Formed in Summerlin, Las Vegas

Panic! at the Disco was formed in 2004 in the suburban area of Summerlin , Las Vegas , by high school friends Ryan Ross , who played guitar, and Spencer Smith , who played drums. They both attended Bishop Gorman High School , and they began playing music together in ninth grade. They recruited bassist Brent Wilson from Palo Verde High School , who then invited his friend and classmate Brendon Urie to join the band. The quartet soon began rehearsing in Smith’s grandmother’s living room. Ross initially was the lead singer for the group, but after hearing Urie sing during rehearsals, the group decided to make him the lead. Initially, Panic! at the Disco was a Blink-182 cover band. The quartet decided to model their name after a line in Name Taken ‘s song “Panic”.