Josh Dun
He transformed the drummer's role from a timekeeper to a kinetic, heart-pounding visual centerpiece for a generation-defining musical duo.
Born 1988 (age 38)·American musician·Birthday: June 18·Millennials
Biography
Josh Dun's journey to the stage wasn't a straight line. Raised in Columbus, Ohio, he taught himself drums on a makeshift kit and worked at a local music store before his life pivoted. A chance meeting with Tyler Joseph in 2010 led to him joining Twenty One Pilots, a partnership that would redefine alternative music's boundaries. Dun isn't just a percussionist; he's a performer of athletic spectacle, known for backflips off his piano and drumming atop crowds. His energy is the physical heartbeat of the band's genre-blending sound, which mixes rap, pop, and rock into anthems of anxiety and hope. With the duo, Dun has headlined arenas worldwide, turning deeply personal lyrics into communal catharsis and proving that modern rock stardom can be built on vulnerability and explosive showmanship.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Josh was born in 1988, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Josh Was Born
The biggest hits of 1988
#1 Movie
Rain Man
Best Picture
Rain Man
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Josh's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1988Born
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1993Started school
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2001Became a teenager
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Could drive
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2006Could vote
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Turned 21
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2018Turned 30
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 38 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for 'Stressed Out' with Twenty One Pilots in 2017.
- Performed as one half of Twenty One Pilots, a duo that has achieved multiple diamond, platinum, and gold certifications for album and single sales.
- Headlined massive global tours, including the 'Bandito Tour' and 'The Icy Tour,' known for their elaborate staging and high-energy performances.
- Co-wrote songs on multiple Twenty One Pilots albums, contributing to the band's distinct musical identity beyond his drumming.
Did You Know?
He is left-handed but plays a right-handed drum kit.
Before joining Twenty One Pilots, he was a member of the band House of Heroes.
He has a large tattoo of his hometown area code, '614', on his chest.
He and bandmate Tyler Joseph have matching '|-/' skeleton key tattoos, a symbol for the band's fanbase, the Skeleton Clique.
““I think the most important thing is to be yourself, and that’s what we’ve always tried to do.””
