Twenty One Pilots

By Ted Barnes, Jr.

Members● Tyler Joseph, Lead● Josh Dun, Percussion (2011-present)● Nick Thomas, Bass (2009-2011)● Chris Salih, Percussion (2009-2011)

Pre-Twenty One Pilots● Joseph, Thomas met through basketball ● Joseph chose music over basketball● “No Phun Intended” by Joseph

○ Still in high school○ Thomas helped with “Trees”

Forming of the Band ● Est. 2009● Ohio State University● Salih’s basement studio● Name from “All My Sons”

Early Years● Very grassroots

○ Tickets handed out outside OSU○ by Joseph’s mom

● Self-titled album● Unreleased cover/remix

○ “Jar of Hearts,” “Con te partirò”○ Latter is first Dun heard

New Lineup (2011)● Salih leaves, focuses on work

○ Suggests Dun as replacement

● Thomas leaves, focuses on school○ One month after Salih leaves

● Dun joins, similar vision as Joseph

Sophomore Album (2011)● “Regional at Best”● Unsigned, sold out Newport● Signs with Fueled by Ramen

○ Retains rights to self-titled album○ Regional at best becomes unavailable

Vessel (2013)● First album signed to label● Includes re-recorded records

○ Mostly from Regional at Best○ Also from No Phun Intended

Blurryface (2015)● Concept album about overcoming insecurities● No. 1 on Billboard 200

○ First-time feat for the band

● Top Rock Album at BMA● Grammys: Best Rock/Pop Duo Performance● Every song is gold certified

○ First album in history

Heathens and Hiatus● Single Heathens for Suicide Squad● Cover of My Chemical Romance’s “Cancer”● Currently silent until next album

Fall Away● Track 2 on self-titled album● Written by Tyler Joseph

○ 2nd rap written in high school○ In No Phun Intended’s “Drown”

● Recorded in Salih’s Basement Studio

Fall Away

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uui58utbGsU

(google docs doesn’t let me add audio files and adding videos hasn’t worked)

The Pantaloon● Track 3 on self-titled album● Written by Twenty One Pilots

○ Mostly just Tyler Joseph

● Emphasis on lyrical content○ About going crazy, supposedly

● Recorded in Salih’s basement studio

The Pantaloon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EO4GDlZZAg

(google docs doesn’t let me add audio files and adding videos hasn’t worked)

Ode to Sleep● Originally from Regional at Best (track 3)

○ Re-recorded version on Vessel (track 1)

● Written by Tyler Joseph○ 2nd rap written in high school○ In No Phun Intended’s “Just Like Yesterday”

● Name chosen by hometown crowd

Ode to Sleep

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf2_10edFhM

(google docs doesn’t let me add audio files and adding videos hasn’t worked)

The Judge● 7th track in Blurryface● Written by Tyler Joseph● Highlighted ukulele part

○ Common instrument for TOP, unique otherwise

The Judge

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbP-aIe51Ek

(google docs doesn’t let me add audio files and adding videos hasn’t worked)

Bibliographyhttps://www.billboard.com/music/twenty-one-pilotshttps://medium.com/jeffersonian/20-facts-on-twenty-one-pilots-vessel-7243676c5c56https://www.altpress.com/news/entry/twenty_one_pilots_chris_salih_interview_streamhttps://soundcloud.com/21pilotspodcasthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61WpOTdThzYhttp://www.slate.com/articles/arts/music_box/2017/01/why_twenty_one_pilots_are_america_s_biggest_rock_band.htmlhttps://www.wordonfire.org/resources/blog/twenty-one-pilots-masters-of-the-culture-of-encounter/2185/https://www.rocksound.tv/blog/read/track-by-track-twenty-one-pilots-vesselhttp://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/life_and_entertainment/2012/10/18/1-twenty-one-pilots-art-gn8jqp4s-1.htmlhttps://www.riaa.com/twenty-one-pilots-blurryface-earns-unrivaled-gold-platinum-achievement-first-album-digital-era-every-song-riaa-certified/https://www.inquisitr.com/3508203/twenty-one-pilots-singer-tyler-joseph-discusses-how-his-hard-work-in-basketball-paid-off-in-a-successful-music-career/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/13-things-we-learned-hanging-out-with-twenty-one-pilots-20160120All photos were free to use according to Google