Spencer Smith (musician)

Spencer Smith (born September 2, 1987) is an American musician best known as the co-founding member and former drummer of American rock band Panic! at the Disco.^[2] With the band he has played on four studio albums, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out (2005), Pretty. Odd. (2008), Vices & Virtues (2011) and Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! (2013). The band's debut album went Platinum and charted at No. 13 on the US Billboard 200, spearheaded by the hit single "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" which peaked at No. 7 in the Billboard Hot 100.

He announced his departure from the band on April 2, 2015 via the band's official website.^[3]

Early life

Born in Colorado, Smith was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada and attended Bishop Gorman High School^[4] with former bandmate Ryan Ross. He was born on Wednesday, September 2, 1987.

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 (2004-2015)

Spencer Smith was the drummer for 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. Smith has played the percussion parts on the band's four studio albums, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out (2005), Pretty. Odd. (2008), Vices & Virtues (2011) and Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! (2013). 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.

In 2007, members of The Cab sent Smith a demo and he helped sign them to Pete Wentz's record label, Decaydance.^[5] Spencer appears in the music videos "What a Catch, Donnie" and "Headfirst Slide into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet" by Fall Out Boy, and also appears 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.^[6]

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.^[7][8] Smith completed work on Panic! at the Disco's third studio album Vices & Virtues with bandmate Brendon Urie, which was released in March 2011. 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.^[9] The short film addressed the departure of two former Panic! at the Disco founding members, Ryan Ross and Jon Walker.^[9]

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."^[8] 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.^[8]

On April 2nd 2015, Smith released a statement announcing he had left the band. ^[10]

Hiatus from Panic! at the Disco (2013–2015)

On August 2, 2013, he released an open letter to his fans, coming clean about his battle with alcohol and prescription pills.^[11] On August 7, 2013 Brendon Urie announced via the band's website that Spencer would no longer be taking part in the tour, stating that "He is away getting the help that he needs."^[12] On April 2nd 2015, Spencer announced his departure from Panic! at the Disco. ^[13]

References

• Fekadu, Mesfin (2011-03-30). "Panic! at the Disco downsizes, may head to Broadway". San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. Retrieved 2011-04-08. 

External links

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