Based in Los Angeles, Beauty School Dropout deliver an emotionally charged brand of indie rock that folds in alt-rock textures, sleek pop hooks, emo intensity, punk drive, and additional flavors. Following the 2021 arrival of their BOYS DO CRY EP, the group sharpened their sound with a harder edge on their debut full-length, We Made Plans & God Laughed, issued in 2022.
The project originated as Colie Hutzler’s solo endeavor during his time in the alt-rock outfit Strangefaces. Once that band dissolved, Hutzler brought former Strangefaces member Brent "Beepus" Burdett aboard on bass to broaden the vision. Producer and guitarist Bardo (Bardo Novotny) supplied the final component, enabling the three musicians to begin work on a debut EP. Jason Aalon Butler (FEVER 333) and Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance) served as executive producers, refining the band’s blend of alt-rock, pop, punk, and hip-hop elements. Version III released the resulting BOYS DO CRY EP in October 2021, which included guest appearances by Butler and Royal & the Serpent. To support live dates, the trio added a drummer.
blink-182’s Mark Hoppus emerged as an early mentor, shaping the group through the fledgling label Verswire—a venture linking Hoppus with music manager Nick Lippman and Veeps founder Sherry Saeedi. Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz joined the label in an advisory role. We Made Plans & God Laughed, released in August 2022 via Verswire in partnership with Version III, emphasized weightier guitar tones and a more angst-driven outlook while retaining its melodic core. Hoppus appeared on the single “ALMOST FAMOUS,” and the band launched its first headlining tour later that year.
