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Brendon Urie

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Brendon Urie
Brendon Urie performing at Rock im Park 2016
Born
Brendon Boyd Urie

(1987-04-12) April 12, 1987 (age 37)
St. George, Utah, U.S.
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician[1]
Years active2004–present
Spouse
Sarah Orzechowski
​
(m. 2013)​
Musical career
OriginLas Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • piano
  • keyboards
  • bass
  • drums
  • percussion
Labels
Websitepanicatthedisco.com

Brendon Boyd Urie (born April 12, 1987) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of Panic! at the Disco, of which he is the only original member remaining.[7]

Early life

Urie was born in St. George, Utah, and his family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, when he was two years old.[8] He is the fifth and youngest child born to Grace and Boyd Urie.[9] He is of about one quarter Polynesian descent from Hawaii, through his mother's side.[10] He was raised in an LDS family,[9] but left the faith around 17 due to displeasure with the church and not believing in its ideology.[11][12][13] Urie attended Palo Verde High School in Las Vegas,[14] where he met future 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.[15]

Urie described himself as a "spaz in high school," and explained that one student would always bully him.[16] He worked at Tropical Smoothie Cafe in order to pay his band's rent for their practice space. At the cafe, Urie often sang for customers. He explained, "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. 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."[16]

Career

Panic! at the Disco

Urie in 2006

Urie met Brent Wilson while taking guitar classes offered at their high school and 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, Ryan 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.[17]

Since then, Panic! at the Disco has released six 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; 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.[18]

Urie in 2007

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.[15]

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.[19]

On March 21, 2018, the band released two new songs "Say Amen (Saturday Night)" and "(Fuck A) Silver Lining".[20] At the same time, the band also announced a tour, and a new album called Pray For The Wicked.[21][22]

Other projects

Urie provided guest vocals alongside Patrick Stump on The Cab's song "One Of THOSE Nights" from their debut album, Whisper War.[23]

Urie performing with Panic! at the Disco in 2009

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.[24]

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.[25]

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, the nation's highest honor for influencing American culture through the arts.[26]

Urie performing with Panic! at the Disco in 2011

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.[27][28] 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."[29] Urie and bandmate 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.[30]

On March 24, 2014, Brendon Urie was featured on Travie McCoy's single "Keep On Keeping On" off his upcoming album Rough Waters.[31] Urie featured on the entirety of the song "Love in the Middle of a Firefight" for Dillon Francis's album Money Sucks, Friends Rule.[32] 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.[33][34]

In 2016, Urie was featured on the song "It Remembers" by the band Every Time I Die, from their album Low Teens.[35]

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.[36][37][38]

In 2015, Urie wrote a song 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. For the musical, Urie wrote a song called, "Not A Simple Sponge." 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, including Aerosmith, John Legend, Plain White T's and Panic! at the Disco.[39][40]

In June 2018, Urie launched the Highest Hopes Foundation. The foundation supports other non-profit organizations that advocate for human rights and support communities who are often discriminated against.[41] To start off the funding of this foundation, Urie donated $1 million and gave $1 from the purchase of every US ticket for the Pray for the Wicked Tour to the foundation.[42]

On April 26, 2019, Urie collaborated with singer-songwriter Taylor Swift on "Me!" which is the lead single of her seventh studio album, Lover. They wrote the song with Joel Little. Swift and Little produced the song. This song had a commercial success reaching No.2 in billboard Hot 100 and it also charted in many countries including United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand

Voice

Urie possesses a tenor voice range that spans four octaves. His range extends D2 to C7.[43] His voice is known for being "extensive" and "versatile," notably after the release of "This Is Gospel" (2013).[4][44]

Influences

Urie has cited Frank Sinatra, Queen, David Bowie, and Tom DeLonge as his biggest influences.[45][46]

Personal life

Urie in 2013

Urie married Sarah Orzechowski on April 27, 2013,[47][48] after announcing their engagement in September 2011.[49] The two had first briefly met at one of Urie's shows, and eight months later, Hayley Williams from Paramore brought Sarah to one of Urie's shows and re-introduced them.[50] The song “Sarah Smiles” from the album Vices & Virtues was inspired by Orzechowski.[51]

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."[52] 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."[53]

In a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone, Urie stated that he has synesthesia.[54]

In February 2017, Urie moved out of his home in Los Angeles, to an undisclosed location, saying that "visits and constant harassment" from fans approaching him at his house led him to feel unsafe.[55][56]

Urie has said that he has been diagnosed with ADHD and was prescribed medication for the condition at a young age. He says that he likes to be open about his mental health to his fans.[57][58]

During late 2018, Urie began streaming regularly on popular live-streaming website Twitch.

