Fowles grew up in Orange County, California, and started playing guitar in his early teen years, having been inspired by seeing the guitarist character of Marty McFly in the film Back to the Future.

Though he didn't record on Death by Stereo's debut LP If Looks Could Kill, I'd Watch You Die, he was given writing credits on nine of the album's fourteen songs, many of which had appeared on earlier demos and EPs.

[1] In 2006, Fowles joined the Huntington Beach superhero-themed comedy rock band The Aquabats as a full-time member, succeeding longtime guitarist Corey Pollock (aka "Chainsaw, the Prince of Karate").

Fowles has played live and/or recorded with a myriad of other projects, typically spanning the genres of pop punk and alternative rock.

In late 2000 he formed a short-lived 1980s pop tribute band called The Electric Youth that featured friends from Esperanza High School Brandon Saller of Atreyu and Nathan Willett of Cold War Kids.

In August 2014, Fowles was revealed to be the guitarist for former My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way's solo project, recording guitar and percussion for Way's debut album Hesitant Alien, appearing in the music video for its single "No Shows", and doing all the live touring with him during 2014–2015.