Spencer Smith (musician)
Encyclopedia
Spencer James Smith is an American
musician
. Smith is a founding member and drummer
of American rock
band Panic! at the Disco
. With the band he placed two studio albums, Pretty. Odd.
(2008) and Vices & Virtues
(2011), in the top ten of the US Billboard 200
chart with the band's debut effort "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
" (2005) reaching No. 13, and the monster hit song "I Write Sins Not Tragedies
" at No. 7 in the Billboard Hot 100
.
.
He was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada
and attended Bishop Gorman High School with former bandmate Ryan Ross
. Smith, along with former bandmate Brent Wilson, finished high school by correspondence.
, 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
.
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. In turn, Smith introduced Wentz to The Cab
. Smith has played the percussion parts on the band's three studio albums, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
(2005), Pretty. Odd.
(2008) and Vices & Virtues
(2011). 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 less widely received in comparison to Fever and quickly fell off the charts. The album is noticeably different from the group's debut effort. The sound of the album was described by the band as "more organic and mellower" than A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, as well as unintentionally and coincidentally similar to music of The Beatles
, in both songwriting and scope. During this time, the band dropped the exclamation point from their name, as well as other defining elements from their stage show and performances. Inspired by baroque pop
and the works of The Beatles
and The Beach Boys
, the psychedelic
-styled rock album brought the band critical acclaim but underwhelming sales in the aftermath of their platinum-selling predecessor. 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.
Smith completed work on Panic! at the Disco's third studio album Vices and Virtues with bandmate Brendon Urie, which was released in March 2011. Alternative Press gave a four-star out of five rating and wrote, "[the album] meld[s] the youthful exuberance of their debut [A Fever You Can't Sweat Out] with the restraint and maturity of 2008's Pretty. Odd.. 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
. The short film addressed the departure of two former Panic! at the Disco founding members, Ryan Ross and Jon Walker.
In addition to his work with Panic! at the Disco, Smith is also associated with the band The Cab
. In 2007, members of The Cab sent Smith a demo and he helped sign them to Pete Wentz's record label
, Decaydance.
Spencer also appears in the music videos What a Catch, Donnie
and Headfirst Slide into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet
by Fall Out Boy
. Smith has also appeared 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.
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." 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
. Smith had also expressed interest in collaborating on a potential Broadway show with bandmate Brendon Urie saying, "That would be amazing. To put together a show that was a mix of our music as well as maybe tell a story...that would be like a dream."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. Smith is a founding member and drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
of American rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Panic! at the Disco
Panic! at the Disco
Panic! at the Disco is an American alternative rock duo, formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2005. Since its split, the band's line-up includes Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith . Former members Ryan Ross and Jon Walker left the group in 2009...
. With the band he placed two studio albums, Pretty. Odd.
Pretty. Odd.
Pretty. Odd. is the second studio album by the American rock band Panic! at the Disco. Recorded at the Studio at the Palms in Las Vegas with additional production at Abbey Road Studios in London with producer Rob Mathes, the album was released March 21, 2008 on Decaydance and Fueled by Ramen Records...
(2008) and Vices & Virtues
Vices & Virtues
Vices & Virtues is the third studio album by American rock band Panic! at the Disco, released on March 22, 2011 on Fueled by Ramen. Produced by John Feldmann and Butch Walker, the album marks the debut of the band's two-man lineup, featuring vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Brendon Urie and...
(2011), in the top ten of the US Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart with the band's debut effort "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
A Fever You Can't Sweat Out is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band Panic! at the Disco. Recorded primarily at SOMD! Studios in College Park, Maryland with producer Matt Squire, the album was released September 27, 2005 on Decaydance and Fueled by Ramen Records.Written and...
" (2005) reaching No. 13, and the monster hit song "I Write Sins Not Tragedies
I Write Sins Not Tragedies
"I Write Sins Not Tragedies" is a song by American rock band Panic! at the Disco, and is the lead single from their debut studio album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out . It was released on April 27, 2006 on both compact disc and 7 inch vinyl. The song was written by guitarist Ryan Ross. The song...
