Spencer Smith (musician)
As Panic! at the Disco's original drummer, his explosive beats underpinned the band's theatrical pop-punk explosion in the mid-2000s.
Born 1987 (age 39)·American musician and songwriter·Birthday: September 2·Millennials
Biography
Spencer Smith was a teenager in Las Vegas when he co-founded Panic! at the Disco with childhood friend Ryan Ross. The band's sudden, stratospheric rise was a whirlwind; their debut album, 'A Fever You Can't Sweat Out,' recorded just after high school, became a multi-platinum phenomenon. Smith's drumming provided the urgent, driving backbone for hits like 'I Write Sins Not Tragedies,' helping to define the sound of a generation drawn to the band's baroque, emo-inspired theatrics. He stayed with the group through its various sonic evolutions, from the psychedelic turn of 'Pretty. Odd.' to the synth-driven anthems of 'Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!' His departure from the band in 2015 marked the end of an era for the original lineup. Smith has since stepped away from performing, building a new career behind the scenes in artist management and talent representation.
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.
Spencer was born in 1987, 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 Spencer Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Spencer's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-founded Panic! at the Disco and played drums on their first four studio albums, including the quadruple-platinum 'A Fever You Can't Sweat Out.'
- Performed on the hit single 'I Write Sins Not Tragedies,' which peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a cultural touchstone.
- Toured globally as a key member of the band during its peak commercial success in the 2000s and early 2010s.
Did You Know?
He and Ryan Ross started the band after Ross showed him songs he had written on a guitar purchased from a Walmart.
He was known for his energetic, flailing drumming style during live performances in the band's early years.
He left Panic! at the Disco to focus on his health and personal life after struggling with substance abuse issues, which he has spoken about publicly.
“We made that first record in three weeks, fueled by the fear of going back to Vegas.”
