Frederick Paul Mascherino (born July 27, 1974[1]) is an American musician best known for his work as lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist in alternative rock band Taking Back Sunday.

They were taken on by Florida label Undecided Records, and produced EP "Take Apart the Words" and full-length CD "A Cannon to a Whisper".

[7] During the 2006 Taste of Chaos tour (for which Taking Back Sunday was headlining), Fred returned home due to family commitments.

On October 30, 2007, Equal Vision Records released a full-length CD for the project titled "Bend to Break".

Although considered a solo project, Fred was joined on the recording by Steve Curtiss on drums, PJ Bond on bass and backing vocals and Keys/piano played by Breaking Pangaea bassist, Clint Stelfox.

On April 18, 2009, an acoustic CD titled, The Color Fred "The Intervention EP" was released to commemorate Record Store Day.

[9] On October 25, 2009, Mascherino and Andy Jackson (Death in the Park/ex-Hot Rod Circuit) announced plans for a new music project called Initials.

They were soon joined by ex-Coheed and Cambria drummer, Josh Eppard, and released their first full-length album, Terrible Things, on August 31, 2010.

Named the "Super Karate Tour," the live shows also feature Scott Reynolds, vocalist for All and the Pavers, as well as Philadelphia, PA-based Toy Cannons.

[15][16][17] On March 26, 2015, Mascherino performed a guitar solo on the Double Experience track "Goddamn Mimetic Business"[18] Mascherino also performed a guitar solo on Joe Matera's "Endless Summer", from his debut album Creature of Habit, released in 2012.

[19] Released on September 18, 2024, Mascherino performed guest vocals on the track "Without a Doubt" on the self-titled album by Mighty Tortuga, a band signed to Heading East Records.