How Twenty Øne Piløts became The Ønly Band In The Wørld

By Kayla Harper

The Only Band In The World is a product of a relationship, spanning over a decade-long, built on trust and respect between the book’s author, Ryan Bird, and the Twenty One Pilots band members, Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun.  A collection of interviews and conversations, some of which have never been made publicly available until now, The Only Band In The World gives us an insight into exactly how Twenty One Pilots came to be; why the band is the way it is; what the music means to Tyler and Josh; as well as who they are as people.

As a long-term fan of Twenty One Pilots who’s read every interview, seen every performance, every video, every documentary, every tweet, post, etc…I could not put this book down.  It allows fans to look at the members of their favourite band, Tyler and Josh, through a personal lens which we have not been able to look through with this much depth prior.

Although the title, The Only Band In The World, may sound pretentious, how it came to be is revealed in the first pages of the introduction.  Ryan was at one of Twenty One Pilots small shows, early on in their career and astonished by how such a small, relatively unknown band could pack a room so tightly full of people who knew every word to every song, none of which were mainstream hits, some of which weren’t even released–it’s this tight-knit group of people that would become a recurring theme throughout this book and the music.

Standing near Ryan was a young woman, who like everyone else, was scream-singing every word.  Ryan asked her if she thought they could be one of the biggest bands in the world one day, without hesitation she replied, “they’re going to be the only band in the world.” (Bird 11).

Published with the approval of Twenty One Pilots–even including a forward from drummer, Josh, and an afterword from lead-singer, Tyler–Ryan takes us through each era of Twenty One Pilots from the very beginning to the present, detailing how each album was crafted, where it came from and what it means.

01. The Early Days 

What I found most inspiring is how the book highlighted the fact that Tyler truly started this band from nothing, but a dream and talent.  Tyler and Josh were never looking for an escape from where they came from, in fact they embraced  (and still do) their hometown Columbus, Ohio.  Columbus is where most of the first shows were played and where the magic started.  Eventually they would borrow Tyler’s dad’s minivan to start playing in neighbouring states and expanding their audience, alongside their tour manager, the same one who’s still with them today (Bird 45).

Josh first played with Tyler when filling in for Twenty One Pilots’ original drummer, Chris Salih, when he couldn’t play the shows.  Chris would soon leave the band alongside former bassist, Nick Thomas,  both of which more or less only filled in on their instruments during the live shows.

It wasn’t until Twenty One Pilots became the duo it is now–Tyler and Josh–that they had what they needed to turn it into something more; two musicians passionate about music and playing shows, who truly believed they could make it somewhere, despite how talented they were at their respective instruments and in comparison to other local bands.  It was in no way easy, from the subtle and not-so-subtle doubts of their peers, to the financial burden, the pair worked their day jobs all week, saving up for the next show (Bird 46).

In conversation with Ryan, the two recall the smallest show they ever played; only two people were in attendance–the two student journalists who interviewed them the day before were the only ones who showed up.  However, reminiscing on the show Josh explains,  “We played the show exactly as we would have had there been two thousand people there” (qtd. in Bird 42).

Ryan says it best when he states ‘event’ is an understatement when trying to describe a Twenty One Pilots show and explains it as “a visual and sonic overload” (Bird 41).  Tyler and Josh have both made it clear that live shows are an integral part to their music, in fact the majority of their albums are composed with the live show in mind.  It is their live shows that allow them to connect with the people that are the reason they get to do what they do; their fans.  Further, these shows are often what they credit as the reason for their success as a band.

 

02. World Domination

Who is Blurryface? It’s not just the name of their most popular album to date, or a line in their biggest hit, “Stressed Out”, Blurryface, is a character created by Tyler, part of a much bigger storyline he’s been sprinkling throughout their work since the debut album.  Blurryface is the first record where we are introduced to these characters and this storyline directly. I am not going to go in-depth into the lore in this article, but I have linked a website at the end that explains everything thoroughly if you’re interested in learning about just how deep Twenty One Pilots’s music goes.

Blurryface became a life-changing record for Tyler and Josh, having them gain mass recognition and success. The hit track “Stressed Out” which won the duo their first Grammy award in 2017 for Best Pop/Duo Performance.  The two accepted the award in their underwear–a decision they made when they were watching the award show from home, in their underwear, years before, where they declared if they ever won a Grammy they would accept the award exactly as they were in that moment.  Tyler has mentioned previously how this is a testament to his and Josh’s friendship; apparently they had never discussed the idea again since that night, but many years later, as they were winning their first Grammy, without looking at each other or talking about it, they stood up, dropped their pants and made their way to the stage.

