Fall Out Boy fans queue outside the Black Heart in Greenland Place

SUPPORT THE CNJ: CLICK ABOVE TO ADD YOUR DONATION TO OUR BIRTHDAY APPEAL

AS strikes brought the country to a standstill last week, intrepid fans braved the chaos to have their belongings signed by their favourite band.

American rock band Fall Out Boy dropped into the Black Heart pub in Greenland Place on Thursday for a “signing session” in anticipation of the release of their new album So Much (for) Stardust this week.

Train strikes led by both ASLEF and the RMT saw national and London Underground trains cancelled. Despite the disruption, a large crowd had formed outside the pub.

Fall Out Boy fans have been getting excited by a limited edition clear white vinyl of the new LP So Much (For) Stardust

Katie Hayes said she had travelled from Kent to meet the band.

“There’s been Tube and train strikes so we got up at 6.30 this morning. It’s been a long day – it’s going to be a long day. Almost 24 hours,” she said.

But she said the new music made the journey worth it: “It’s like a full-circle moment – their new album is coming out [this] week.”

“Their sound has changed quite a lot in the last few years. We were just saying that every album is different, we love every album for different reasons, so it’s been really good to see how they’ve changed over the years.”

We spoke to Katie Hayes, middle, who was with her friends Vanessa Crew and Rianne Owen

Karen Aloba and Chioma Beyioku

Also travelling from Kent was Alfie Kennaugh, who has been listening to the band since 2015.

He thought the band was “all right” when he first heard one of their songs.

“Then I listened to the rest of the album, and I really liked it. And they’ve been my favourite band ever since. “And getting a chance to meet them and even talk to them, it was mind-blowing,” Mr Kennaugh said. “I live in Canterbury. I got up quite early in the morning – I was queueing for a long time.”

Fall Out Boy [Lindsey Turner]

Meanwhile, Karen Aloba said she had travelled from Greenwich for the signing. “I used to listen to them before, when I was younger – it’s just a childhood band. I used to listen to them with my brother. It’s just a safe space in my heart,” she said.

Her friend Chioma Beyioku said: “I would describe their music as the early-2000s, if you liked hearing that good screamo-emo with a little bit of a mix with urban culture. It’s a coalition of the best parts of the 2000s.

“I’ve seen them twice before this, [I’m a] superfan, I love them a lot. They were my first obsession growing up,” added Ms Beyioku, who had an album, vinyl record and a bass guitar signed by the band.

SEE ALSO CNJ’S BIRTHDAY – SUPPORT CAMPAIGNING JOURNALISM