" at No. 7 in the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
Biography
Spencer Smith was born in Denver, ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.
He was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
and attended Bishop Gorman High School with former bandmate Ryan Ross
Ryan Ross
George Ryan Ross III is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter most known for his work as the lead guitarist, backup vocalist and main songwriter for the band Panic! at the Disco, before his departure from the band in 2009...
. Smith, along with former bandmate Brent Wilson, finished high school by correspondence.
Early 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 RossRyan Ross
George Ryan Ross III is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter most known for his work as the lead guitarist, backup vocalist and main songwriter for the band Panic! at the Disco, before his departure from the band in 2009...
, who had received a guitar. Ross and Smith mostly covered Blink-182
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
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
Brendon Urie
Brendon Boyd Urie is an American musician and the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, pianist and singer-songwriter of Panic! at the Disco. He also plays drums, bass guitar, accordion, organ, cello, violin, and trumpet.-Early life:...
and formed Panic! at the Disco
Panic! at the Disco
Panic! at the Disco is an American alternative rock duo, formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2005. Since its split, the band's line-up includes Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith . Former members Ryan Ross and Jon Walker left the group in 2009...
.
Panic! at the Disco/Music career (2004-present)
Spencer Smith is the founding drummer for the multi-platinum American rockRock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Panic! at the Disco
Panic! at the Disco
Panic! at the Disco is an American alternative rock duo, formed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2005. Since its split, the band's line-up includes Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith . Former members Ryan Ross and Jon Walker left the group in 2009...
, formed in 2004. Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
bassist Pete Wentz discovered the band through the internet by accident, and quickly signed them to his Decaydance Records
Decaydance Records
Decaydance Records is a record label based in New York City. Originally founded as an imprint of Fueled by Ramen, it is now an independent record label owned by Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy and partners. The first band Wentz signed to the label was Panic! at the Disco...
label before the band had even played a single show. In turn, Smith introduced Wentz to The Cab
The Cab
The Cab is an American rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada. Their debut album, Whisper War, was released on April 29, 2008. They have been called "The Band You Need to Know 2008" by Alternative Press magazine...
. Smith has played the percussion parts on the band's three studio albums, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
A Fever You Can't Sweat Out is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band Panic! at the Disco. Recorded primarily at SOMD! Studios in College Park, Maryland with producer Matt Squire, the album was released September 27, 2005 on Decaydance and Fueled by Ramen Records.Written and...
(2005), Pretty. Odd.
Pretty. Odd.
Pretty. Odd. is the second studio album by the American rock band Panic! at the Disco. Recorded at the Studio at the Palms in Las Vegas with additional production at Abbey Road Studios in London with producer Rob Mathes, the album was released March 21, 2008 on Decaydance and Fueled by Ramen Records...
(2008) and Vices & Virtues
Vices & Virtues
Vices & Virtues is the third studio album by American rock band Panic! at the Disco, released on March 22, 2011 on Fueled by Ramen. Produced by John Feldmann and Butch Walker, the album marks the debut of the band's two-man lineup, featuring vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Brendon Urie and...
(2011). 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
I Write Sins Not Tragedies
"I Write Sins Not Tragedies" is a song by American rock band Panic! at the Disco, and is the lead single from their debut studio album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out . It was released on April 27, 2006 on both compact disc and 7 inch vinyl. The song was written by guitarist Ryan Ross. The song...
" which became the band's most successful song, reaching #7 on the US Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
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
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, however it less widely received in comparison to Fever and quickly fell off the charts. The album is noticeably different from the group's debut effort. The sound of the album was described by the band as "more organic and mellower" than A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, as well as unintentionally and coincidentally similar to music of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, in both songwriting and scope. During this time, the band dropped the exclamation point from their name, as well as other defining elements from their stage show and performances. Inspired by baroque pop
Baroque pop
Baroque pop, Baroque rock, or English baroque, often used interchangeably with chamber pop/rock, is a pop and rock music subgenre which originated in the mid-1960s in the United Kingdom and United States...
