Jack Antonoff

Jack Michael Antonoff (born March 31, 1984) is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the lead singer and songwriter of Bleachers, and lead guitarist of the indie rock band Fun. He was previously the lead singer-songwriter of the band Steel Train. Antonoff has been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and has won two Grammy Awards.

Early life

Antonoff was born in Bergenfield, New Jersey, the son of Shira (Wall) and Rick Antonoff and the middle child of three. He is the younger brother of fashion designer Rachel Antonoff. His younger sister, Sarah, died of brain cancer at the age of 13 when Antonoff was a senior in high school.

Antonoff grew up in New Milford, New Jersey, and Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, and attended elementary school at the Solomon Schechter Day School in Bergen County, New Jersey. For high school, he and his sister commuted to New York City, New York, to attend the Professional Children's School.

During his sophomore year of high school, he and several friends from elementary school formed a punk rock band called "Outline." When they were 15, Antonoff and his Outline bandmate used a DIY guide to book shows in numerous states, including Florida and Texas, and borrowed Antonoff's parents' minivan to travel in. During the tour, Outline played in venues such as anarchist bookstores, while the oldest guy in the band drove because he was 18 years old. Antonoff explained in 2014: "Half the time no one would show up or the equipment would be too fucked up to play ... but that's when I fell in love with touring." The band lasted from 1998 to 2002.