Spencer Smith (musician)

Spencer Smith
Smith in 2009
Background information
Birth name	Spencer James Smith
Born	(1987-09-02) September 2, 1987 Denver, Colorado
Origin	Summerlin, Nevada
Genres	Alternative rock, pop punk, pop rock, baroque pop
Instruments	Drums, piano, clarinet, marimba, xylophone, vibraphone, tambourine, cabasa, vibraslap
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Decaydance, Fueled by Ramen
Associated acts	Panic! at the Disco, The Cab
Website	www.panicatthedisco.com
Notable instruments
SJC Custom Drums Meinl Cymbals

Spencer James Smith (born September 2, 1987)^{[citation needed]} is an American musician. Smith is a founding member and drummer of American rock band Panic! at the Disco. With the band he placed two studio albums, Pretty. Odd. (2008) and Vices & Virtues (2011), in the top ten of the US Billboard 200 chart with the band's debut effort "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out" (2005) reaching No. 13, and the monster hit song "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" at No. 7 in the Billboard Hot 100.

Biography

Smith was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada and attended Bishop Gorman High School with former bandmate Ryan Ross. Smith, along with former bandmate Brent Wilson, finished high school by correspondence.^{[citation needed]}

Early music career

Smith began playing drums at age 12 when he received a drum kit for Christmas. Soon he began collaborating with his friend, Ryan Ross, who had received a guitar. Ross and Smith mostly covered Blink-182 songs with Ross on vocals. Their two-piece band was originally called Pet Salamander. They teamed up with Brent Wilson and Trevor Howell on guitar to make "Summer League" before they met Brendon Urie and formed Panic! at the Disco.

Panic! at the Disco/Music career (2004-present)

Spencer Smith is the founding drummer for the multi-platinum American rock band Panic! at the Disco, formed in 2004. Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz discovered the band through the internet by accident, and quickly signed them to his Decaydance Records label before the band had even played a single show. In turn, Smith introduced Wentz to The Cab. Smith has played the percussion parts on the band's three studio albums, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out (2005), Pretty. Odd. (2008) and Vices & Virtues (2011). A Fever You Can't Sweat Out has sold over two million units worldwide, spurred on by the lead single "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" which became the band's most successful song, reaching #7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and becoming the band's mainstream breakthrough so early in their career. The 2008 album Pretty. Odd. debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, however it was less widely received in comparison to Fever and quickly fell off the charts.^{[citation needed]} The sound of the album was described by the band as "more organic and mellower" than A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, as well as unintentionally and coincidentally similar to music of The Beatles, in both songwriting and scope. During this time, the band dropped the exclamation point from their name, as well as other defining elements from their stage show and performances. Inspired by baroque pop and the works of The Beatles and The Beach Boys, the psychedelic-styled rock album brought the band critical acclaim but underwhelming sales in the aftermath of their platinum-selling predecessor.^{[citation needed]} In 2009, founding member and guitarist Ryan Ross and bassist Jon Walker, left the band, leaving Smith and vocalist Brendon Urie as the sole remaining members.

Smith completed work on Panic! at the Disco's third studio album Vices and Virtues with bandmate Brendon Urie, which was released in March 2011. Alternative Press gave a four-star out of five rating and wrote, "[the album] meld[s] the youthful exuberance of their debut [A Fever You Can't Sweat Out] with the restraint and maturity of 2008's Pretty. Odd.. Prior to the release of Vices & Virtues, Smith co-starred with Brendon Urie in a seven minute short film, called The Overture, directed by Shane Drake. The short film addressed the departure of two former Panic! at the Disco founding members, Ryan Ross and Jon Walker.

In addition to his work with Panic! at the Disco, Smith is also associated with the band The Cab. In 2007, members of The Cab sent Smith a demo and he helped sign them to Pete Wentz's record label, Decaydance. Spencer also appears in the music videos What a Catch, Donnie and Headfirst Slide into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet by Fall Out Boy. Smith has also appeared in the Gym Class Heroes video for the song "Clothes Off!!" alongside bandmate Brendon Urie, and former Panic! at the Disco band members Ryan Ross and Jon Walker. The members are seen dancing in animal costumes, Spencer being in a seal suit. Recently Smith and bandmate Brendon Urie appeared in Butch Walker's music video "Pretty Melody", appearing as ninjas.

In an April 2011 interview with Blogcritics, Smith revealed plans to expand Panic! at the Disco from the current duo with the addition of new band members saying, "We knew it would be just me and Brendon, but we have also left the option open to work with other people." Smith also stated that being on tour is his favorite part of the musical process, though that would be impossible without work in the recording studio. Smith had also expressed interest in collaborating on a potential Broadway show with bandmate Brendon Urie saying, "That would be amazing. To put together a show that was a mix of our music as well as maybe tell a story...that would be like a dream."

External links

• Spencer Smith at the Internet Movie Database
• Official Panic! at the Disco web site