Discography

See also: Panic! at the Disco discography

Singles

List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[59] 		US
Dance
[60] 		AUS
[61] 		CAN
[62] 		IRE
[63] 		NOR
[64] 		NZ
[65] 		SWE
[66] 		UK
[67]
"Love in the Middle of a Firefight"
(Dillon Francis featuring Brendon Urie) 		2014 — 45 — — — — — — — Money Sucks, Friends Rule
"Roses"
(Benny Blanco and Juice Wrld featuring Brendon Urie) 		2018 85 — — 58 81 38 —[A] —[B] —
  • RIAA: Gold
  • MC: Gold
 Friends Keep Secrets
"Me!"
(Taylor Swift featuring Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco) 		2019 2 8 2 2 5 9 3 11 3
  • RIAA: Platinum
  • ARIA: Platinum[70]
  • BPI: Silver
  • MC: Platinum
  • RMNZ: Gold
  • ZPAV: Gold
 Lover
"—" denotes a release that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Promotional singles

Title Year Album
"Keep On Keeping On"[71]
(Travie McCoy featuring Brendon Urie) 		2014 Non-album single

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Molly"[72] 2015 Lil Dicky Professional Rapper
"It Remembers"[73] 2016 Every Time I Die Low Teens

Notes

  1. ^ "Roses" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 10 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[68]
  2. ^ "Roses" did not enter the Swedish Singellista Chart, but peaked at number five on the Swedish Heatseeker Chart.[69]