Tyler and Josh did not lose themselves in fame that came with the success of 2015’s Blurryface. This genuinity became evident when Ryan asked the duo to record a cover of My Chemical Romance’s “Cancer” for a project he was working on–a cover album of one of the most iconic albums of this century, The Black Parade, to celebrate its tenth anniversary.  Taking place in the middle of the album, it was the only one Ryan was unsure of, until he was at a photoshoot with Tyler and Josh.  At this point in his life, Ryan had been in the room as he lost his brother to Cancer and was dealing with his own possible cancer scare himself, so the song meant a lot to him.  He saw no better contenders than Twenty One Pilots to cover it.  Of course, when they became aware of his personal relations to the song as well as the project, they did not decline.  Taking this project to heart and giving it their all, they delivered a tear-jerking rendition of the already heartbreaking song (Bird 78-93).

 

03. Our People; The Skeleton Clique

Their humble authenticity extends into every aspect of their personality and career, but is proven in their appreciation for their fans.  Even when they are selling out arenas and stadiums, breaking records and getting recognized in public it hasn’t changed the way they view their fanbase, known as the Skeleton Clique.  Josh explains, “I still get the feeling that a lot of people think of us as their band…[it’s] really special” (qtd. in Bird 122) and as a long term tøp fan, I couldn’t agree more.

In the online community it seems like everyone you talk to is an old friend and this extends into the real world: at their concerts; tøp-related events; or when you bump into someone who happens to be wearing a tøp t-shirt and although you’re strangers you both know a complex handshake, the significance of yellow duct tape, and the secret world of Trench that exists inside your head.  Even as the fandom expands, it remains a tight-knit family that feels like ours.

It’s evident Tyler and Josh recognize this closeness about the fandom as it seems they feel the same way about it.  With the global success of Blurryface the crowds they played started growing quickly, some people wouldn’t stick around after this era, but many of them would.  Although they felt bad about being disconnected from their fans during the social media blackout and hiatus before the boys would return with the Trench era, Tyler was confident as he explains, “The people who would still be standing firm and supporting us in the end [would be] our people” (qtd. in Bird 108).   It wasn’t until the day Tyler and Josh saw those people standing there waiting in the ashes after the hype died down, decked out in yellow duct tape and camo that “Trench was truly born” (Bird 132).

Tyler recalls it being “one of the most unforgettable moments of [his] life” (qtd. in Bird 132) Josh continues, “seeing people all over the world wearing green and yellow has been…validating and reassuring” (qtd. in Bird 133).  The true significance of this behaviour from the fandom is that it meant they had understood the lore; the story Tyler and Josh were trying to tell through their music. Josh recalls that this support from the fandom as they fully embrace each era and album down to the clothes they wear is not new, “On Blurryface, we would pull up to venues to find a sea of red and black waiting for us…I always loved that…I never saw bands with that kind of fanbase” (qtd. in Bird 133).

To this day, Tyler and Josh don’t regret their decision to roll out Trench the way they did.  It allowed them to keep their circle and fanbase tight and authentic.  Tyler explains, “I think it’s easy for people to get caught up in the supposed glamour that comes with things like radio play, chart positions and so on, but what…our fans have accomplished…goes beyond any of those things…there hasn’t been some big hit song on this record, but we have…still taken so many steps…in the direction we have wanted to go…[and] with our people.” (qtd. in Bird 126).

04. Welcome to Trench

After the success of Blurryface, Twenty One Pilots was on top of the world;  Every major producer wanted to work with them and they had all the support from the industry to pursue a certain direction and maintain that success.  However, Tyler decided he wanted to isolate completely to make the next record. He did not care to repeat the same success as Blurryface, he wanted to make something genuine and in the direction he wanted to go with the story he had started, he explains to Ryan that if he produced the album himself then “if this thing fails, it is a direct representation of what [he has] to offer” (qtd. in Bird 112).   He created Trench primarily on his own, in his basement home studio with Josh and frequent collaborator/producer, Paul Meany.

