- Unexpected Reunion: Panic! at the Disco’s Brendon Urie reunited with original drummer Spencer Smith on stage for the first time in 12 years.
- Major Festival Moment: The surprise performance took place during the band’s headlining set at the When We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas.
- Celebrating a Classic: The band took the stage to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their iconic debut album, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out.
- Mixed Fan Reactions: While many fans were ecstatic about the reunion, others took to social media to criticize the night’s overall setlist.
A Reunion 12 Years in the Making
The opening night of the When We Were Young Festival delivered a shockwave of nostalgia that fans never saw coming. During their headlining set on Saturday, October 18, Panic! at the Disco frontman Brendon Urie gave longtime followers the surprise of a lifetime. The band, which officially disbanded in 2023, reunited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their breakthrough album, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out.
As the show neared its end, Urie addressed the massive Las Vegas crowd, saying, “I want to bring my oldest friend out on stage.” Moments later, original drummer Spencer Smith appeared, joining Urie for a powerful performance of their breakout anthem, “I Write Sins Not Tragedies.” It was the first time the two had shared a stage in 12 years, marking a monumental moment for the band and its dedicated fanbase.
Fan Frenzy and Setlist Blunders
The reunion sent social media into a frenzy, with videos of the performance quickly going viral. Many fans expressed pure joy and hope for the band’s future after years of lineup changes and drama.
One fan on X noted, “There’s hope Spence returned maybe the rest of the band made amends.”
However, the excitement was not universal. Some festival attendees were less than thrilled with the night’s setlist, feeling it was a rehash of a 2018 tour. The decision to play “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” a second time to bring Smith out was seen by some as a desperate move to win back a restless crowd.
The Complicated History of Panic! at the Disco
The reunion is especially significant given the band’s turbulent history. Formed in 2004 by Urie, Smith, Ryan Ross, and Brent Wilson, Panic! at the Disco became a defining voice of the mid-2000s emo-pop scene. However, fame brought friction. The original lineup slowly dissolved, and Smith himself officially left the group in 2015 after a public battle with addiction. His departure left Urie as the sole remaining original member and creative force until he announced the band’s official end in January 2023. This weekend’s performance, however, proves that the book on Panic! at the Disco may not be fully closed just yet.
Image Referance: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/music/articles/iconic-pop-rock-band-reunites-212845110.html