WHO (from left) Drummer Ned Brower, 23; guitarist Taylor Locke, 18; singer Robert Carmine, 20; keyboardist Louis Stephens, 18; and bassist Matther Winter, 20
HOMETOWN Los Angeles
NAMED AFTER Ferris Bueller's Day Off's freaky principal
WHY THEY ROCK Their sound shouts out classic influences like The Beach Boys and Nirvana, but with a hot, modern flavor. "We don't want to be pegged as a retro band," says Taylor. "but that's the kind of stuff we like."
WHERE YOU CAN CATCH THEM On their U.S. summer tour promoting their self-titled debut. "We want to make all people Rooney fans," says Robert. "It's all about destroying the audience- ina good way."
LEADER OF THE PACK "I was unhappy in school. I didn't feel like connecting with anybody," says Robert. "I wanted my own gang." Lucky for us fans, instead of busting heads and mugging folks, he formed Rooney- safer, and legal!
SCREEN TEST Robert (whose brother is Rushmore Jason Schwartzman) used to flex his skills on-screen too: He appeared in 1999's The Virgin Suicides and played Anne Hathaway's love interest in 2001's The Princess Diaries. (For both movies he used his real last name, Schwartzman.)
MAN WITH A MISSION "I was always confused about what I should be doing with my life," says Robert. "[But] playing music in this band is what I'm supposed to do. I want to see good music become mainstream again."
PASS THE BEN & JERRY'S Not your typical rock-star party boy, Robert, who's single, prefers to chill instead of rage. "I'd rather spend my time at home ordering Chinese food. Dessert! That's what puts a smile on my face."
-Jenny Eliscu