Original Gym Class Heroes members and what they're doing nowadays
The original Gym Class Heroes members were Travie McCoy, Matt McGinley, Milo Bonacci, and Ryan Geise. Gym Class Heroes is an American rap-rock band from Geneva, New York, known for their innovative fusion of hip-hop, rock, funk, and pop. The band was formed in 1997 and released albums such as ...For the Kids (2001), The Papercut Chronicles (2005), and As Cruel as School Children (2006).
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Where are the original Gym Class Heroes members?
- Why did Gym Class Heroes split?
- Who are the former members of Gym Class Heroes?
- What are Gym Class Heroes' albums?
- Who dated Katy Perry on Gym Class Heroes?
- Who is the lead singer of Gym Class Heroes?
- Why is it called Gym Class Heroes?
- Where is Eric Roberts from Gym Class Heroes?
- Wrapping up
Key takeaways
- Gym Class Heroes is a rap-rock band from Geneva, New York.
- The group formed in 1997 when Travie McCoy met Matt McGinley in a high school gym class.
- Their music blends hip-hop, rock, funk, and reggae.
- They gained popularity through albums and festival appearances such as The Bamboozle and Vans Warped Tour.
- Their 2006 album As Cruel as School Children went gold.
- In 2023, they toured with All Time Low on The Sound of Letting Go on Tour.
Where are the original Gym Class Heroes members?
| Name | Category | Year |
| Travie McCoy | Lead vocals | 1997–2013, 2018–2019, 2023–present |
| Matt McGinley | Drums, percussion | 1997–2013, 2018–2019 |
| Milo Bonacci | Guitar, vocals | 1997–2004 |
| Ryan Geise | Bass guitar | 1997–2005 |
Gym Class Heroes stood out from traditional hip-hop acts by using live instruments. The founding members each contributed uniquely to the group's sound and identity. Here is what the original members of Gym Class Heroes are currently up to.
Travie McCoy
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- Full name: Travis Lazarus "Travie" McCoy
- Date of birth: 5 August 1981
- Age: 43 (as of June 2025)
- Place of birth: Geneva, New York, United States
Travie McCoy is the charismatic frontman of Gym Class Heroes. Born to a Haitian father and a mother of Native American and Irish descent, he developed an interest in music and formed a group called True Life Playas with his father and brother.
He co-founded Gym Class Heroes with Matt McGinley in 1997. He later launched a solo career with his debut album Lazarus, which featured the hit single Billionaire with Bruno Mars. Although he went solo, he confirmed the band never officially broke up.
In 2021, he signed with Hopeless Records and released Never Slept Better. Travie remains the most active original member and continues to perform live.
Matt McGinley
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Matthew Ryan "Matt" McGinley
- Date of birth: 24 February 1983
- Age: 42 (as of 2025)
- Place of birth: New York, United States
Matt McGinley is the drummer and percussionist who co-founded the band with Travie McCoy. Aside from his work with Gym Class Heroes, McGinley is a contributing music producer for the award-winning radio show This American Life. He has also composed music for notable podcast series, including Serial and S-Town.
Matt played with the band from 1997 to 2013 and briefly reunited from 2018 to 2019. He has also collaborated with artists such as Ryn Weaver, Wafia, and Ben Abraham. Today, he balances his music career with family life, occasionally sharing posts about his children on social media.
Milo Bonacci
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Milo Bonacci
- Place of birth: Western New York, USA
Milo Bonacci was the original guitarist and backing vocalist for Gym Class Heroes from 1997 to 2004. He left the band to pursue an education in architecture and explore other creative outlets.
Following his departure, Milo co-founded Ra Ra Riot, an indie rock and chamber-pop band based in Syracuse, New York. Since 2006, he has played guitar and occasionally keyboards for the group. Ra Ra Riot has released multiple albums and toured internationally.
Ryan Geise
- Full name: Ryan Geise
- Place of birth: Clifton Springs, New York,
Ryan Geise was the founding bassist for Gym Class Heroes. He contributed to the band's early independent albums such as Hed Candy (1999), Greasy Kid Stuff (2000), and ...For the Kids (2001). He is known for his smooth bass lines.
He left the band in 2005 and was replaced by Eric Roberts. Since then, Ryan has kept a low public profile, and little is known about his current professional life.
Why did Gym Class Heroes split?
The band never officially disbanded but went on an extended hiatus due to several reasons: internal disagreements, members pursuing solo careers, and Travie McCoy's struggles with addiction. During an interview, the rapper opened up about his battle with substance abuse.
He shared how the struggle affected him while touring with Gym Class Heroes and trying to build his solo career. He said:
I was a professional bridge burner at one point. One, I never did drugs with anyone else. I’d always be isolated and I never wanted people to know that I was on drugs. But it’s hard for people to think you’re not doing drugs when you’re like drooling on yourself.
Source: Getty Images
Who are the former members of Gym Class Heroes?
Former members of the rock band include the following:
| Name | Category | Year |
| Ryan Geise | Bass guitar | 1997–2005 |
| Milo Bonacci | Guitar, vocals | 1997–2004 |
| Steve Decker | Sampler | 1997–2003 |
| Jason Amsel | Guitar | 2000–2001 |
| Eric Roberts | Bass guitar, backing vocals | 2005–2013, 2018 |
| Matt McGinley | Drums, percussion | 1997–2013, 2018–2019 |
| Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo | Guitar, backing vocals | 2004–2013, 2018–2019 |
| Ralfy Valencia | Bass guitar | 2018–2019 |
What are Gym Class Heroes' albums?
As of 2025, Gym Class Heroes has released the following studio albums:
| Album | Year |
| ...For the Kids | 2001 |
| The Papercut Chronicles | 2005 |
| As Cruel as School Children | 2006 |
| The Quilt | 2008 |
| The Papercut Chronicles II | 2011 |
Who dated Katy Perry on Gym Class Heroes?
Travie McCoy dated pop star Katy Perry from 2007 to 2009. Their relationship ended shortly before Perry's breakout single I Kissed a Girl.
Who is the lead singer of Gym Class Heroes?
Travie McCoy is the lead vocalist and frontman of the band.
Why is it called Gym Class Heroes?
Gym Class Heroes was named after the high school gym class where founding members Travie McCoy and Matt McGinley met. Their shared passion for music united them, eventually forming the band.
Where is Eric Roberts from Gym Class Heroes?
Eric Roberts is no longer actively performing with the band. Instead, he has shifted his focus toward the culinary world. He followed his passion for food and began working in a café in Pennsylvania.
Wrapping up
Travie McCoy, Matt McGinley, Milo Bonacci, and Ryan Geise are the original Gym Class Heroes members. These four helped the band gain popularity in the early 2000s. New members joined and left, and Travie McCoy is currently the only active member, travelling with Mike Benj and Ledaris "LJ" Jones.
Tuko.co.ke recently featured an article about the members of Jabbawockeez. This American hip-hop dance crew gained fame in 2008 after winning the first season of America's Best Dance Crew. Since then, they have appeared on Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Live with Regis and Kelly.
The crew has expanded significantly over the years and now includes around 20 members, though only six are recognised as the founders. While some continue to excel in dance, others have pursued careers in business, music, and other ventures. Sadly, original member Gary Kendall passed away in December 2007.
Proofreading by Masolo Mabonga, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
