Brendan Urie

Brendon Boyd Urie (born April 12, 1987) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is best known as the former lead vocalist and frontman of Panic! at the Disco, the only constant member throughout the band's 19-year run.

Many of his songs have achieved commercial success, reaching high spots on ''Billboard'' charts and millions of sales. On January 24, 2023, Urie announced that he would be discontinuing Panic! at the Disco, since he and his wife are having a child. He currently plays drums in a band led by former Panic! At the Disco touring guitarist, Mike Viola.

Early life

Urie was born in St. George, Utah, and his family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, when he was two years old. He is the fifth and youngest child born to Boyd and Grace Urie. He is of about one quarter Polynesian descent from Hawaii, through his mother's side. He was raised in an LDS family but renounced his faith around 17 due to displeasure with the church and not believing in its ideology.

Urie attended Palo Verde High School in Las Vegas; he described himself as a "spaz in high school," and explained that one student would always bully him. He worked at Tropical Smoothie Cafe to pay his band's rent for their practice space. At the café, Urie often sang for customers. Urie graduated high school in 2005.

Career

Panic! at the Disco

In 2004, Urie and Palo Verde High School classmate Brent Wilson were recruited into Panic! at the Disco by high school friends Ryan Ross and Spencer Smith as guitarist/vocalist and bassist respectively. Originally, Ross was their lead singer. When Urie filled in for Ross during a band rehearsal, they were impressed with Urie's vocal abilities and he was chosen as their lead singer. He officially joined the band in 2004.

From then on, Panic! at the Disco released seven studio albums with Urie as lead vocalist. ''A Fever You Can't Sweat Out'' was released in 2005 with the hit lead single "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" propelling it to 1.8 million sales. For their second album, ''Pretty. Odd.'' (2008), Urie also took lyrical responsibility and wrote two of the tracks on the record by himself: "I Have Friends in Holy Spaces" and "Folkin' Around". He also wrote " New Perspective" for the soundtrack to the motion picture ''Jennifer's Body''.

On March 22, 2011, the band released their third album ''Vices & Virtues'' following the departure of Ross and Walker. On October 8, 2013, the fourth album, '' Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!'' was released. It debuted at No. 2 on the ''Billboard'' 200. On July 21, 2014, Urie won "Best Vocalist" at the Alternative Press Music Awards. In 2015, founding drummer Spencer Smith left the band and bassist Dallon Weekes departed from the official lineup, being downgraded to a touring member, leaving Urie as the only member of the official lineup.

On January 15, 2016, Panic! at the Disco released their fifth studio album, ''Death of a Bachelor'', eventually earning the band its best sales week and first number one album. On March 21, 2018, the band released two new songs " Say Amen (Saturday Night)" and "(Fuck A) Silver Lining". At the same time, the band also announced a tour, and a new album called ''Pray for the Wicked''. On June 6, 2022, Panic! at the Disco announced their seventh studio album ''Viva Las Vengeance'' and released the title single along with announcing a tour.

On January 24, 2023, Urie announced that he would be discontinuing Panic! at the Disco to focus on his family following the conclusion of the Viva Las Vengeance Tour.

Other musical projects

Urie provided guest vocals alongside Patrick Stump on The Cab's song "One Of THOSE Nights" from their debut album, ''Whisper War''.

Urie has also been involved with several songs and other projects by former labelmates Fall Out Boy. He provided vocals on the songs "What a Catch, Donnie" and "20 Dollar Nose Bleed" from Fall Out Boy's 2008 album, ''Folie à Deux''. Urie also sang back vocals on the track "7 Minutes In Heaven" off of Fall Out Boy's ''From Under The Cork Tree''.

In 2008, Urie became involved with a song for the Coca-Cola Company, called "Open Happiness". Urie sings the chorus of the song, which also features labelmate Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy, labelmate Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes, Cee-Lo Green, and Janelle Monáe. The song was written and produced by Butch Walker, co-written by Cee-Lo Green and remixed by Polow Da Don. Urie was also featured as an elated news reporter in the music video for the song, which was released on July 16, 2009.

