Josh Farro

Last updated

Josh Farro
Josh Farro 2008 cropped.jpg
Farro performing with Paramore in 2008
Background information
Birth nameJoshua Neil Farro
Born (1987-09-29) September 29, 1987 (age 36)
Voorhees Township, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • vocals
Years active2004–present
Member ofFarro
Formerly of
Spouse(s)
Jenna Rice
(m. 2010)

Joshua Neil Farro (born September 29, 1987) is an American musician, best known as the former lead guitarist and backing vocalist for the rock band Paramore. He has most recently pursued a solo career as the lead vocalist and guitarist of his self-named band Farro. His debut solo album, Walkways, was released in 2016.

Contents

Early life

Farro was born in Voorhees Township, New Jersey, on September 29, 1987, [1] the second-oldest of five siblings, including Paramore drummer Zac Farro. He is a self-taught guitarist and began playing when he was 13 years old. His family later moved to Franklin, Tennessee. [2]

Career

Farro with Paramore in 2007 Paramore Josh Farro01.jpg
Farro with Paramore in 2007

Paramore (2004–2010)

Along with his younger brother Zac, Farro was a founding member of Paramore, serving as the band's lead guitarist and backing vocalist from 2004 until his exit in late 2010. Farro also co-wrote almost every track on Paramore's first three albums with Hayley Williams and occasionally Taylor York.

Departure and blog controversy

On December 21, 2010, a blog appeared online claiming to be an official exit statement from the Farro brothers. The blog entry refuted statements made by Paramore's official website regarding the brothers' departure and was heavily critical of Hayley Williams, her family, Atlantic Records, and Fueled by Ramen. [3] Farro appeared in a video on YouTube claiming that the blog was genuine. The video was quickly removed for reported violations, but Farro re-uploaded it a few days later. [4] Farro, a Christian, cited his and Williams' differing beliefs as a reason for departing Paramore. [5]

Novel American (2011–2014)

On February 2, 2011, Farro announced he had established a Twitter account for his new band, Novel American. [6] [7] The band included high school friends Van Beasley, Tyler Ward, and Ryan Clark, each formerly of the band Cecil Adora. Unlike in Paramore, Farro relegated himself to guitar in the new project, saying, "I never wanted to sing. My voice — and this is not false humility — is just not that good."[ citation needed ]

On February 22, 2011, the band announced Farro's brother Zac would replace Tyler Ward on drums. [8] However, on May 23, 2014, Farro stated that he had scrapped the project entirely, primarily due to the lack of a suitable vocalist.[ citation needed ]

Farro (2014–2017)

In May 2014, Farro announced on Twitter that he had scrapped his previous band, Novel American, because "nothing was going anywhere". Later that year, he announced the name of his solo project, Farro. His debut single, "Color Rush", was released in November 2014, with a music video appearing on YouTube. Farro released his debut album, Walkways, independently on February 5, 2016. [9]

He announced a mini tour to support the album throughout the year.[ citation needed ] On May 19, 2017, he announced on Twitter that he is writing for his second album,[ citation needed ] however there has been no update on a release date since.

Personal life

On April 3, 2010, Farro married fiancée Jenna Rice in Tennessee, missing Paramore's Pacific Rim tour to plan the wedding. [10] Their daughter was born on January 28, 2018, and their son was born on May 22, 2020.[ citation needed ]

He has four siblings, including Zac. Farro currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee.[ citation needed ]

Other songs

He was one of three co-writers of the song "This Is Amazing Grace" along with Jeremy Riddle and Phil Wickham; the song is featured on both Bethel Music's (Bethel Church) live CD/DVD For the Sake of the World where Jeremy performed it, as well as on Phil Wickham's album The Ascension. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paramore</span> American rock band

Paramore is an American rock band from Franklin, Tennessee, formed in 2004. Since 2017, the band consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York and drummer Zac Farro. Williams and Farro are founding members of the group, while York, a high school friend of the original lineup, joined in 2007. Williams is the only member to appear on all six of Paramore's studio albums.

