Ryan Ross (vocals/guitar) and Spencer Smith (drums) attended the same High School in Las Vegas. With a friend Brent Wilson (bass, ex-member) they started jamming together in the evenings. The informal practice sessions soon morphed the group into a rock band, christened Summer League. After a few gigs, the friends reckoned their band's sound was a bit on the 'thin' side, so a search started for an extra guitar player. Brent met Brendon Urie, inviting him along to audition to play guitar. But when it was realised that Brendon's singing voice was the best of the group, he was persuaded to take over lead vocals. To celebrate their new line-up, a new name was called for. The foursome settled on Panic! at the Disco (the ! was later discarded).
Pete Wentz (see Fall Out Boy Songs) saw PATD performing, and suggested to the band that they approach the Fueled by Ramen label. Pete's instincts proved correct as the record company offered PATD a contract. The band's first album A Fever You Can't Sweat Out came out late in 2005. Their first single - I Write Sins Not Tragedies - was released from the album. The single's video included a mock circus wedding - the circus idea is a constant theme of the band's tours. To raise their image, the band embarked on a protracted US tour, as a support act. By the end of the tour their popularity had increased to such an extent that they became the headline act. A second single from the album, But It's Better If You Do was released early in spring 2006, rising to number 26 in the charts. This single is many people's favorite of all Panic At The Disco songs.
Pete Wentz (see Fall Out Boy Songs) saw PATD performing, and suggested to the band that they approach the Fueled by Ramen label. Pete's instincts proved correct as the record company offered PATD a contract. The band's first album A Fever You Can't Sweat Out came out late in 2005. Their first single - I Write Sins Not Tragedies - was released from the album. The single's video included a mock circus wedding - the circus idea is a constant theme of the band's tours. To raise their image, the band embarked on a protracted US tour, as a support act. By the end of the tour their popularity had increased to such an extent that they became the headline act. A second single from the album, But It's Better If You Do was released early in spring 2006, rising to number 26 in the charts. This single is many people's favorite of all Panic At The Disco songs.
On tour though, the internal squabbling in the band turned from playful to resentful. Eventually Brent Wilson made the decision to quit. This left the group short of a bass for the UK and European leg of their tour. Fortunately Jon Walker, who was a friend from school days, stepped up to fill the role.
The band's sophomore album, Pretty. Odd came out early in 2008. It reached #2 in both the US and UK albums chart. Key tracks off the album include Nine in the Afternoon and That Green Gentleman.
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