Zahara Posted April 1, 2008 Author Share Posted April 1, 2008 Interview with Brendon and Ryan This week Panic At The Disco have released their new album "Pretty.Odd", and of course last weeks announcement that they are returning to Australia, supported by The Academy Is.. and Cobra Starship. Michele Menalis caught up with Ryan Ross and Brendon Urie for a chat about the album, their tour and obsessive fans. Hoping to eclipse the success of their multi-million dollar debut album, ‘A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out’, Panic At The Disco, all of whom hail from Las Vegas, rolls out their eagerly anticipated follow-up, ‘Pretty. Odd’. This time, the quartet, with a penchant for electronic rock ‘n roll and stage theatrics, the likes of which could be straight out a Cirque De Soleil performance, appear to have taken their sound to the next level. All is well in the Panic at the Disco camp. Just don’t call then Emo! Sitting in their hotel suite on Hollywood’s famed Sunset Strip, lead guitarist and songwriter Ryan Ross, is looking slim and dapper in his skinny tie and shirt combo. He wants to throw out this misconception off the bat. “I’m not going to say what I want to be called, but I think calling us Emo is a little bit off. When they list all the bands we’re supposedly influenced by, sorry, but I’ve never listened to them.” PATD has made some musical changes and Ross explains the impetus behind it. “I was listening to The Beatles. It was just like, ‘My God. How many kinds of songs did they write?’ They didn’t try to put themselves in some kind of specific place. They just did whatever they wanted.” Although Ross is a mere 21 years of age, he has a sure-footed opinion about the state of rock ‘n roll today. “There’s a lot of indie bands that cited the Beatles as their biggest influence but then they don’t want to be catchy. They don’t want to write pop melodies. That’s the strange thing because it’s like, “…wait a second, those guys wrote some of the catchiest songs of all time.” “Pretty. Odd.” is full of hooks and George Harrison-style solos. While it has a firm hand entrenched in its retro ‘60’s sound, the album is also mired in a contemporary vein. It’s certainly a delicate balance for a young rock and roll band in today’s climate. Ross states his claim on walking that musical tightrope. ”We wanted it to be un-placeable as far as when this album was recorded. We didn’t want to date it by making it sound like a modern rock album.” Their melodies and lyrics are reminiscent of Lennon and McCartney, and a touch of Kinks’ Ray Davies, and Badfinger, as evidenced in “Nine In The Afternoon,” the first single released from the album. Despite the inevitable pressure of following up a successful album, lead singer, Brendon Urie, fresh from a video shoot and also clad in the same skinny tie and shirt ensemble, enters the room. He explains: “After we stopped worrying and realized we just needed to focus on what is important we realized that we were happy with where we’re at. The most important things are the songs we’ve written as opposed to being stressed out about whether or not it’s going to do okay. So, we kind of stepped back a little bit.” Ross concurs: “We put a lot of pressure to out-do ourselves. I feel like we did make a better album. I don’t feel any pressure at all.” When discussing the pros and cons of fame, Ross says, “We had to get used to it. It was uncomfortable at first. I guess you like the attention because you’re putting a lot of time into what you’re doing. You want people to care about it and it’s one of those things that comes along with it. You just try not to let yourself think you’re greater than you are or let yourself think you’re as great as some people tell you, you are.” He pauses, then cites the Beatles to make another point. “It’s kind of funny. Like in ‘A Hard Days Night,’ there’s that scene where the lady comes up to him (John Lennon) and she’s like, ‘Hey you’re that guy from that band,” he goes ‘No, I’m not. I don’t even look like him. You look like him more than I do,” I feel like that sometimes, you know?” Urie smiles cautiously and talks about their fans – the good, the bad, and the ugly. “I think if there’s any weird fan interaction it’s because I make it weird,” he says, laughing. Tongue firmly in cheek, he continues, “I think I might make people feel awkward, you know, cause I’m bumbly and awkward and kinda’ klutzy. If I’m reaching for the pen to sign something (for a fan) I’ll drop it.” Ross laughs. “We had a Halloween show a few years ago. Somebody dressed up like me and they were standing in front of me for the whole show. It was this girl and she goes, ‘Ryan!’” And I looked at her and I was just like, this is so Twilight Zone!” Although he may be the idol of thousands of young girls Ross gets a tad uncomfortable when talking about situations when fans get a little freaky. “I’ve had some things left on the doorstep at my house before I moved. People find your address or your phone number and they’ll call you. One time they took a bunch of rocks from my front yard and spelled ‘We Heart Ryan’ or something like that. That’s nice but that’s probably weird that you did that while I was sleeping.” The fans are less frenetic in their approach with Urie. “I’ve been fortunate. I’m pretty much under the radar. People are pretty polite. I haven’t had many bad experiences. Any time I go out, if I do happen to get recognized, people are like, ‘Hi, I really like your band, can I get a picture?’ and it’s pretty much as simple as that,” he says. “It’s flattering and we never expected to get close to where we’re at but we’ don’t put much thought into it. We just do our thing.” The band is looking forward to touring Australia. Says Ross, “Australia was probably our favorite trip. It’s a beautiful country. The people are nice and we were able to experience a little bit of the culture which we don’t normally get to do.” For now, PATD are riding the wave of success. They have managed to keep their feet on the ground and don’t want to be treated as ’the next big deal.’ Urie sums it up, “We’re glad that people like us. We got very lucky. We were very fortunate to fall into our dream job but it’s not going to change us as people.” "Pretty.Odd" is instores now through Warner Music source: bombshellzine.