Lazzara becomes lead vocalist

DeJoseph was unable to tour extensively because of personal issues and was waiting until the band had another drummer before leaving the group. Mark O’Connell, a friend of Reyes, heard about the opening and joined the group. After recording Taking Back Sunday’s self-titled EP , Longo left the band and eventually played with The Prizefighter and the Mirror. In December 2000, Lazzara switched from bass to lead vocals. He never thought he would become the group’s singer: “I remember getting into [Reyes’] Windstar with that [EP] and just driving around singing those songs, just to make myself actually do it.” O’Connell suggested that the group needed a bassist, and brought in Shaun Cooper. Lazzara spoke of his initial thoughts on Cooper’s talent in an interview with AP magazine, saying with Cooper it was “the best bass playing I’d ever seen in my life. I was like, “Oh my God, people can do that?’” In February 2001, Taking Back Sunday released a five-track demo before touring for a year.