Brendon Urie

Brendon Urie

Brendon Boyd Urie Ross (born April 12, 1987) is an American musician and the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, pianist and singer-songwriter of Panic! at the Disco. He also plays with drums, bass guitar, accordion, organ, Ryan Ross, cello, violin, and trumpet.

Early life

Urie was born in Summerlin, Nevada as the youngest of five children to a Mormon family. Urie was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 12 years old. He attended Palo Verde High School, where he met future ex-Panic bassist Brent Wilson in his guitar class. Wilson asked Urie to try out for a band he was in, since they needed a replacement guitarist.

Describing himself as a "spazz in high school" in an interview in 2011, Urie recalled various moments of his teenage years. "There was a kid that used to pick on me…he used to drop my food, and beat me up in little corners," he said. "Nothing serious, but tease me. I remember knocking his food out of his hand one time when he in the middle of explaining something to his friends, and they all laughed, so I thought that was pretty nice. ‘Well, there you go buddy.’ I was able to get instant karma."

During high school, Urie worked at Tropical Smoothie Cafe in order to pay the band's rent for their practice space, and, while there, often sang for customers. "I would sing anything I was listening to at the time, but I was down to take requests. I remember singing some Scorpions songs, some W.A.S.P. 80s anthems are usually good for tips. It was a huge range of stuff," he recalled in 2011. "I’m glad they let me sing, and they didn’t fire me because I would sing everywhere – while I was doing dishes, I would sing while I was making the smoothies. I was ‘that guy.’ 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."

Career

His musical career began when he met Brent Wilson during guitar classes which they shared in high school. Consequently, Wilson asked Urie to try out as lead guitarist for Panic! at the Disco, as they were looking for a replacement at the time. Originally, Urie was not the band's lead singer; the position had belonged to Ryan Ross. However, when the band heard him sing backup during a rehearsal when Ross was unable to sing, they were impressed with his vocal abilities and unanimously decided to make him the singer.

Since then, Panic! at the Disco has released 3 studio albums with Urie as lead vocalist. A Fever You Can't Sweat Out was released in 2005 and their sophomore record, Pretty. Odd. in 2008. On Pretty. Odd., Urie also took lyrical responsibility and wrote two of the tracks on the record by himself; those tracks being "I Have Friends in Holy Spaces" and festival favorite "Folkin' Around". He also wrote "New Perspective" for the soundtrack to the motion picture Jennifer's Body.

In February 1, 2011, another single was released: "The Ballad of Mona Lisa" which soon reached iTunes #1 spot in the Alternative Music Category. After the song's Music Video was released, it also reached the #1 spot, this time in Alternative Music Videos.

Other projects

Apart from his work in Panic! At the Disco, Brendon Urie has been featured in songs and music videos of other artists, as well as other projects. Urie provided guest vocals alongside Patrick Stump on The Cab's song "One Of THOSE Nights" from their debut album, Whisper War. Urie also appeared in Razia's Shadow, a musical created by the band Forgive Durden, with whom Panic! At The Disco has toured and become close friends. Past touring keyboardist Eric Ronick also got Urie involved with the song "Plans and Reveries" from his band, Black Gold.

Urie has also been involved with several songs by labelmates Fall Out Boy. He provided vocals on the songs "What A Catch, Donnie" and "20 Dollar Nose Bleed" from Fall Out Boy's most recent 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, Brendon Urie became involved with a song for the Coca-Cola Company, called "Open Happiness". Urie sings the chorus of the song, which is also features labelmate Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy, labelmate Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes, Cee-Lo Green, and Janelle Monae. 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 bandmate Spencer Smith and former Panic! at the Disco band members Ryan Ross 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. Recently Urie and bandmate Spencer Smith appeared in Butch Walker's music video "Pretty Melody", appearing as ninjas. Brendon 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." Urie and band mate Spencer Smith appeared in Butch Walker's Panic! at Butch Walker's, a parody in which Urie discovers Walker is a psychotic homicidal cannibal, and Brendon is his next meal.