Josh Dun | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Joshua William Dun |
Born | Columbus, Ohio, U.S. | June 18, 1988
Genres | |
Occupation | Musician |
Instruments |
|
Years active | 2010–present |
Member of | Twenty One Pilots |
Formerly of | House of Heroes |
Spouse |
Joshua William Dun (born June 18, 1988) is an American musician. He is best known as the drummer of the musical duo Twenty One Pilots, alongside Tyler Joseph, [1] [2] [3] but he has collaborated with other artists as well. His band has been nominated for six Grammy Awards, of which he has won one.
Joshua William Dun was born in Columbus, Ohio, on June 18, 1988, [4] [5] the son of hospice social worker Laura Lee Dun (née McCollum) and physical therapy assistant William Earl "Bill" Dun. He has two sisters and a brother. [6] His great-great-great-grandparents were the American rancher Edwin Dun, who was the United States Ambassador to Japan, and his second Japanese wife, Yama. [7]
He initially took trumpet lessons at school and then turned his attention to drums, teaching himself how to play. [8] One method Dun references was imitating the beats of the records he'd buy on an electronic drum kit. [9]
He worked at Guitar Center for three years, where he met former Twenty One Pilots drummer Chris Salih, who eventually introduced him to his future bandmate Tyler Joseph. [10] [11]
In March 2010, Dun joined House of Heroes after the band's drummer, Colin Rigsby, took a break to spend more time with his family. [12] He makes an appearance in the music video for the band's single "God Save the Foolish Kings." [13] He performed on House of Heroes' live tour until October, when Rigsby returned to his duties. [14]
After quitting his job at Guitar Center, Dun planned to leave for Nashville, Tennessee in pursuit of a drum career in the industry; however, he was stopped by Twenty One Pilots drummer Chris Salih, who offered him his role. [15] He went on to play a show with Tyler Joseph after Salih and bassist Nick Thomas left the group due to other commitments. They played one song before police officers showed up and cancelled the show. [11] Dun subsequently became the band's full-time drummer, [5] joining as production on the band's second studio album Regional at Best drew to a close. The album was released on July 8, 2011, shortly after Dun's recruitment. Although he does not perform on the album, he is credited in the liner notes.
In April 2012, Twenty One Pilots signed with record label Fueled by Ramen, a subsidiary of Atlantic Records in April 2012. [5] Twenty One Pilots' third studio album, Vessel , was released on January 8, 2013, through Fueled by Ramen and reached no. 21 on the Billboard 200 . [16]
The band's fourth studio album, Blurryface , was released on May 17, 2015, two days ahead of its intended release date. [17] At this point in Twenty One Pilots' career, the band had topped the charts with their hit single "Stressed Out"–the song's music video being filmed at Dun's childhood home—and has since received over 2.9 billion views on YouTube. [18]
Their fifth studio album, Trench , was released on October 5, 2018. The album was the first release of the newly revived Elektra Music Group. [19]
On April 9, 2020, the duo released a new single "Level of Concern". [20] [21] The accompanying music video for the track was filmed in both Joseph and Dun's respective homes while they were under lockdown due to the U.S. state and local government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. [22] On December 8, 2020, Twenty One Pilots released a Christmas song, titled "Christmas Saves the Year", during a Twitch livestream hosted by Tyler Joseph. [23] [24] [25] The duo's sixth studio album, Scaled and Icy , was released on May 21, 2021. [26] [27] [28]
The duo's seventh studio album, Clancy , was set to release on May 17, 2024, nine years after the release of their breakthrough album Blurryface, [25] [29] but was delayed for one week to May 24 while Dun, Joseph and videographer Mark Eshleman completed music videos for each song. [30] The lead single for the album, "Overcompensate", released on February 29, 2024. In Dun's directorial debut, he directed the music video for the album's third single, "Backslide", which was released on April 25, 2024. [31] [32]
In 2017, Dun partnered with Hayley Williams of pop punk band Paramore to promote her hair dye line "Good Dye Young". [33]
At the age of 13, Dun developed an interest in punk music, initially seeking "the fastest punk rock that he could find." [34] He mainly listened to punk rock when he was growing up. [35] He cites ...And Out Come the Wolves by Rancid as an early influence due to its combination of different music genres. [34] Some of his earliest purchases were an album by NOFX, and Human Clay by Creed, citing "Higher" as one of his favorite songs. [36] Afterward, he branched into pop punk music, citing Does This Look Infected? by Sum 41, as well as Blink-182. [36] When learning drums, Dun would play along to Metallica. [34] However, his parents set strict rules on what music he could listen to, about which he later said, "I'd hide albums like Green Day's Dookie underneath my bed. Sometimes they'd find them and get real mad. They'd find a Christian alternative, like Relient K, and make me listen to that." [37] Later, Dun transitioned to slower alternative rock, with albums like Daisy by Brand New. [34]
He initially took trumpet lessons at school and then turned his attention to drums, teaching himself how to play. [8] One method Dun references was imitating the beats of the records he'd buy on an electronic drum kit. [9] Since a young age, Dun has ultimately sought to "blend" genres and make diverse music. [38]