In discussion with Ryan about what Trench means and represents, Tyler explains it as a representation of the map that is our mind, “there are places where you feel at your best, and there are places where you feel afraid…you’re [constantly] travelling around and making a note of where is safe and where isn’t” (qtd. in Bird 113).  He goes on to explain, “what people should know about Trench is that it talks about a lot of different places: where I’m from, where I’m going, and the space in between…It’s not about knowing where you’re going – It’s about knowing you’re no longer where you shouldn’t have been” (qtd. in Bird 118).  Tyler states, “some people might feel as though Blurryface is the record that will define us, but I believe that Trench is the anchor that will continue to hold us in place.” (qtd. in Bird 123).

05. The End Of The World

When the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a halt in 2020, it left most people wondering if life would ever be the same, if they’d ever get back the pieces of it they lost.  For Twenty One Pilots, it’s their entire brand, their career and life line.  As mentioned previously, the live shows are the most vital part of the music for Tyler and Josh.  Recalling the moment this news hit, Tyler explains to Ryan, “if someone were to ask me what I did, my answer was always… ‘I play shows. I perform music in front of people.’ Suddenly for the first time, it felt like [that] could disappear forever…I would have to go away and find another identity” (qtd. in Bird 150).  However, he goes on to explain, “If I know I can control something, losing that control is devastating…but there was something…calming about the fact that I couldn’t do anything about it” (qtd. in Bird 150-151).

If it weren’t for the lockdown that forced everyone’s lives into a standstill, their sixth studio album, Scaled And Icy would not have been created the way it was.  Tyler compares his life during this time to a story from the Bible, the Apostle, describing it as a forced pause, time to “look inside yourself; to fix yourself. Scaled And Icy, for me, was that pause. It was the metaphorical prison that gave me time to learn about myself” (qtd. in Bird 153).

Prior to Scaled And Icy the band released the upbeat single, “Level Of Concern” which was ultimately a response to Tyler’s mother’s request for a distraction from the state of the world in the form of a song.  It became just that for not only Tyler’s mom, but the entire world, Ryan explains it as a “feel-good anthem in a feel-bad, feel scared…time” (Bird 157).  The creation of “Level Of Concern” was also a pivotal moment in musical creation for the duo as it was created entirely between the two of them in Tyler’s basement, like Trench, but with on outside intervention at all.   Josh explains, “normally, when we created a song, it’ll start with Tyler in his [home] studio, then it’ll move somewhere else to add some live instruments…and then I’ll add the drums…with producers, engineers, techs and assistants” (qtd. in Bird 157).

The way the duo wrote and recorded “Level Of Concern”, with Tyler being in Columbus and Josh in Los Angeles, was exactly how they created Scaled And Icy, redefining the way music would be made. “Utilizing everything from Facetime to remote access software, the two could climb inside each other’s computer’s in real-time, sharing ideas and editing tracks”  (Bird 165).  This method of creation unlocked what Tyler refers to as the magic of creating (Bird 165), saying “as you learn how to create more effectively…you lose a bit of the magic.  When it came to making the songs [on Scaled And Icy], I made a conscious decision to chase that feeling. I wanted to get some of that magic back” (qtd. in Bird 165).

Back in the basement where he had created Trench, Tyler taught himself how to play the electric guitar at a more complex level.  He further developed his skills on bass and experimented with new sounds during the production process.  Tyler explains despite the state of the world, “when you learn a new instrument – at least for me –  it’s all based around major chords [so] everything sounds happier and shinier” (qtd. in Bird 166).  In the creation of Scaled And Icy, Tyler took his desire for independence to a new level, creating it solely by himself.  Although this is mostly how he’s always done things, he usually has the support of producer Paul Meany (Bird 166).  As a result, Tyler explains that creating Scaled And Icy “reminded me a lot of how things used to be” (qtd. in Bird 166) because he was learning so much, “Scaled And Icy was me deciding to make everybody watch me learn how to produce a record on my own” (qtd. in Bird 167).  This independence of the duo making the album entirely on their own is the most authentic of all their work, “currently [it] stands as the purest and most organic Twenty One Pilots album in existence” (Bird 169).

Josh recalls the creation of the album being the two to of them as he explains to Ryan, “Tyler produced pretty much everything.  He always does a huge amount of work, but then we’ll have someone come in and tighten everything up” (qtd. in Bird 169).  He further explains that he disagrees with the opinion Scaled and Icy is a happier Twenty One Pilots album, stating it “doesn’t feel much poppier or shinier” (qtd. in Bird 170) than their usual music from the earliest albums to now, revealing “Trench leans a little darker and is more sombre than [the other] albums” (qtd. in Bird 170) but other than that Scaled And Icy doesn’t stick out and is a Twenty One Pilots album through and through (Bird 170).

