The Color Fred is a band headed by former Taking Back Sunday guitarist and singer Fred Mascherino. The band got their name by a poll taken on the internet and The Color Fred was declared as the fans' favorite name. The band was started while he was in the band Breaking Pangaea. The Color Fred was featured on a compilation by Equal Vision Records in 2005. Mascherino has worked with Macbeth Athletics to design and produce the F. P. Mascho, as part of Macbeth's Studio Projects. The shoe displays the drawings of Jude Ianelli that also appear on The Color Fred's official website, and some lyrics.

On October 4, 2007, Fred left Taking Back Sunday to concentrate on his new project full-time.

Bend to Break is TCF's first full-length album and was released on October 30, 2007. The album hit #8 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.

As of early fall 2008, The Color Fred now has a modlife site.

The Color Fred released The Intervention EP in April 2009. The EP features new and old songs performed acoustic, plus two home demos.

A DVD has been in the works for the band since early 2008. It will contrast the differences between life on the road with The Color Fred and Fred's former band, Taking Back Sunday.

The project is currently on hold as Fred is focusing on his new band, Terrible Things with Andy Jackson and Josh Eppard. On the The Color Fred's Myspace page, Fred said the following about his solo project: "A lot of people have been asking about TCF as well. I still love all the songs I've put out through that so it will continue to be my solo project that I'll do when the new band is on break... if it ever is! But I really feel that if you were ever a fan of the music I've been so lucky to make over the years, you won't be let down by the Terrible Things record. I want to thank you guys especially for supporting me all these years and especially during the last 2 years while I was rebuilding and rethinking everything about what I do. It really helped to have my TCF fans when things got hard. I won't let you guys down -Fred"

In 2012, Fred toured as The Color Fred for the Super Karate Tour