Dun and Twenty One Pilots bandmate Tyler Joseph both have an "X" tattoo on their body symbolizing their dedication to their hometown fans in Columbus, Ohio. They received it onstage during their hometown show at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion on April 26, 2013. [39] Joseph's is placed on his right bicep, and Dun's is located on his neck just behind his right ear. Dun also sports the name "Tyler" above his left knee, which he received from Joseph onstage during a show at the Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on October 30, 2015. [40] They are both fans of the Ohio State Buckeyes. [41]
Dun dated actress and singer Debby Ryan from May 2013 to September 2014. [42] [43] They resumed their relationship sometime after. [44] They were married in Austin, Texas, on December 31, 2019. [45] The two are longtime fans of the Fast & Furious franchise [46] and went on to make a cameo appearance in Fast X . [47] [48]
Dun and Ryan currently live in Columbus, Ohio. [49] [50] In March 2023, magazine Architectural Digest released a documentary about their home. [51] The pair commissioned Dun's brother's girlfriend to sculpt a bust of Dwayne Johnson. Being an avid boxer, [52] Dun also assembled a boxing ring in his basement. [53] In May 2023, instrument retailer Sweetwater filmed a documentary about the construction of Dun's home studio. The studio was designed by Haverstick Designs, the same firm that designed bandmate Tyler Joseph's home studio. [54] [55]
Dun has proclaimed that he is a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement. [56]
Year | Song | Album | Artist | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | "Midnight Heart" | x Infinity | George Watsky | Dun has a cameo appearance in the music video. [57] [58] |
2017 | "Savage" "Almost Had Me" | Skin and Earth | Lights | [59] |
2017 | "Orthodontist Girl" | The Knife | Goldfinger | [60] |
2018 | A Picture Perfect Hollywood Heartbreak | Zach Callison | Dun performs the drums on all tracks on the album. | |
2020 | "Dark Times" | I'd Rather Die Than Let You In | The Hunna | [61] |
2020 | "Happy Face" | 33 | Jagwar Twin | The song was released on December 21, 2020, and features Dun on drums and trumpet. [62] [63] |
2020 | "The MegaMix Drum Cover" | Josh Dun, Matt McGuire | [64] [65] | |
2022 | "In My Head" | Pep | Lights | The song was released in March. [66] |
2023 | "Great Time to Be Human" | TBA | Jagwar Twin | |
Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | This is Wavorly. | Jaime | Web-series by Mississippi rock band Wavorly. Episode 2: "Jaime is Dun" [67] |
2022 | Twenty One Pilots: Cinema Experience | Himself | [68] |
2023 | Fast X | Himself | Cameo [69] |
Year | Ceremony | Award | Nominated | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | Alternative Press Music Awards | Best Drummer | Josh Dun | Nominated | [70] |
Twenty One Pilots is an American musical duo from Columbus, Ohio. Initially a band, the group was formed in 2009 by lead vocalist Tyler Joseph along with Nick Thomas and Chris Salih, who both left in 2011. Since their departure, the line-up has consisted of Joseph and drummer Josh Dun. The duo is best known for their singles "Stressed Out", "Ride", and "Heathens", which achieved commercial success between 2015 and 2016. The duo received a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards for "Stressed Out".
Vessel is the third studio album by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots, which was released on January 8, 2013. It is the band's first album released via Fueled by Ramen, and is their major-label debut album. Vessel debuted at number 58 on the Billboard 200 chart, but reached its peak at number 21 in 2016. As of July 2019, the album has sold over two million equivalent album units in the U.S. All of its tracks have been certified at least Gold by the RIAA, which made Twenty One Pilots the first group or artist to achieve this feat with two separate albums. The album received positive reviews from critics.
"Holding On to You" is a song by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots from their second studio album Regional at Best (2011). It was re-recorded and later made their debut single and was listed as the second song on the track list of their major-label debut album, Vessel (2013). "Holding On to You" features upbeat rhythms and bouncy suspended chords over which Tyler Joseph delivers scattershot raps with down-to-earth sentiments and sings grandiose, euphoric choruses. The track's indie-inspired synth-pop transforms from a sensitive ballad to a hip-hop number with rapped verses and codas. The song contains lyrical elements of "Lean wit It, Rock wit It" by Dem Franchize Boyz. Lyrically, "Holding on to You" is an ode to self-control. It addresses "the claiming of one's own life and holding onto your values." The song's lyrics express introspective lines as well as a sentiment about taking back control of one's own mind, lost to mental health.
Tyler Robert Joseph is an American singer, rapper, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is best known as the frontman for the musical duo Twenty One Pilots, alongside bandmate Josh Dun. Across his career he has recorded eight albums: one solo, and seven with Twenty One Pilots. He has been nominated for six Grammy Awards as a member of the duo, of which he has won one.
American musical duo Twenty One Pilots have released seven studio albums, five live albums, one compilation album, 10 extended plays, 29 singles and 50 music videos. The band was formed in 2009 and currently consists of Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun. After two self-released albums, Twenty One Pilots in 2009 and Regional at Best in 2011, they were signed by Fueled by Ramen in 2012, which released their following studio albums, as well as Blurryface Live, a three-LP, tri-gatefold picture disc vinyl, Scaled and Icy and MTV Unplugged.
