Content warning: this article contains mentions of sexual assault.
On Tuesday, Jan. 24, cheers and memes erupted as Brendon Urie, the last known member of Panic at The Disco (P!ATD) was finally laying P!ATD to rest. This comes after all of the original band members including Ryan Ross (guitarist and synthesizer), Spencer Smith (drummer) and Brent Wilson (bassist) left. The band has seen other prominent members including Dallon Weekes (bassist 2009–2017) and Jon Walker (guitarist 2006–2009) all of which have left and moved on. But one sad man has continued to carry this dying ship for years, and I think it’s time I finally speak my truth about frontman Brendon Urie.
Over the years, he has had more scandals than James Charles. Urie has been called out for sexually assaulting fellow band members and fans, as well as for racist and homophobic remarks.
I also think Urie’s comments and exploration of sexuality through P!ATD has been problematic. In 2018, Urie came out as pansexual, stating in an interview with Paper Magazine, “If a person is great, then a person is great.” That was all well and good. However, on P!ATD’s 2013 album “Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!” Urie sings “Girls/Girls/Boys,” a song he wrote about his first highschool threesome experience. In a video explaining the song, Urie brings up the idea of being “barsexual” instead of bisexual in reference to women who would “kiss at bars and have a few too many.” He describes these kinds of experiences as sexy and enthralling. This never sat right with me and read more as the objectification of bisexual women than an understanding of their attraction towards both sexes.
Until “Pray For The Wicked” came out in 2019, I was a huge fan of Urie as an artist. The release of “Victorious” on “Death of a Bachelor” caused a resurgence of interest in what P!ATD was doing, and the entire “Death of a Bachelor” album was arguably the best one released after Smith’s departure from the band.
I honestly believe that had Urie released music under his own name, been a more decent human being and actually taken care of his voice, he would have had a shot at winning the public over. However, after years of scandals, disappointment and vocal fry, I am grateful to see the P!ATD name be laid to rest.
Lastly I will be ranking the P!ATD albums with no explanation:
A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out
Pretty.Odd
Vice and Virtues
Too Weird to Live Too Rare to Die!
Death of a Bachelor
Pray For The Wicked
Viva Las Vengeance (It doesn’t feel right to even put this on the list. In my eyes, this album and the one above it should not exist.)
Finally, thank you to Fall Out Boy’s bassist Pete Wentz for starting and ending P!ATD. What a truly wild ride.
By: Rachel Van Horne, Senior Associate Editor