Putting the 'PANIC!' Back in the Music Scene
It's been two years since we've heard from alternative rock/pop-punk band
PANIC!. At one point, the young band from Tennessee were arguably one of, if not, the best band in the world. Of course at that time, the band was a six-piece, that included singer-songwriter-guitarist Ryan Ross Hernandez. They just released three albums in a span of four years, including the album that broke them through, their second studio album 2007's
Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner. That album was not only a career defining record, but it was a timeless piece of art. The album has sold over ten million records worldwide, including four million in the United States alone. Much of the success of that album was created to the innovative songwriting from Ashley Perry and Ryan Ross Hernandez, the duo created a lyrical style mainly based off of irony and other literary devices to narrate personal experience and stories.
Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner featured a wide range of styles and instrumentation, including orchestral and choral arrangements. Much of the lyrics addressed the band's rise to fame and the pressure of maintaining a loyal fanbase. One reviewer went as far as saying, "
the only top-ten acts that talk about fame as much as PANIC! does are rappers, although their take on selling records is less conflicted."
The band found success, and they found it quickly. After the release of their first album,
We Are the Directors of This Dramatic Story, they won their first International Music Awards/Birdie, for Best New Artist. They went on to win five more, including Best Single for number-one hit
I Liked You a Whole Lot Better Before You Became a Fucking MySpace Whore, and won the Best Band honor twice in a row. They were at the top of the music spectrum. Of course, problems soon aroused. After the major success that band accomplished with
Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner, the first taste of possible drama came when the group abruptly canceled a European tour at the spring of 2008, citing "
a lot of internal issues." Rumors flew about what those particular issues were, but the band remained closely guarded as to why they specifically backed out of the tour. That June, it was confirmed that Ryan Ross Hernandez had left the band, to focus entirely on his also successful solo career, which was already thriving. Down to a five-piece, with Ashley Perry taking full control of both the vocals and writing duties. It appeared as though the time off did them some good, as they managed to finish 2008 and started 2009 strong, touring the United States and winning their second Birdie award for Best Band.
When it finally came time to record a new album, the group addressed many of their internal issues head-on in the songs that make up 2009's
Broken Down on Memory Lane, their most mature release to date and the first post-Ryan Ross Hernandez (whom still returned to co-produce the record with PANIC!). The group admitted that many of the songs on the album directly dealt with the turmoil they had experienced the year prior. The album was less acclaimed than their second record, but was still a commercial success, is certified multi-platinum and earned them a second number-one single with,
There's Only One Exception When It Comes to Love.
Still, the band kept on trucking, headlining sold-out concerts all around the world and producing eye-popping videos for the singles from
Broken Down on Memory Lane. The story did not last very long as just a few months after the album was released, the band announced the release of
Thanks for Memories, their first greatest hits compilation. With its release in the winter of 2009, it marked the start of the band's hiatus. A hiatus that many saw as a break-up instead.
That was until today. On June 23rd, PANIC!'s website was revived, just a single page with a new band logo and a picture of frontwoman Ashley Perry and long-time guitarist/backing vocalist for PANIC! Gabriel Hunter. That might be to confirm that the band that was reduced from a six-piece, to a five-piece, with Ryan Ross Hernandez's departure in 2008. And become just a duo now, with the apparent departures of bassist Nick Asher, rhythm guitarist Josh Fallon, and drummer Joey Fallon.
When reps of the band were contacted, they confirmed that PANIC! were once again active but they did not add anything else. They said that the remaining members will address all questions and the future of the band soon.
(
OOC: Been wanting to reactive PANIC! for the longest time just been having a case of writer's block these last few weeks.)
