Brendon Boyd Urie (born April 12, 1987) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is best known as the lead vocalist and frontman ofPanic! at the Disco, the only constant member throughout the band's 19-year run.[7]
Many of his songs have achieved commercial success, reaching high spots onBillboard charts and millions of sales. On January 24, 2023, Urie announced that he would disband Panic! at the Disco in order to raise his then-forthcoming child with his wife.[8] He currently plays drums in a band led by former Panic! At the Disco touring guitarist,Mike Viola.[9][10]
Early life
Urie was born inSt. George, Utah, and his family moved toLas Vegas, Nevada, when he was two years old.[11][non-primary source needed] He is the fifth and youngest child born to Boyd and Grace Urie.[12] He is of about one quarter Polynesian descent from Hawaii, through his mother's side.[13] He was raised in anLDS family[12] but renounced his faith around 17 due to displeasure with the church and not believing in its ideology.[14][15][16]
Urie attendedPalo Verde High School in Las Vegas;[17] he described himself as a "spaz in high school," and explained that one student would always bully him.[18] He worked atTropical Smoothie Cafe to pay his band's rent for their practice space. At the café, Urie often sang for customers.[18] Urie graduated high school in 2005.[19]
"I would sing anything I was listening to at the time, but I was down to take requests. I remember singing someScorpions songs. SomeW.A.S.P. 80s anthems are usually good for tips. It was a huge range of stuff. Some people liked it, and some people didn't. I had to respect other people's wishes, but I had a couple people come in who would ask me to sing for a tip. That's always fun." – Brendon Urie recalls his experience working atTropical Smoothie Cafe (March 22, 2011)[18]
In 2004, Urie was recruited into Panic! at the Disco by Palo Verde High School classmate and friend Brent Wilson as a guitarist/vocalist.[20] Originally, the band's founderRyan 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.[21] He officially joined the band in 2004.[22]
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 pictureJennifer's Body.[23]
Urie performing with Panic! at the Disco in 2009
On March 22, 2011, the band released their third albumVices & 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 theBillboard 200. On July 21, 2014, Urie won "Best Vocalist" at theAlternative Press Music Awards. In 2015, founding drummerSpencer Smith left the band and bassistDallon Weekes departed from the official lineup, being downgraded to a touring member, leaving Urie as the only member of the official lineup.[22]
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.[24] On March 21, 2018, the band released two new songs "Say Amen (Saturday Night)" and "(Fuck A) Silver Lining".[25] At the same time, the band also announced a tour, and a new album calledPray for the Wicked.[26][27] On June 6, 2022, Panic! at the Disco announced their seventh studio albumViva Las Vengeance and released the title single along with announcing a tour.[28]
On January 24, 2023, Urie announced that he would be discontinuing Panic! at the Disco to focus on his family following the conclusion of theViva Las Vengeance Tour.[29][30][31][32]
Urie has also been involved with several songs and other projects by former labelmatesFall 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'sFrom Under The Cork Tree.[34]
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 labelmatePatrick Stump of Fall Out Boy, labelmateTravis McCoy ofGym Class Heroes, Cee-Lo Green, andJanelle Monáe. The song was written and produced byButch 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.[35][non-primary source needed]
In 2011, Urie co-wrote a song withRivers Cuomo of the bandWeezer. Rivers has said that "If Panic! wants it, they have first dibs, but if not, it could work for Weezer."[39]
Urie performing with Panic! at the Disco in 2011 at theBowery Ballroom in New York City
On March 24, 2014, Brendon Urie was featured onTravie McCoy's single "Keep On Keeping On" off his upcoming albumRough Waters.[41] Urie featured on the entirety of the song "Love in the Middle of a Firefight" forDillon Francis's albumMoney Sucks, Friends Rule.[42] Francis called it his favorite track on the album. Urie also was featured on theLil Dicky track "Molly" on his debut studio albumProfessional Rapper.[43][44]
On April 11, 2017, Urie announced that he would star in Cyndi Lauper'sTony 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.[46][47][48]
In 2015, Urie wrote the song "Not A Simple Sponge" for theSpongeBob 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.[49][50] For his contributions, Urie was nominated for theTony Award for Best Original Score.[51]