<i>All We Know Is Falling</i> 2005 studio album by Paramore

All We Know Is Falling is the debut studio album by the American rock band Paramore, released on July 26, 2005, under the Atlantic-distributed Fueled by Ramen in the United States. Its production was handled by James Paul Wisner, Mike Green, Nick Trevisick, and Roger Alan Nichols. The departure of bassist Jeremy Davis, which occurred a few days after arriving in Orlando, served as the album's main theme. This theme was reflected especially in the album's cover and title. Mostly categorized as a pop-punk album, the album received mostly positive reviews and has been labeled a "scene classic".

<i>The Summer Tic EP</i> 2006 EP by Paramore

The Summer Tic is the first EP by the American rock band Paramore. It was released on June 18, 2006, and was sold during the 2006 Warped Tour and the tour supporting their previously released album, All We Know Is Falling. Copies were also sold on Fueled by Ramen store for a limited time. The name of the EP comes from a lyric of the song "Stuck on You", which is a cover of the Failure song. The EP includes an alternative version of "Emergency", a song which appeared on their debut studio album. The version features the original screaming done by former guitarist, Josh Farro, which was removed for All We Know Is Falling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hayley Williams</span> American singer (born 1988)

Hayley Nichole Williams is an American singer. She is the lead vocalist and only constant member of the rock band Paramore, which she co-founded in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zac Farro</span> American drummer

Zachary Wayne Farro is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the rock band Paramore. He is the younger brother of Josh Farro, who was Paramore's former lead guitarist and backing vocalist. After he and his brother exited Paramore in 2010, Josh formed a band named Novel American, which Zac was also a part of. Farro is currently the sole member of the band HalfNoise. Farro rejoined Paramore in 2016.

<i>Riot!</i> 2007 studio album by Paramore

Riot! is the second studio album by the American rock band Paramore. It was released in the United States on June 12, 2007 through Fueled by Ramen as a follow-up to their debut album, All We Know Is Falling (2005). The album was produced by David Bendeth and written by band members Hayley Williams and Josh Farro, with Bendeth, and fellow band member Zac Farro co-writing on select tracks. The album explores a "diverse range of styles," while not straying far from the "signature sound" of their debut album, with several critics comparing it to the music of Kelly Clarkson and Avril Lavigne. The cover of the album also resembles the cover artwork of No Doubt's 2001 album Rock Steady.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hallelujah (Paramore song)</span> 2007 single by Paramore

"Hallelujah" is a song by American rock band Paramore, released as the second single from their second studio album Riot!. The single peaked at No. 139 on the UK Singles Chart. The song is not to be confused with the Leonard Cohen song of the same name, although on the Final Riot! summer 2008 tour, lead singer Hayley Williams performed an extract, accompanied by lead guitarist, Josh Farro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy Davis</span> American musician (born 1985)

Jeremiah Clayton "Jeremy" Davis, also known as Jerm, is an American musician, songwriter, and rapper. He was the bassist for the rock band Paramore until his departure in December 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taylor York</span> American guitarist

Taylor Benjamin York is an American musician, best known as the lead guitarist for the rock band Paramore.

<i>Brand New Eyes</i> 2009 studio album by Paramore

Brand New Eyes is the third studio album by the American rock band Paramore, released on September 29, 2009, through Fueled by Ramen in the United States and Canada. The album was produced by Rob Cavallo and recorded in Hidden Hills, California from January to March 2009. It was written by band members Hayley Williams and Josh Farro, with guitarist Taylor York who co-wrote on four tracks, as a follow-up to Riot! (2007).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brick by Boring Brick</span> 2009 single by Paramore

"Brick by Boring Brick" is a song by American rock band Paramore. The song was released in late 2009 as the second single from their third studio album, Brand New Eyes (2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Playing God (song)</span> 2010 single by Paramore

