Andrew Mrotek

Andrew Bishop Mrotek (aka Andy "The Butcher" Mrotek) (born July 4, 1983) is a drummer for the rock band The Academy Is....

Born and raised on Milwaukee's south side. Andy attended Elm Elementary School then Roosevelt Middle School. Mrotek graduated from Milwaukee High School of the Arts in 2001 while drumming for a band called Last Place Champs. The High School of the Arts split students in classes for their artistic talent, Andy's was visual art. A self portrait of Andy still hangs outside his art classroom doors. During high school, "The Butcher", worked at a McDonald's in his neighborhood. "The Butcher" nick name comes from his next job as a butcher at his neighborhood supermarket Pick N' Save, which he worked after graduation. Ironically, he did become a vegetarian after this. Though, after he contracted mono he was forced to quit vegetarianism. He is currently not a vegetarian.

In 2004 Andy Mrotek replaced former The Academy Is... drummer DelPrincipe. After the band's debut album was released they toured with Fall Out Boy. Being a graphic artist, Mrotek designed, sketched and painted all of the posters for the Sleeping With Giants tour. He also designed his own drum kit for the tour.

Andy has a full sleeve tattoo featuring images such as an elephant and a tree on his right arm; he sports a Native American art influenced chest piece of a bird, and his back down to the upper thigh is entirely covered by a tattoo of a koi fish.

"Emo’s a joke. It’s a comically used term now. Just another stereotype. I remember when bands like Saves the Day and Alkaline Trio were Emo. It’s different now though." - Andy "The Butcher" Mrotek

External Links

• Drum Channel | Andy Mrotek Interview