Twenty One Pilots is an American musical duo from Columbus, Ohio. The band was formed in 2009 by lead vocalist Tyler Joseph, along with Nick Thomas and Chris Salih, both of whom left in 2011. Since their departure, the lineup has consisted of Joseph and drummer Josh Dun. The duo is known for their genre-bending music, which combines elements of alternative rock, electropop, alternative hip-hop, and pop-rock.
Formation and Early Years (2009–2012)
Tyler Joseph, Nick Thomas, and Chris Salih formed the band in Columbus, Ohio, in 2009. Joseph came up with the band's name while studying Arthur Miller's play "All My Sons," in which a character's decision to sell faulty airplane parts results in the death of twenty-one pilots. The band independently released their debut album, "Twenty One Pilots," on December 29, 2009. In 2011, after releasing their second self-released album, "Regional at Best," Thomas and Salih left the band due to busy schedules. Drummer Josh Dun, formerly of House of Heroes, then joined Joseph to form the current duo.
Major Label Debut and Breakthrough (2012–2017)
In 2012, the duo signed with Fueled by Ramen, a subsidiary of Atlantic Records. They released their major-label debut, "Vessel," on January 8, 2013. "Vessel" became the second album in history where every track received at least a gold certification. Their fourth album, "Blurryface," released on May 17, 2015, propelled them to mainstream success. It became their first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 and was the first album in the digital era to have every track certified at least gold by the RIAA. The album featured the hit singles "Stressed Out" and "Ride," which peaked at number two and number five on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively. In 2016, they released the single "Heathens" for the movie "Suicide Squad," which also became a massive commercial success. In 2017, the duo won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Stressed Out."
Trench (2018)
After a year-long hiatus, Twenty One Pilots returned with their fifth studio album, "Trench," released on October 5, 2018. The album is a concept album that explores themes of mental health, suicide, and doubt within the metaphorical city of Dema. "Trench" debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 and received positive reviews from critics. The album was supported by the Bandito Tour.
Scaled and Icy (2021)
The band's sixth studio album, "Scaled and Icy," was released on May 21, 2021. The album was written and largely produced by Joseph in his home studio during the COVID-19 pandemic. The title is a play on the phrase "scaled back and isolated." The album features a more upbeat and pop-oriented sound compared to their previous work.
Clancy (2024)
Their seventh studio album, "Clancy," was released on May 24, 2024. The album serves as the final chapter in the multi-album narrative that started with "Blurryface" and continued through "Trench." The album was preceded by the singles "Overcompensate," "Next Semester," "Backslide," and "The Craving." The band announced "The Clancy World Tour" to support the album.