PANIC AT THE DISCO

HISTORY

Panic! at the Disco (known as Panic at the Disco between 2008 and 2009) is a rock band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2004. The band comprises Brendon Urie (vocals, guitar) and Spencer Smith (drums). In July 2009, both Ryan Ross (guitar) and Jon Walker (bass) left the band, citing creative differences as the reason for their depature.[1] They have since formed a new band, entitled The Young Veins.[2] Panic! at the Disco's debut album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, reached #13 on the US Billboard 200, and has sold over 2.2 million copies worldwide[3] since its September 2005 release. The band's second album, Pretty. Odd., was released on March 25, 2008 and debuted at #2 in the US.

The band was formed in Las Vegas, Nevada, by two childhood friends — Ryan Ross on the guitar and Spencer Smith on the drums. Since the age of 13, the two played Blink-182 covers together in a two-piece band called "Pet Salamander". Later they recruited more members to create a band under the name of "The Summer League" with Brent Wilson and Trevor Howell, who would later leave the band. Wilson met Brendon Urie at Palo Verde High School. Wilson asked Urie to try out as guitarist for the fledgling band, as they were looking for a replacement for Trevor at the time. Originally, Urie was not the band's lead singer. Rather, the position belonged to former guitarist and lyricist Ryan Ross. However, when they heard Brendon sing backup vocals during a rehearsal, they were impressed with his backup vocal abilities and unanimously decided to make him the singer. The band then settled on the name 'Panic! at the Disco' which comes from the song "Panic" by Name Taken. The band contacted Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz through LiveJournal and sent him an internet link to their PureVolume site. Wentz took a trip to Las Vegas to meet the band. After seeing them practice, he asked if they would sign with his Fueled by Ramen imprint label Decaydance.

MUSIC STYLE

Music critics have named a number of different genres to describe Panic! at the Disco's music. These include emo,[24][25][26] pop punk,[27] and for their later material, baroque pop.[28] Panic! at the Disco has gone on record many times saying that their second album would be completely different from A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, as Rolling Stone wrote in an article: "The group cemented its next direction with their first single, called "Nine in the Afternoon". "It’s influenced by the music our parents listened to: the Beach Boys, The Kinks, the Beatles", says Ross. "Our new songs are more like classic rock than modern rock. We got older and started listening to different music – and this seems like the natural thing to do right now."[29] In his review of their live album, Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted, "...Pretty. Odd. suggests that they're becoming that rare thing in 2008: a pop-oriented rock band. They might not be doing this knowingly, but the results are entertaining all the same."[30] Concerning their style of music, Ryan Ross has said, "I try to think of the person who's worked an eight-hour day, the person who gets in the car and puts on their radio. I'd like them to hear a song that makes them feel happy for three minutes rather than something that makes them more depressed than they already are. We're not afraid to write about love or being happy. We have an entire culture that is either provocative or negative. It's so geared toward being shocking that it no longer manages to shock. They've pushed it as far as they can go both sexually and in terms of anger. Which is why we're here, to provide something different."[31] Pretty. Odd. is described as being like "[Panic] dropped the entire Beatles catalog into a blender, added some modern alternative ice and the horn section from Sonia Dada, then churned out a new-millennium Liverpool smoothie."[

MEMBERS

Current members Brendon Urie – lead vocals, guitar, bass guitar, keyboard (2004–present) Spencer Smith – drums, (2004–present)

Touring members Eric Ronick – keyboards, vocals (2006–2008)

Former members Ryan Ross – lead guitar, vocals (2004–2009) Jon Walker – bass, guitar, piano, backing vocals (2006–2009) Brent Wilson – bass (2004–2006)

AWARDS

MTV Video Music Awards: Nominated: Best Direction in a Video (2008) for "Nine in the Afternoon" Nominated: Best Pop Video (2008) for "Nine in the Afternoon" Won: Video of the Year (2006) for "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" Nominated: Best Group Video (2006) for "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" Nominated: Best Rock Video (2006) for "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" Nominated: Best New Artist in a Video (2006) for "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" Nominated: Best Art Direction in a Video (2006) for "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" Los Premios MTV Latinoamérica: Nominated: Best International Rock Group (2007) Nominated: Best International Rock Group (2008) MTV Asia Awards 2008: Won: edc Style Award [32] TMF Awards: Won: Best Video International (2006) for "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" Grammy Awards: Nominated: Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package (2008)[33] Nominated: Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package (2009)[34]