Urie appeared in the music videos "A Little Less Sixteen Candles, a Little More Touch Me," "What A Catch, Donnie" and " Headfirst Slide into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet" by Fall Out Boy. Urie appears in the Gym Class Heroes video for the song "Clothes Off!!" alongside former Panic! at the Disco band members Ryan Ross, Spencer Smith and Jon Walker. The members are seen dancing in animal costumes, Urie being in a dog suit. Urie also appears in "One of THOSE Nights" by The Cab, which also features Ryan Ross, Jon Walker, Pete Wentz, Patrick Stump and Spencer Smith. In 2010 Urie and bandmate Spencer Smith appeared in Butch Walker's music video "Pretty Melody", appearing as ninjas. Urie and Smith also appeared in Butch Walker's ''Panic! at Butch Walker's'', a parody in which Urie discovers Walker is a psychotic homicidal cannibal.

In 2011, Urie co-wrote a song with Rivers Cuomo of the band Weezer. Rivers has said that "If Panic! wants it, they have first dibs, but if not, it could work for Weezer."

In December 2013, Urie sang "Big Shot" in front of Billy Joel, President Obama, and an audience, when Billy Joel received the Kennedy Center Honors.

On March 24, 2014, Brendon Urie was featured on Travie McCoy's single "Keep On Keeping On" off his upcoming album ''Rough Waters.'' Urie featured on the entirety of the song "Love in the Middle of a Firefight" for Dillon Francis's album ''Money Sucks, Friends Rule''. Francis called it his favorite track on the album. Urie also was featured on the Lil Dicky track "Molly" on his debut studio album ''Professional Rapper''.

In 2016, Urie was featured on the song "It Remembers" by the band Every Time I Die, from their album ''Low Teens.''

On April 11, 2017, Urie announced that he would star in Cyndi Lauper's Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, '' Kinky Boots'', in which he played one of the lead roles, Charlie Price. He played the role from May 26, 2017, to August 6, 2017.

In 2015, Urie wrote the song "Not A Simple Sponge" for the ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' musical. The musical made its debut in Chicago in the summer of 2016 and returned to the Palace Theater on Broadway in the winter of 2017. Nickelodeon released a video in the spring of 2016 that includes details about the artists that they worked with to bring the score to life. For his contributions, Urie was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Original Score.

On April 26, 2019, Urie collaborated with singer Taylor Swift and Joel Little on " Me!" which is the lead single of her seventh studio album, ''Lover''. The song obtained commercial success, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and it also charted in many other countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

In 2022, Urie joined the band of friend and ''Viva Las Vengeance'' collaborator Mike Viola alongside Jake Sinclair, making the act a three-piece. Viola and Urie wrote the song "Diamonds of New York" about Adam Schlesinger, performing it on April 19, 2022. Over the summer, the band recorded together, in February 2023, the band performed in Hamburg, Germany, and on April 23, 2023, their album ''Paul McCarthy'' was released. Urie performed drums and percussion on every track of the project and is pictured in the album's cover artwork. Urie served as inspiration for the song "I Think I Thought Forever Proof." Urie appears in the music videos for Viola's songs "Scientist Alexis" and "Water Makes Me Sick", playing the drums. In 2022, he also worked with Japanese rock band One Ok Rock on the song "Neon". Over the winter of 2023, Urie worked with Viola and Sinclair again on Viola's album, ''Rock of Boston'', which is set to be released on September 20, 2024. Their song "Diamonds of New York" will appear on the album.

Influences

Urie has cited Frank Sinatra, Queen, David Bowie, and Tom DeLonge as his biggest influences. He also cited Taylor Swift as his influence as a songwriter.

Personal life

Urie was diagnosed with ADHD at a young age and has since been prescribed medication for the condition. He says that he likes to be open about his mental health to his fans. In a 2016 interview with ''Rolling Stone'', Urie stated that he has synesthesia.

