Panic! At the Downfall of Brendon Urie

Oh Panic! At the Disco. A third of the emo trinity. Did they deserve their place? (I’d say probably not; it should have been Paramore.)

Why did we like it then?

From Brendon’s vocals (ya know, before he ruined his voice) to Ryan Ross’s lyrics - what wasn’t there to love? Any kid worth their smudged eyeliner knew exactly what came after “oh! Well imagine” & could sing their heart out through the church corridor. Panic! embraced their oddness, even incorporating it into later album titles. I think this is what we fell for - interesting lyrics, phenomenal vocals, and unforgettable visuals. But what happened?

What can we take from it now?

At the very least, we can take a page from Ryan and Dallon’s books and get out while you’re still ahead. When someone shows you who they are, believe them. Especially if that someone shows you that they are unafraid to make racist and transphobic remarks. We can also learn the importance of a strong ending over a mediocre “please just let it die” career. As seen in Viva Las Vengence, Panic! likely would have maintained a better legacy if Brendon had let the project finish and began releasing music as a solo act.