Staff Writer
The show must go on.
A mere month ago it looked like Panic! At the Disco were back after a 2 year hiatus. With a new single and a spot opening for Fall Out Boy on their “Save Rock and Roll” tour it seemed they were ready and recharged to take the airwaves by storm. Unfortunately they will be moving forward minus one member.
Drummer Spencer Smith will no longer be joining the band on the upcoming tour. Smith recently opened up on the band’s blog about his struggle with prescription pain killers and other drugs. He cites the pressure of success and the stress of a loved one’s declining health of the beginning stages of his addiction.
Panic! is no stranger to obstacles. Before their gig opening for Blink 182 in 2009 the band lost original member and founder Ryan Ross and bassist Jon Walker due to creative differences but Smith and front man Brendon Urie soldiered on. Two years later and their beloved “!” appearing in their band name once again they released Vices and Virtues in March 2011.
Urie broke his silence announce Smith’s departure on the band’s website following a long reflection post. He ended it by stating “Today is August 6th 2013, and it’s become evident Spencer still needs more time to take care of himself. I can’t expect him to be fighting addiction one minute and be fully immersed in a national tour the next. With all that said, the tour will continue without Spencer while he is away getting the help he needs. Thank you all for your support and kind words.”
Following the news Panic! released a second single, “This is Gospel,” from their upcoming album Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die and it’s quickly climbing the charts. I’m not sure what the future holds for Spencer and the band but I am hopeful that once he is confident and ready he will return. As Brendon sings “But they haven’t seen the best of us yet” in “This is Gospel” it reassures me of the band’s future and Spencer’s future with them.
To read Spencer’s struggle in his own words you can read his post here:
To read Brendon’s response you can go here:
We love you Spencer!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGE381tbQa8&w=560&h=315]
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