References

  1. ^ Pettigrew, Jason. "Panic! At The Disco Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  2. ^ Beaumont, Mark (January 13, 2016). "Panic! at the Disco review – emo pop for a teen rebellion". The Guardian. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  3. ^ "Panic! at the Disco are back with dark pop punk at HMV". Tamworth Herald. March 18, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2016.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ a b "Vocal Range and Profile: Brendon Urie". Diva Devotee. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor". Tuned Up. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  6. ^ "Panic! At The Disco Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!". altpress. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  7. ^ "Panic! At The Disco's Brendon Urie joins 'Kinky Boots' cast". NME.
  8. ^ Urie, Brendon. "I do. Born in St. George, UT. Family moved me to Vegas when I was 2". Twitter. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  9. ^ a b "Growing up is hard to do". The Guardian. June 20, 2008. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  10. ^ patdperiscopes (February 18, 2016). "Brendon Urie's polynesian background" – via YouTube.
  11. ^ "Panic! At The Disco's frontman on being the only original member left". The Independent. March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  12. ^ "Out to Win: Panic! at the Disco frontman Brendon Urie takes on Westboro, talks 'gay' past and lapsed Mormonism – David Atlanta". davidatlanta.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  13. ^ "Sex, Drugs and Show Tunes: Panic! at the Disco's Brendon Urie Talks His Unconventional Road to Kinky Boots Stardom". people.com.
  14. ^ Weatherford, Mike (June 17, 2011). "Las Vegas' Panic! at the Disco playing House of Blues after weathering lineup changes". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  15. ^ a b "Panic! at the Disco Biography". Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  16. ^ a b Valerie Nome (March 22, 2011). "Panic! At The Disco Frontman Moves Forward". OK!. Archived from the original on March 24, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  17. ^ "Panic! Attacks". Las Vegas Review-Journal. October 28, 2005. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  18. ^ "Panic! at the Disco Talk "Jennifer's Body" Song, Plans for New LP". Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  19. ^ "Panic! at the Disco Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. January 24, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  20. ^ Melendez, Monique (March 21, 2018). "Panic! at the Disco — "Say Amen (Saturday Night)" / "(Fuck A) Silver Lining"". Spin. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  21. ^ Dickman, Maggie (March 21, 2018). "Panic! At The Disco announce massive U.S. tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  22. ^ Moore, Sam (March 21, 2018). "Panic! At The Disco announce new album and unveil single 'Say Amen (Saturday Night)'". NME. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  23. ^ "Buzzworthy Obsession: The Cab, 'One of Those Nights'". MTV. March 7, 2008. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  24. ^ "Brendon Urie Discography". Discogs. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  25. ^ "Open Happiness". Myspace Open Happiness. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  26. ^ "Brendon Urie Covers Billy Joel at 'Kennedy Center Honors'". Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  27. ^ "Exclusive: Butch Walker's Kung Fu Epic". SPIN. April 12, 2010. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  28. ^ "Butch Walker – Pretty Melody". YouTube. April 12, 2010. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  29. ^ "Weezer's Rivers Cuomo & Jermaine Dupri: The Billboard Cover Story & Video". Billboard. November 13, 2009. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  30. ^ "Panic! at Butch Walker's". YouTube. February 16, 2010. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  31. ^ Walker (March 24, 2014). "Travie McCoy - Keep On Keeping On (feat. Brendon Urie) | OnSMASH". Freeonsmash.com. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  32. ^ Dillon Francis And Panic! At The Disco Frontman Fight For Love In New Track MTV. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  33. ^ "Lil Dicky Laments Love Lost With Panic! at the Disco's Brendon Urie in 'Molly' Video: Watch". Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  34. ^ "Professional Rapper by Lil Dicky on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  35. ^ "Brendon Urie guests on new Every Time I Die song—listen - News - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  36. ^ "Panic! At the Disco's Brendon Urie Joins 'Kinky Boots' Cast". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  37. ^ "Brendon Urie Proves he Makes Those High Heels Work in new Kinky Boots Pictures". rocksound.
  38. ^ "Panic! At the Disco's Brendon Urie Will Star in Broadway's Kinky Boots". Playbill.
  39. ^ "Here's a song Panic! At The Disco wrote for the 'SpongeBob Squarepants' musical". June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  40. ^ "Panic! at the Disco Have Written a Song for a Spongebob Squarepants Musical". June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  41. ^ "Highest Hopes Foundation". Panic! At The Disco. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  42. ^ Guthrie, S. (2018). Panic at the disco rises to rock royalty. New York: CQ Roll Call. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/2063092738
  43. ^ "Vocal Range and Profile: Brendon Urie (Panic! At The Disco)". Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  44. ^ "Which APMA-nominated vocalist has the best pipes?". Alternative Press. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  45. ^ Sherwin Lainez (January 18, 2016). "Panic! at the Disco's Brendon Urie Talks the Influence of Bowie, Queen, and Sinatra on Death of a Bachelor". ABC News Radio.
  46. ^ "Icons: The Rock Stars That Changed Your World". Kerrang! (1097). Bauer Media Group: 40. March 4, 2006.
  47. ^ "Best day of my life. Meet Mrs. Urie". Brendon Urie Official Twitter Account. Twitter, Inc. April 28, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  48. ^ "Sarah Urie, Brendon's Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  49. ^ Brendon Urie and Sarah Orzechowski Announce Their Engagement" Archived July 6, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Buzznet. September 19, 2011.
  50. ^ "Brendon Shares How He Met His Wife". Youtube.
  51. ^ "Panic!'s Brendon Urie Answers Fan Questions!". SPIN.
  52. ^ James Michael Nichols (November 8, 2013). "Brendon Urie, Panic At The Disco Frontman, Has 'Experimented' With 'Homosexuality And Bisexuality'". Huffington Post.
  53. ^ Beatrice Hazlehurst (July 6, 2018). "Brendon Urie Lays It All Out". PAPER Magazine.
  54. ^ Spanos, Brittany; Spanos, Brittany (January 15, 2016). "Panic! at the Disco: Band Is 'Outlet for Nonchalant Chaos'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  55. ^ "Brendon Urie forced to move houses after fan harassment". Altpress.com. February 26, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  56. ^ "Panic! At The Disco's Brendon Urie forced to move house after 'constant harassment' from fans". nme.com. February 26, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  57. ^ thisisthenewgay (December 22, 2016), brendon urie talking about his mental health, retrieved April 24, 2017
  58. ^ "Brendon Urie's not going to panic about his new responsibilities". Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  59. ^ "Brendon Urie Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  60. ^ "Brendon Urie Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  61. ^ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. May 6, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  62. ^ "Brendon Urie Chart History: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  63. ^ "Discography Brendon Urie". Irish Charts. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
  64. ^ "Brendon Urie – Chart History: Norway Chart History". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  65. ^ "Brendon Urie – Chart History: New Zealand Chart History". Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  66. ^ "Discography – Brendon Urie". Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  67. ^ "Taylor Swift ft Brendon Urie | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  68. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. December 17, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  69. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker – Vecka 5, 1 februari 2019". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  70. ^ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. May 31, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  71. ^ "Keep On Keeping On (feat. Brendon Urie) - Single by Travie McCoy". iTunes. March 23, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  72. ^ "Brendon Urie guests on new Lil Dicky song, "Molly"". Substream Magazine. June 12, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  73. ^ "Brendon Urie is on the new Every Time I Die album". Rock Sound. June 21, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
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