In explaining his point of view for where Scaled And Icy sits with the rest of the albums, Tyler says “the weight, the effects and the residue of Blurryface are still around me…As much as each album is a reaction to the one that came before it…I feel like every album is ultimately a reaction to Blurryface…whether I like it or not, it’s always going to be there” (qtd. in Bird 173).

“Scaled And Icy is a source of great pride for Tyler and Josh” (Bird 173) it was a huge accomplishment which the two are especially proud of, having learned a lot and taken a lot of risks in the process of making music completely differently, during a dire situation, unique to this time in the world.

06. There Is Always An Escape

Despite their accomplishments with the album Scaled And Icy, playing in front of a live audience is still something that Twenty Øne Piløts, like all musical artists, lacked during this time and it was still the most important part of creating music for them; being able to celebrate it with their fans at the live shows.  They did not want to do a livestream show like many bands were doing, it just wasn’t the same to play a show to a camera without their people there and they didn’t want to replace what a live show meant (Bird 174).   This void leads to how they developed the Scaled And Icy Livestream Experience, although it contained live performances, it was not a live streamed concert.  The Livestream Experience saw Tyler and Josh expanding upon the storyline of Dema, Trench and Blurryface, “a perfect opportunity to connect people to a familiar narrative while getting used to unfamiliar sounds” (Bird 175).  It may not have been a live show, but it was a way for the duo to connect with their people and celebrate the new record in some capacity. Although not long after this, Tyler and Josh would be performing on a stage again, first at smaller venues before embarking on a larger world tour.

This is where the book comes to an end, for now, just before Tyler and Josh will embark on a new tour and album journey with their latest release, Clancy.  At this point in their career, Tyler and Josh are content with what their career is as Tyler explains to Ryan, “I don’t think that our career was ever set up in a way that allowed for any sort of victory lap…we could have taken that lap at some point…there have been opportunities for us to celebrate, or to cash in and…coast on our legacy…but we always decided not to. It’s going to be a battle…and that’s exactly what it needs to be” (qtd. in Bird 193).

They may be Grammy winners, a household name, global icons and more, but they never lost sight of the reason they do what they do, they never sold out for the sake of success and ease –which in a way is an ode to the reason Tyler named the band Twenty Øne Piløts after the play, All My Sons by Arthur Miller, where twenty one pilots die after the main character decides to take the easy way out.  They never took the easy way out, they are and always will be the only band in the world.

07. A Letter To The Author

I can understand why Tyler and Josh trusted Ryan to tell these stories and share them with the world in this way.  His commentary is delivered through intense descriptive imagery that paints the picture of each era.  As you go through the chapters, you enter the world of its respective album.  You find yourself in the sea of red and black, and later washed up on the shores of Trench.  The way in which he weaves Tyler and Josh’s words throughout his writing makes it feel personal and allows fans to feel closer to their favourite band.

Not only does he allow us to understand and perceive the process of writing these albums, of going through the transition from local band performing to as little as two people to selling out venues around the world, but he opens up about his personal relationship with Tyler and Josh over the years.  Especially in chapter four: Cancer.  Ryan’s choice to include these moments of vulnerability only gives readers more insight into the kind of people Tyler and Josh are.

It’s become a staple read for any Twenty One Pilots fan and even those who aren’t a fan.  It’s incredible in the way it reveals how Tyler and Josh have and continue to do it all themselves.  They achieved what they have because they worked hard towards their dreams even when they didn’t have the money or external support.  It allows us to see how despite the fame and success, they have not changed from the passionate, humble people they started as.  It truly sums up why, at the end of everyday, they only go their own way, they only need their people, they never sold out, yet they are The Only Band In The World. 

Thank you Ryan for writing this book.  Thank you for sharing it with the world.  Thank you for being vulnerable with us. Thank you for trusting us, not only with your perception of Tyler and Josh’s story, but your story as well.  I can’t wait to see what comes next.

 

 

**Here is a website containing everything you need to know about the lore.  It includes a detailed breakdown of all the characters, albums, locations, music videos, lyrics, concepts, events, timeline and theories: https://alltoplore.carrd.co/

 

Cited

Bird, Ryan. The Only Band In The World. Stories and Conversations With Twenty One Pilots, 2024.

https://theonlybanditw.com/