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Beauty Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Nice thanks for posting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zahara Posted April 2, 2008 Author Share Posted April 2, 2008 Pretty. Odd. sold a total of 141,416 copies in its first week, making it the current #2 album in the United States. Decaydance/Fueled by Ramen Las Vegas art-rockers Panic at the Disco’s Pretty. Odd. bows at #2, with 141k, followed by Geffen’s Counting Crows debuting at #3, with 113k for their latest, Saturday Nights Sunday Mornings. http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/newsPage.cgi?news07042 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheeseygoodness Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 Interview with Brendon and Ryan source: bombshellzine.com wow. why would someone want to dress up like ryan to meet them. that's madness! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zahara Posted April 2, 2008 Author Share Posted April 2, 2008 wow. why would someone want to dress up like ryan to meet them. that's madness! Errrm.. yeah.. thats.. erm.. madness.. Just imagine what it would look like.. *cough* erm.. Pff.. It's not something.. erm.. I would do... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest miika Posted April 2, 2008 Share Posted April 2, 2008 ahora lo pongo todo trducido oh mi god! jajaj toy re loca! si esta bueno panic at the discoooppp! pero ta mas bueno mikaaa [babasss] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zahara Posted April 2, 2008 Author Share Posted April 2, 2008 ahora lo pongo todo trducido oh mi god!jajaj toy re loca! si esta bueno panic at the discoooppp! pero ta mas bueno mikaaa [babasss] Erm.. let me guess.. You just said that you LOVE Panic at the Disco, and you think they are way better than Mika?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zahara Posted April 3, 2008 Author Share Posted April 3, 2008 New pictures Photoshoot by Ben Ritter NME interviewed Panic At The Disco before their HMV in-store appearance in London, watch it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheeseygoodness Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 New pictures Photoshoot by Ben Ritter NME interviewed Panic At The Disco before their HMV in-store appearance in London, watch it i love jon in the first pic! that was a great interview. thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheeseygoodness Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 I'M GOING TO SEE THEM IN MIAMI!! AHH! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zahara Posted April 4, 2008 Author Share Posted April 4, 2008 I'M GOING TO SEE THEM IN MIAMI!! AHH! YEEAAAAAYYYY!!!! THATS GREAT!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheeseygoodness Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 YEEAAAAAYYYY!!!! THATS GREAT!! i didn't think it would be so easy convincing my dad to take me to miami in the middle of the week....but it was! i absolutley cannot wait! i hope i get to meet them afterwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zahara Posted April 4, 2008 Author Share Posted April 4, 2008 i didn't think it would be so easy convincing my dad to take me to miami in the middle of the week....but it was! i absolutley cannot wait! i hope i get to meet them afterwards. Wow! That's awesome!! Im so so jealous!! Will you make pictures?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheeseygoodness Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 Wow! That's awesome!! Im so so jealous!! Will you make pictures?! of course i will!! and videos!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zahara Posted April 4, 2008 Author Share Posted April 4, 2008 of course i will!! and videos!!! YAY!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zahara Posted April 5, 2008 Author Share Posted April 5, 2008 New HQ pictures Photoshoot by Thomas Laisne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoots14 Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 They're on SNL right now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauruslady Posted April 7, 2008 Share Posted April 7, 2008 The piano knows something I don't know.......... She had the world:wub2: LOVE those songs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zahara Posted April 8, 2008 Author Share Posted April 8, 2008 MTV’s artist of the week: Panic at the Disco Artist of the Week TV Spot #1 Tourists Artist of the Week TV Spot #2 Most interesting thing Artist of the Week TV Spot #3 The other hand Artist of the Week TV Spot #4 Regis cash club Artist of the Week TV Spot #5 The car broke down Artist of the Week TV Spot #6 Dragon and clowns Artist of the Week TV Spot #7 Soggy fries More pictures can be found here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zahara Posted April 9, 2008 Author Share Posted April 9, 2008 According to Panic's MySpace, the music video for "That Green Gentleman" - the band's second single off Pretty. Odd. - will premiere on May 2nd exclusively on NokiaUSA.com. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kittie88 Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 Hey Bought the new album the other day and I cannot stop listening to it, I love it! I especially like their current single Nine in the afternoon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xx_emily_x Posted April 9, 2008 Share Posted April 9, 2008 they're new album sounds like the beatles..but it's good. panic are coming to australia with the academy is!! i might get tickets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
im_stuck_in_the_middle Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 Wanna keep P!atD an the top in PORTUGAL? http://www.mtv.pt/tops/mtv_tops_votacao.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Beauty Posted April 10, 2008 Share Posted April 10, 2008 I loooove the new album :wub2: I don't care what people say, to me it still sounds like PATD! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zahara Posted April 11, 2008 Author Share Posted April 11, 2008 Watch MTV's exclusive mini-movie, Panic At The Disco in "American Valley" If it doesnt work, try YouTube: Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k85mq1gldjc Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8wXORgET_8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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