That’s just because I’m naked in my house most of the time. A couple of songs were recorded completely nude. It’s a beautiful thing when you have that kind of freedom. I have a studio at my house with a pool right next to it, and it’s fairly private. Did you go for nudity for the whole record this time? I will say I’ve been pretty damn naked recording songs. You’ve said you made half of Death of a Bachelor naked last time. It was never out of anger or malice like, “Fuck you guys I wish I could be on my own.” But at the end of the day it was good write on our own and bring stuff together. Egos get heated and you get into bickering arguments and everybody thinks they’re number one. It’s just four egos that didn’t know anything. Was there ever a point in time where you wanted to disband but you couldn’t say anything? That was every day in the band. I’m still best friends with our original drummer Spencer-he comes over every other day.
It was like you want to do this other thing, let’s at least end it now with the caveat that we can stay friends instead bickering until we don’t want to be friends anymore. Instead of "fuck you, you’re out of the band and we’ll never talk again." It wasn’t really how we felt. Every time someone wanted to leave the band, we wanted to leave it that way. If we ever met up again, it would be totally good. But I think that’s how it goes: like in college you have these friends and you’re so tight for so long and then you go your separate ways. I haven’t talked to a couple of them in a while. Now, he sees it as a catalyst for change.Īhead of the release of Pray for the Wicked, Urie went deep with GQ about his religious upbringing, sexuality, prayer, and being a “hooker” who “sells songs.”Īre you still on good terms with your bandmates? Yeah. It took a 10-year break from religion to allow him to return to it with his own set of rules.
As a teenager, he knew two things: He wanted to be a professional musician and the Mormon faith wasn’t for him. Growing up Mormon in Las Vegas, Urie was taught to abide by the religious community’s rules, until he couldn’t anymore.
Maybe not in the music-Panic! after all has always been lauded for its raucous choruses and Urie’s theatrical vocals-but he seems to have found some peace. His calm demeanor is also reflected on Panic!’s bombastic sixth studio album Pray for the Wicked. At 31, Urie is content with the simple things at this juncture in his life, living privately in the Valley with his wife. Picking up dog poop doesn’t exactly scream excitement, but Urie has an humble appreciation for his life finding joy in sending fans mysterious potatoes in the mail (more on that later) and in the everyday chore of cleaning up after man’s best friend. “I’m outside picking up after my dog-it’s great,” the Panic! At The Disco singer says earnestly over the phone. Brendon Urie has a rare gift for unflinching optimism.