On April 26, 2019, Urie collaborated with singerTaylor Swift andJoel Little on "Me!" which is the lead single of her seventh studio album,Lover. The song obtained commercial success, reaching No. 2 on theBillboard 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 andViva Las Vengeance collaboratorMike Viola alongsideJake Sinclair, making the act a three-piece.[9] Viola and Urie wrote the song "Diamonds of New York" aboutAdam Schlesinger, performing it on April 19, 2022. Over the summer, the band recorded together, in February 2023, the band performed inHamburg, Germany, and on April 23, 2023, their albumPaul McCarthy was released. Urie performed drums and percussion on every track of the project and is pictured in the album's cover artwork.[10] Urie served as inspiration for the song "I Think I Thought Forever Proof."[52] Urie appears in the music videos for Viola's songs "Scientist Alexis" and "Water Makes Me Sick", playing the drums.[53][54] In 2022, he also worked with Japanese rock bandOne Ok Rock on the song "Neon".[55] Over the winter of 2023, Urie worked with Viola and Sinclair again on Viola's album,Rock of Boston, which was released on September 20, 2024.[56] Their song "Diamonds of New York" appeared on the album.[57]
Urie was diagnosed withADHD 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.[62][63] In a 2016 interview withRolling Stone, Urie stated that he hassynesthesia.[64]
Urie met his wife Sarah Orzechowski at one of his shows, albeit while she was in a relationship. Eight months later,Hayley Williams fromParamore brought Sarah to another of Urie's shows and reintroduced them, and they began dating in 2009.[65] The song "Sarah Smiles" from the albumVices & Virtues was inspired by Orzechowski.[66] After announcing their engagement in September 2011,[67] the two married on April 27, 2013.[68][non-primary source needed][69]
In 2013, Urie said that he had "experimented" with men but stated, "I guess if I had to classify myself, I'd say I'mstraight."[70] In July 2018, Urie described himself aspansexual 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."[71] Urie has been recognized for his vocal & charitable support of theLGBTQ community.[72][73]
Urie joinedTwitch on September 30, 2015, and regularlylivestreamed thereafter. As of January 2023,[update] his streams had accrued more than 4 million views.[74]
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.[75][76]
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.[29][30][31][32] Their child was born in February 2023.[79]
In June 2018, Urie pledged $1 million in partnership withGLSEN to creategay–straight alliance clubs in high schools across the United States.[90] In November 2019, he raised over $134,000 during a 24-hour charityTwitch stream.[91][92] In early 2020, Urie funded the construction of a recording studio for theHenderson Boys & Girls Club.[93]
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 2009 and 2011.[94][95]
Later that summer, the Twitterhashtag #BrendonUrieSpeakUp trended as a result of those accusations andPanic! at the Disco's security manager Zack Hall being accused of sexual misconduct and physical abuse.[96] Urie was also criticized on Twitter for past remarks that have been perceived as racist[a] or transphobic,[b] including ajoke about rape—which, made during a live performance over 10 years ago, initially received positive reception.[101][102][103][104] 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.[105] Urie apologized and announced that all of his crew members will receiveanti-harassment training.[105] 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".[105]
^Urie has received criticism for lip-syncingthe N-word to a rap song and for stating "I wish I was born Black, so I could wear the clothes I wear without getting made fun of."[96]
^abAarons, Michael (May 1, 2023)."Mike Viola At John And Peter's Place".Americana Highways.The three-piece band, featuring Mike on guitar, Jake Sinclair on bass and Brendan Urie on drums, was tight and energetic.
^"EW reveals its 2019 Entertainers of the Year: Lizzo, Awkwafina, the cast of Succession, and more".Entertainment Weekly. December 11, 2019. RetrievedApril 9, 2021.I'd been a fan of Taylor's for years. When "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" came out, I'd play [it] whenever an acoustic guitar was around. Still do.(...) As a songwriter, I love her choice of melodies against certain chords. What she writes is so honest, and it shines through the lyrics' marriage to the melodies.
^Magnuson, Eric (May 23, 2011)."Panic! Get Saucy in Boston Tour Opener".Spin (magazine).Judging by all of the ecstatic screams from fans of all genders, the rabid fans at the House of Blues wanted it, despite the mildly offensive come on.
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