Since exploding onto the scene in 2005 with their debut album, "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out," Las Vegas band Panic! at the Disco has experienced a fair amount of drama. Over the three years since the follow up to their debut album, the group experienced somewhat of an identity crisis. This coincided with criticism of their Beatles-inspired follow-up album, the departure of two band members and the overhyped drop of the exclamation point from the band's name.
If the gushing reviews of the duo's new album "Vices & Virtues" released today are any indication, Panic! at the Disco has silenced the critics and given their fans something great, returning with the energy and creativity that made the band so special to begin with.
GlobalGrind had a chance to sit down with Panic!'s lead singer, Brendon Urie, to discuss what goes through his head when he's on stage and nearly enrolling in cosmotology school instead of becoming a rock star.
Check out the interview below.
читать дальшеGlobal Grind: What was the process like working on your new album? How long did it take you and where did you write/record?
Brendon Urie: We had just moved out to California when the band split, so we took a couple months thinking about the new direction and what we wanted to do and continue in the band. We took a little bit of time for writing. We had a couple of demos, but we wanted to keep writing because we really didn’t have a direction set. So it started with just writing aimlessly, each song got its own respective time and ideas and direction so that continued on until the end of the record process.
We got to work with some amazing people, very talented people. In the beginning we were a little nervous that our ideas wouldn’t cut it, but they were great enough to let us lead and supported us in any way that they could. We had out favorite demos and we would show them, and it turned out circumstantially that they happened to like the same demos that we did. So we ended up working on all the songs that we loved. The whole recording process was just over a year. We were writing the entire time we were recording and never really stopped. And we had to tell ourselves to stop recording, it was done!
GG: Why did you decide to go to California?
BU: We just wanted a change of scenery. We all had our hearts set on Cali for a long time. When I was younger one of my favorite bands was Sublime. I’ve always been in love with the ocean, surfing, that whole vibe. There’s just a different feeling when you live by the ocean, a different aura and vibe with people. It’s a perpetual happiness. There’s a lot to do in L.A., many places to go watch bands.
GG: How did you feel about the crowds response to the new songs?
BU: We were so in the moment of playing I don’t know if I could put it into words. It was so exciting to be able to play and unveil the new stuff. That’s always a special moment for us. It was crazy playing "Mona Lisa." Just from the week it had been out, all of our fans in the front were singing all the words. That’s such a special moment when that happens, it’s very emotional. We needed that, so it was good that it came along finally.
GG: What are you thinking about when you are on stage?
BU: When you get a little hyper-aware of the crowd you start to get nervous, but when you look at the fans out in the crowd you are instantly back in the zone. You’re sent to this other world and everything is right again. It’s been such a sacred experience it’s hard to put into words. When we get on stage we transform and when we come off it’s like, what just happened!? That was phenomenal.
GG: When did you know you wanted to be a rock star and when did you realize you became one?
BU: I don’t think I ever knew I wanted to become a rock star per se, but performing is something that feels very natural. I went to talent shows and my parents were really great at raising me and loving music, they never deterred me from my goals of wanting to perform. Music was the best outlet for that. We’re all so fortunate to be able to do this.
GG: Did you have a moment when you realized you were doing what you wanted to do and that was it for you?
BU: When I first met the guys in the band, we were still writing and talking about friends of friends and we were just playing music and writing together. I told them I had plans to go to Arizona, go to recording school, get my cosmetology license to cut hair. But they intervened, and I’m so glad that they did because this is much better than cosmetology school.
GG: Do you have any favorite artists that you’re listening to?
BU: We’ve always been fans of the Arcade Fire. Their new record is phenomenal. It was frustrating listening to it especially during the song writing process, analyzing every piece and then also listening to it objectively and just enjoying it. It’s frustrating and its beautiful because it’s so good, we wondered if we could ever do anything that made us feel that great, but I think we got pretty close toward the end.
GG: Would you say they were an inspiration to you?
BU: Definitely. They are such great musicians. The record, their live show, everything. They have this website that is so cool and interactive with their fans.
GG: Do you have a favorite hip-hop artist?
BU: One of my favorite classic records is Dr. Dre's "Chronic" and "2001," Snoop Dog, "Doggystyle" is always a staple. I really do love Kanye West, his music is fun to listen to, always a good time.
GG: What’s your favorite city to play a show in?
BU: Playing places we’ve never played before is always fun. We just played in Argentina, the setting was amazing. We played on the beach at this festival.
GG: Do you have a favorite restaurant?
BU: We’re actually driving from Philadelphia to Virginia and we got to stop off at Pot Belly. Any time we are in the Mid-West or the East Coast we get to indulge in that.
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