and the works of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, the psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
-styled rock album brought the band critical acclaim but underwhelming sales in the aftermath of their platinum-selling predecessor. In 2009, founding member and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Ryan Ross
Ryan Ross
George Ryan Ross III is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter most known for his work as the lead guitarist, backup vocalist and main songwriter for the band Panic! at the Disco, before his departure from the band in 2009...
and bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Jon Walker, left the band, leaving Smith and vocalist Brendon Urie
Brendon Urie
Brendon Boyd Urie is an American musician and the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, pianist and singer-songwriter of Panic! at the Disco. He also plays drums, bass guitar, accordion, organ, cello, violin, and trumpet.-Early life:...
as the sole remaining members.
Smith completed work on Panic! at the Disco's third studio album Vices and Virtues with bandmate Brendon Urie, which was released in March 2011. Alternative Press gave a four-star out of five rating and wrote, "[the album] meld[s] the youthful exuberance of their debut [A Fever You Can't Sweat Out] with the restraint and maturity of 2008's Pretty. Odd.. 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
Shane Drake
Shane C. Drake is an American music video director originally from Redding, California. He has directed videos for bands such as Trivium, Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, Angels & Airwaves, Flo Rida, Timbaland, Blindside, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, The Almost, Hawthorne Heights and...
. The short film addressed the departure of two former Panic! at the Disco founding members, Ryan Ross and Jon Walker.
In addition to his work with Panic! at the Disco, Smith is also associated with the band The Cab
The Cab
The Cab is an American rock band from Las Vegas, Nevada. Their debut album, Whisper War, was released on April 29, 2008. They have been called "The Band You Need to Know 2008" by Alternative Press magazine...
. In 2007, members of The Cab sent Smith a demo and he helped sign them to Pete Wentz's record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Decaydance.
Spencer also appears in the music videos What a Catch, Donnie
What a Catch, Donnie
"What a Catch, Donnie" is Fall Out Boy's second digital download single and third radio single from their fifth studio album Folie à Deux . It was released as part of the build up to the new album on iTunes on October 14, 2008 and charted on the US and Canadian singles chart...
and Headfirst Slide into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet
Headfirst Slide into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet
"Headfirst Slide into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet" is Fall Out Boy's first digital single from their fifth studio album Folie à Deux. It was released as part of the build up to the new album on iTunes on October 7, 2008....
by Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
. Smith has also appeared in the Gym Class Heroes
Gym Class Heroes
Gym Class Heroes is an American hip hop rock band from Geneva, New York. They have collaborated with Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump on numerous occasions, notably for providing backing vocals on the song "Cupid's Chokehold." Stump also produced the majority of their album The Quilt.The group formed...
video for the song "Clothes Off!!
Clothes Off!!
"Clothes Off!!" is the fifth single from Gym Class Heroes' third album, As Cruel as School Children. It features vocalist Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy...
" 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
Brendon Urie
Brendon Boyd Urie is an American musician and the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, pianist and singer-songwriter of Panic! at the Disco. He also plays drums, bass guitar, accordion, organ, cello, violin, and trumpet.-Early life:...
appeared in Butch Walker
Butch Walker
Butch Walker is an American recording artist, songwriter, and record producer. He was the lead guitarist for the metal band SouthGang from the late 80s to early 90s as well as the lead vocalist and guitarist for rock band Marvelous 3 from 1997 until 2001.-Career:Walker grew up in Cartersville,...
's music video "Pretty Melody", appearing as ninjas.
In an April 2011 interview
Interview
An interview is a conversation between two people where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from the interviewee.- Interview as a Method for Qualitative Research:"Definition" -...
with Blogcritics
Blogcritics
Blogcritics is a blog network and online magazine of news and opinion. The site—a self-proclaimed "sinister cabal of superior writers"—was founded in 2002 by Eric Olsen and Phillip Winn...
, 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." 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
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
. Smith had also expressed interest in collaborating on a potential Broadway show with bandmate Brendon Urie saying, "That would be amazing. To put together a show that was a mix of our music as well as maybe tell a story...that would be like a dream."
External links
- http://www.panicatthedisco.com Official Panic! at the Disco web site