Urie met his wife Sarah Orzechowski at one of his shows, albeit while she was in a relationship. Eight months later, Hayley Williams from Paramore brought Sarah to another of Urie's shows and reintroduced them, and they began dating in 2009. The song "Sarah Smiles" from the album ''Vices & Virtues'' was inspired by Orzechowski. After announcing their engagement in September 2011, the two married on April 27, 2013.

In 2013, Urie said that he had "experimented" with men but stated, "I guess if I had to classify myself, I'd say I'm straight." In July 2018, Urie described himself as pansexual and stated, "I'm married to a woman and I'm very much in love with her but I'm not opposed to a man because to me, I like a person. If a person is great, then a person is great." Urie has been recognized for his vocal & charitable support of the LGBT community.

Urie joined Twitch on September 30, 2015, and regularly livestreamed thereafter. As of January 2023, his streams had accrued more than 4 million views.

In February 2017, Urie moved from Los Angeles to an undisclosed location, stating that "visits and constant harassment" from fans at his house led him to feel unsafe.

In August 2022, Urie got a tattoo depicting deceased Queen singer Freddie Mercury. He also has a tattoo depicting Frank Sinatra.

On January 24, 2023, Urie revealed that he and his wife were expecting a child, and that he would be discontinuing Panic! at the Disco to focus on his family. Their child was born in February 2023.

Activism and philanthropy

Urie has been recognized for various philanthropic efforts, including his own Highest Hopes Foundation. He has campaigned and donated to several organizations and causes, including Planned Parenthood, the Human Rights Campaign, SisterSong and Everytown for Gun Safety, and several youth group organizations. In 2020, during the aftermath of the Murder of George Floyd, Urie directed funds to several anti-racist organizations such as the Black Visions Collective and the Minnesota Freedom Fund.

In June 2018, Urie pledged $1 million in partnership with GLSEN to create gay–straight alliance clubs in high schools across the United States. In November 2019, he raised over $134,000 during a 24-hour charity Twitch stream. In early 2020, Urie funded the construction of a recording studio for the Henderson Boys & Girls Club.

Misconduct allegations

In 2020, Urie was accused by two anonymous Twitter users of having inappropriately touched, groped, or otherwise sexually harassed them when they were underage between the years 2009 and 2011.

Later that summer, the Twitter hashtag #BrendonUrieSpeakUp trended as a result of those accusations and Panic! at the Disco's security manager Zack Hall being accused of sexual misconduct and physical abuse. Urie was also criticized on Twitter for past remarks that have been perceived as racist or transphobic, including a joke about rape—which, made during a live performance over 10 years ago, initially received positive reception. After several months, Urie appeared on a livestream to announce that Hall was no longer working with the band, though he received criticism for stating he would remain close friends with him. Urie apologized and announced that all of his crew members will receive anti-harassment training. Urie stated "I can't tell you how sorry I am to those that have been hurt and to those who have had to wait while I took the time I needed to listen and just learn" while also denouncing the allegations against himself as "entirely untrue".

Discography

Singles

As featured artist

Promotional singles

Guest appearances

With Mike Viola

Notes

References

External links

*

Official Panic! at the Disco web site

{{DEFAULTSORT:Urie, Brendon
1987 births
21st-century American LGBTQ people
21st-century American singer-songwriters
American atheists
American LGBTQ singers
American male guitarists
American male singer-songwriters
21st-century American multi-instrumentalists
American musicians with disabilities
American pansexual people
American rock guitarists
American rock singers
American rock songwriters
American tenors
American Twitch (service) streamers
Former Latter Day Saints
Guitarists from Nevada
LGBTQ Latter Day Saints
LGBTQ musicians with disabilities
LGBTQ people from Nevada
LGBTQ people from Utah
Living people
MTV Video Music Award winners
Musicians from the Las Vegas Valley
Native Hawaiian musicians
Palo Verde High School alumni
Panic! at the Disco members
Pansexual men
Pansexual musicians
People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Singer-songwriters from Hawaii
Singer-songwriters from Nevada
Singers with disabilities