Blurryface is the fourth studio album by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. It was released on May 17, 2015, through Fueled by Ramen. Lyrically, the album incorporates themes of mental health, doubt, and religion. It contains the hit singles "Stressed Out" and "Ride", both of which reached the top-five on the US Billboard Hot 100.
"Fairly Local" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. It was released as the lead single from their fourth studio album Blurryface (2015) on March 17, 2015, with its music video having been released the previous day. The song was their first to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 84, and has since been certified platinum in the United States.
"Tear in My Heart" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots, for their fourth studio album Blurryface (2015). The song was released as a single on April 6, 2015 and was released to radio on April 14 of the same year.
"Stressed Out" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. Produced by Mike Elizondo and recorded at studios in Los Angeles and London, it was released as a promotional single from their fourth studio album, Blurryface (2015), on April 28, 2015, through Fueled by Ramen. The song later impacted US contemporary hit radio as the album's fourth official single on November 10. Elizondo initially took issue with the nature of the song's lyrical content, but relaxed after lead vocalist and songwriter Tyler Joseph explained the larger album concept.
"Lane Boy" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots, for their fourth studio album, Blurryface. "Lane Boy" was released on YouTube worldwide on May 4, 2015, being released as a single on Google Play Store on the same day. The music video was released on July 20, 2015.
"Ride" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots, from their fourth studio album, Blurryface. "Ride" was originally released as a promotional single on YouTube on May 11, 2015. The music video for the song was released on YouTube the following day. It was serviced to US contemporary hit radio on April 16, 2016, as the album's fifth official single. The song peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100.
"Heavydirtysoul" is a song by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots from their fourth studio album Blurryface (2015). It was written by vocalist Tyler Joseph, who derived some of its lyrics from a poem called "Street Poetry" which he had written and published three years earlier. The track was produced by American record producer Ricky Reed and recorded at Serenity West Recording in Hollywood, California. As the opening track of Blurryface, "Heavydirtysoul" acts as the album's introduction, both musically and thematically. The song contains a self-referential statement where Joseph touches on the concept by candidly addressing its music with self-aware lyrics that give away his insecurities.
Twenty One Pilots is the debut studio album by American band Twenty One Pilots, released independently on December 29, 2009. It is the band's only album to feature founding members Nick Thomas and Chris Salih, who both departed the group in 2011.
Trench is the fifth studio album by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots, released on October 5, 2018, through Fueled by Ramen and Elektra Records. It was the band's first studio album in three years, after the breakthrough success of their fourth studio album, Blurryface (2015). Recorded in secret during a year-long public silence, it is a concept album which explores mental health, suicide, and doubt, themes prominently featured in the band's previous works, framed in the metaphorical city of Dema and the surrounding continent known as "Trench". The album was also the first release of the newly revived Elektra Music Group.
"Levitate" is a song written and recorded by the American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. The song was released as the third single from their fifth studio album Trench on August 8, 2018.
"Level of Concern" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. It was released as a standalone single on April 9, 2020, through Fueled by Ramen, and was later included on the livestream version of Scaled and Icy (2021).
"Choker" is a song written and recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots. It was released through Fueled by Ramen on April 30, 2021, as the second single from their sixth studio album, Scaled and Icy (2021). A music video accompanied the single's release.
"Saturday" is a song recorded by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots, released on May 18, 2021, through Fueled by Ramen, as the third single from their sixth studio album, Scaled and Icy (2021). It was written and produced by the duo's frontman, Tyler Joseph, with Greg Kurstin and Paul Meany credited as co-producers. A music video for the song was released on July 8, 2021.
"Overcompensate" is a song by American musical duo Twenty One Pilots, released on February 29, 2024, through Fueled by Ramen as the lead single of their seventh studio album Clancy. It was written and produced by frontman Tyler Joseph alongside Paul Meany. The song peaked at number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 34 in the UK, making it their third-highest charting song there, behind "Heathens" and "Stressed Out".
Regional at Best is the second studio album by the American band Twenty One Pilots, and its first as the core duo of Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun. Self-released on July 8, 2011, it was the band's final independent record before being signed to Fueled by Ramen in 2012, and has since been removed from circulation.
I worked at Guitar Center for three years, and the old drummer, I worked with him.
[Rancid was] one of the first records I listened to that was such a mixture of music between punk and hip-hop and different genres crossing that I had never heard before. ... One of the first albums that I was introduced to was NOFX, which is—as far as I listen to—as punk as you can get. ... That would branch to pop-punk music. [Does This Look Infected?], I would listen to all the time, when it came out.
I always wanted my music that I listen to to be really diverse, so that when I play, hopefully it'd be diverse. But starting out, for some reason, I was really attracted to the fastest punk rock that I could find. ... I've always, ever since I was a kid, wanted to take all different genres of music and kind of put them in blender. And, that's kind of what it is that I wanted to be a part of. So, listening to some bands that started to take different genres and mash them up—and then mash those bands up—is kind of what I envision doing.