy.

Will there be any exciting additions to the final LP?

Musically I don’t think there will be any additions as we’re totally finished with it. However there may be extras — something like (Willy Wonka’s) Golden Tickets — included with the album. People are going to be able to go inside the factory and see how the chocolate is made, if you know what I mean.

A lot of people have enquired if the Elvis Costello collaboration made the album and I can confirm it did. He sings on What a Catch Donnie. I would love to say it was a lot of fun and we had a ball together but unfortunately the whole song was discussed by e-mail! As technology advances, a lot of communication is done via the Web.

Working with Lil’ Wayne and Brendon from Panic At The Disco was a bit more hands-on, though. With Lil’ Wayne we discussed how we wanted to go with the song over the phone and Brandon and I actually hooked up and had a laugh in the studio.

Your cover version of Michael Jackson’s Beat It was sensational. What other classic songs would you like to cover, if any? And do you have any plans to do them?

Thanks — I loved the Beat It cover, too. We did a cover of Estelle’s American Boy a few weeks ago but we sung it as American Girl.

I would love to cover Have You Ever Seen The Rain? by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

You are well known for your fondness for eyeliner but do you have any other beauty regimens?

Well, as I said before, the eyeliner has now gone. I do like to trim my armpit hair, though. I like to be streamlined when I’m going through airports. I couldn’t shave my head, though. In my passport photo I look like I am carrying a bomb.

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ETC Entertainment Central & Jack TV presents “ FALL OUT BOY LIVE” @ The Big Dom eon Feb. 13. Tickets are now available through Ticketnet at 911-5555. Tickets are priced at P4,725 (patron), P3,675 (lower box), P2,625 (upper box A), P1,050 (upper box B) and P525 (general admission).