Artist Flashback: Paramore
This month we are dedicated to bringing you the best in emerging new talent here on Buzznet. Some of your favorite bands were once considered to be “emerging artists” back in the day. It’s great to look back and reflect upon where you came from and how you got to the place you are today.
For the next three weeks we are going to take a trip down memory lane with some of your favorite artists to see what it was like for them when they were considered to be up-and-comers.
This week’s flashback is dedicated to one of our favorite female-fronted bands in the history of music: Paramore (duh.)
Let’s check out the timeline, shall we?
2002
Where it all began…
(Alex Mack, anyone?)
A young Hayley Williams (13 to be exact) moved from her hometown in Mississippi to Franklin, Tennessee, where she met brothers Josh Farro and Zac Farro while she was attending a private school.
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Prior to forming Paramore, Williams and bassist Jeremy Davis took part in a funk cover band called The Factory, while Josh and Zac Farro had practiced together after school.
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The other members of what was soon to be Paramore had been “edgy about the whole female thing” of having Williams as vocalist, but, because they were really good friends, she started writing for them.
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2004
Humble beginnings…
The band was officially formed by Josh Farro (lead guitar/backing vocals), Zac Farro (drums), Jeremy Davis (bass guitar) and Hayley Williams (lead vocals) with the later addition of Williams’ neighbor Jason Bynum (rhythm guitar)
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According to Williams, the name “Paramore” came from the maiden name of the mother of one of their first bass players. Once the group learned the meaning of the homophone “paramour” (“secret lover”), they decided to adopt the name, using the Paramore spelling.
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The band’s first song written together was “Conspiracy”, which was later used on their debut album.
2005
All they know is about to change…
In April 2005, after a small private performance at a warehouse, the band was signed to Atlantic Records and Fueled By Ramen.
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Jeremy Davis leaves the band, citing personal reasons. The remaining four members of Paramore continued with the album, writing “All We Know” about his departure, and later deciding to base All We Know Is Falling around the concept. The album artwork also reflected Paramore’s grief as Hayley Williams explains, “The couch on the cover of All We Know Is Falling with no one there and the shadow walking away; it’s all about Jeremy leaving us and us feeling like there’s an empty space.”
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All We Know Is Falling was released on July 24, 2005, and reached No. 30 on the Billboard’s Heatseekers Chart. Paramore released “Pressure” as its first single.
2006
It’s all starting to happen…
During the summer of 2006, Paramore played a portion of Warped Tour, primarily on the Volcom and Hurley Stages, and their first night on the Main Stage was at a date in their hometown of Nashville. Paramore’s first United States headlining tour began on August 2, 2006 to a sold-out audience.
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Hayley’s dress from the “Emergency” video was put on display at an exhibt in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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2007
The year of RIOTS and misery business…
Paramore’s second album, RIOT!, is released on June 12, 2007. It entered the Billboard 200 at number 20, the UK charts at number 24, and sold 44,000 its first week in the United States.
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The name Riot! had been chosen because it meant “a sudden outburst of uncontrolled emotion”, and it was a word that “summed it all up”. The first single, “Misery Business”, is, according to Williams, “more honest than anything I’ve ever written, and the guys matched that emotion musically.
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In June they were declared by Rolling Stone as “Ones to Watch.”
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Paramore made their live television debut on Fuse Networks daily show, The Sauce.
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In August, Paramore had been featured in television spots on MTV, performing acoustic versions of their songs or acting in short accompaniments to MTV program commercials as “MTV Artist of the Week.”
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For weeks in August 2007, the “Misery Business” video was the number one streamed video at MTV.com.
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2008
The year of vampires and final riots…
Paramore’s song “Decode” was the lead single for the novel-based Twilight film.
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The band released a live album named The Final Riot! on November 25, 2008. The album includes a bonus DVD with a full concert recorded in Chicago, as well as a behind the scenes documentary. As of April 2009, The Final Riot! is certified gold in the United States.
2009
After the rain comes a rainbow, and a pair of brand new eyes…
Paramore wrote and completed their third record Brand New Eyes in early 2009. The first single from the album was “Ignorance” and was released in July. The album was released on September 29th. The albums tracks were inspired by conflict within the band.
2010 – 2012
Tears, departures and little victories…
On December 18, 2010 a message from Hayley, Jeremy, and Taylor was released through Paramore.net stating that Josh and Zac were leaving the band. In the message they stated, “A couple of months ago, Josh and Zac let us know they would be leaving the band after our show in Orlando last Sunday. None of us were really shocked. For the last year it hasn’t seemed as if they wanted to be around anymore. We want Josh and Zac to do something that makes them happy and if that isn’t here with us, then we support them finding happiness elsewhere. But we never for a second thought about leaving any of this behind.” The post also stated that the remaining members had no intention of disbanding. They also added “As we look back, and now as we look with excitement to the future, in all of this what truly matters are the good times. The pictures of us with our arms around each other, the long van rides, your faces while you sing along as we play. Thank you for getting us right here to this very moment. We look forward to our best times. And we hope you will go there with us.”
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Josh Farro wrote a personal response on the departure entirely different from the band’s response which caused some unneeded controversy.
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On June 3, 2011, Paramore released the single “Monster”, featured on the Transformers: Dark of the Moon soundtrack, on YouTube. This is the first song that the band released without the Farro brothers.
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On December 6, 2012, Paramore announced that their self-titled fourth album will be released in the spring of 2013.
2013
If there’s a future album we want it now…
The first single off of Paramore, titled “Now”, is released on January 22, 2013.
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Paramore is set to be released on April 9, 2013.
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If there’s a time and a place to wait for the most anticipated album of the year, this IS it.
Phew! What a journey! The saga continues this April!
What era was your favorite on the Paramore timeline?
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