Panic At the Disco Lose Members Ryan Ross and Jon Walker
Two members of Panic at the Disco — or half the band — are leaving the group. Creative differences have forced the exit of lead guitarist Ryan Ross and bassist Jon Walker, the group announced on their MySpace blog today. Singer Brendon Urie and drummer Spencer Smith will continue to operate as Panic at the Disco, while Ross and Walker — who was only bassist for Pretty. Odd. as original bassist Brent Wilson was let go in 2006 — will start their own project.
“Ryan Ross and Jon Walker will be leaving Panic at the Disco to embark on a musical excursion of their own. Though the four of us have made music together in the past, we’ve creatively evolved in different directions which has compromised what each of us want to personally achieve,” the band wrote on their MySpace page. “Over the years, we have remained close and honest with each other, which helped us to realize that our goals were different and that parting ways is truly what is best for each of us. We are all excited for the future, you should be too.”
Over at the Panic at the Disco MySpace page, fans aren’t taking the news well at all. “This is the worst news, ever right now. I still can’t believe it. I think I’m in a stage, where I’m refusing to believe it,” bemoans one fan, while another fan remarks that the half the band leaving PATD might be a sign of the apocalypse, saying “The world is going to end now. Fuck it. DONT LEAVE JON AND RYAN!”
The departures come at a pretty odd time for the band. The group was reportedly in the final stages of completing their third album and first single “New Perspective” was expected to hit radio August 18th, Absolute Punk reports. In fact, Pete Wentz Tweeted today that he was going to listen to four new Panic tracks. The band was also tagged to open up some Blink-182 and No Doubt shows this August. “All touring and album plans for Panic will continue as previously announced,” PATD wrote in concluding their MySpace post.
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