12 years (and five albums) on, Panic! At The Disco singer, Brendon Urie, still gets our twen-teen hearts beating faster, faster!
Has it really been that long since Panic! At The Disco first burst onto the scene with the delightfully vaudevillian “I Write Sins Not Tragedies”? Boy, do we feel old. And while the copious eyeliner of our emo adolescent phase has long been wiped off, 12 years on, there’s only one name that still gets our (twen-)teen hearts beating faster, faster.
The man in question? Why, frontman Brendon Urie of course: he of powerhouse vocals, boyish good looks, and Freddie Mercury-esque flamboyance. It’s safe to say that the talented troubadour is Panic! At The Disco (and vice versa). Band members have come and gone, but Brendon clearly isn’t letting any of that slow him down one bit – in fact, you could say being Panic!’s one-man army suits him just fine. Ahead of Panic!’s long-awaited concert in Singapore last week, we got the chance to fulfil our preserved teenage fantasies with a one-on-one chat with the man himself. Read on as Brendon spills the deets on his childhood dreams, Broadway aspirations, and the freedom of being Panic! At The Disco’s last-standing member.
Hey Brendon, it’s been a while – eight years to be exact! Why did it take you guys so long to come back to Singapore?
I keep asking my booking agent that same question! You know what’s so frustrating? Not getting to decide where we play. I often get tweets from fans saying, “Please come to Singapore/Portugal/Brazil!”. I feel really bad because I hate to disappoint my fans.
How are Panic! At The Disco fans in Asia different from those back home?
Back in the States, we’re spoilt because there are so just many shows. But because it’s pretty rare for us to play in Asia, it makes all the more special for the fans. One thing I’ve noticed in Asia is appreciation for the music. So when I’m on stage looking out at the crowd, I can see everyone going crazy and singing along with me. It’s an indescribable feeling.
You’re fresh off your summer tour co-headlining with Weezer. Was it everything you dreamt it would be?
To be honest, I haven’t fully processed how amazing the experience was. I’m such a fan of Weezer. When I was 10, I stole a cassette tape from my sister – it was Weezer’s Blue Album. It was a landmark album for me because I learnt how to play drums and guitar to it, and it made me realise what music could be. So to experience touring with them was a dream come true.
What was your favourite moment from the tour?
Oh, every night! It was a big fan moment for me – I’d stand in the sidelines and watch Weezer play every night, feeling excited like a little kid at Christmas.
Who else would you love to collaborate with?
Foo Fighters – I’ve wanted to be Dave Grohl ever since I started learning how to play drums and guitar, so getting to work with him would be epic. Also, Coldplay. I mean, c’mon, it’s Coldplay! They’re the biggest band in the world.
Speaking of Coldplay, you’re up against them and Fall Out Boy for Best Rock Video at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards.
Yeah, it’s awesome. When Panic! At The Disco won Video of the Year in 2006 for “I Write Sins Not Tragedies”, we really didn’t expect it – we were up against Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Madonna, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera! So it’ll be amazing to win again this time ’round. I’ll get to say “F* you, Fall Out Boy and Coldplay!” Just kidding, I love those guys.
We’ve seen you don some pretty out-there costumes in Panic!’s videos over the years. Which one was your favourite?
“Emperor’s New Clothes” was a really fun one to do, but it was pretty brutal too – it took five hours to get my make-up done and I needed help going to the bathroom. “Victorious” is another one of my favourites. It was great working with Brendon Dermer, the video director – we came up with ridiculous scenarios like me beating up a UFC fighter and just went all out in the video.
How would you describe this journey you’ve been on with Panic! At The Disco?
Death of a Bachelor [Panic!’s latest album] describes it perfectly. I’ve come so far and there have been so many iterations of the band: different albums; different band members; different dynamics. So it feels like the different eras of Panic! At The Disco have died off and reborn into what it is today.
Do you feel the pressure of being the sole remaining member of the band?
It feels liberating. It’s very different going from a four-person band to what Panic! At The Disco is now. Previously, I’d write songs, present them to the other members, and then compromise. But now, I don’t have to compromise – I just get to do what I want. It’s mayhem, but it’s pretty damn awesome.
What’s next for you and Panic! At The Disco?
Oh man, I want to do something different. After having been in the music scene for so long, I want to see what else I can get into: movies, musical theatre…
We could definitely see you on Broadway!
[Laughs] You think? Man, there are so many Broadway shows I’d love to do: Book of Mormon (because I grew up in a Mormon family and understand all the inside jokes), Kinky Boots… heck, I’d even play a tree on Broadway if I could.