"Playing God" is a song by American rock band Paramore, taken from their third studio album, Brand New Eyes (2009). The song was written by the band's lead singer Hayley Williams, lead guitarist Josh Farro, and rhythm guitarist Taylor York, and produced by Rob Cavallo, and the band. It was released as the fifth and final single from the album on November 15, 2010. It was also the final single to feature former band members Josh and Zac Farro before their departure in 2010. Zac Farro returned to the band in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In the Mourning</span> 2011 single by Paramore

"In the Mourning" is a song by American rock band Paramore. It was released on 5 December 2011 as the third single from Paramore's Singles Club series which was announced on the day of the single's release. It was announced that the band would release 3 singles until the end of 2011 with a single released per month, "In The Mourning" being the third and the last song of this EP.

<i>Paramore</i> (album) 2013 studio album by Paramore

Paramore is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Paramore. It was released on April 5, 2013, through Fueled by Ramen as a follow-up to Brand New Eyes (2009). Recorded between April and November 2012, the album was described by the band as being a "statement" and a reintroduction of the band to the world and to themselves. It is the first album without guitarist Josh Farro, the only album without drummer Zac Farro and the final album with bassist Jeremy Davis before his departure in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HalfNoise</span> Musical project of Zac Farro

HalfNoise is the musical project of Zac Farro, drummer of the American rock band Paramore. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Farro formed the project alongside Jason Clark following Farro's departure from Paramore in 2010. The project now consists of Farro alone. He released the debut self-titled EP of the project, HalfNoise, in 2012. Since then, he released four studio albums, Volcano Crowe (2014), Sudden Feeling (2016), Natural Disguise (2019), Motif (2021), and City Talk (2023); and two EPs The Velvet Face (2017) and Flowerss (2018).

"Caught in the Middle" is a song by American rock band Paramore. It was released on June 26, 2018 through Fueled by Ramen as the fifth and final single off their fifth studio album After Laughter (2017). The track was co-written by lead vocalist Hayley Williams and guitarist Taylor York, and recorded in Nashville, Tennessee.

"Fake Happy" is a song by American rock band Paramore. It was released on August 29, 2017, through Fueled by Ramen as the third single off their fifth studio album After Laughter (2017). Written by lead vocalist Hayley Williams and guitarist Taylor York and produced by Justin Meldal-Johnsen and York, the song was recorded in the band's hometown, Nashville, Tennessee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Told You So (Paramore song)</span> 2017 single by Paramore

"Told You So" is a song by American rock band Paramore. It was released on May 3, 2017 through Fueled by Ramen as the second single off their fifth studio album After Laughter. It was written by lead vocalist Hayley Williams and guitarist Taylor York and was recorded in the band's hometown, Nashville, Tennessee. A music video for the song, directed by drummer Zac Farro and Aaron Joseph, was uploaded to their record label Fueled by Ramen's YouTube channel along with the release of the song.

<i>After Laughter</i> 2017 studio album by Paramore

After Laughter is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Paramore. It was released on May 12, 2017, through Fueled by Ramen, as a follow-up to their 2013 self-titled album. After Laughter was produced by guitarist Taylor York alongside previous collaborator Justin Meldal-Johnsen. It is the band's first album since the return of drummer Zac Farro and the departure of former bassist Jeremy Davis. After Laughter represents a complete departure from the pop-punk and alternative rock sound of the band's previous releases and, in direct contrast to its upbeat and vibrant sound, touches on themes of exhaustion, depression and anxiety.

References

  1. Condran, Ed. "Paramore movin' up, just not movin' out", Bucks County Courier Times, February 25, 2006. Accessed March 17, 2011. "The Farro brothers who were born in Williams NJ met Williams four years ago."
  2. "Synthesis.net Paramore Being Crazy 4 Episode #2". YouTube. November 18, 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
  3. Farro, Josh (December 21, 2010). "Tetelestai: Josh and Zac's Exit Statement". Joshnfarro.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on January 19, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
  4. Farro, Josh (December 22, 2010). "Tetelestai: The Truth". Joshnfarro.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
  5. Parsons, Katie (April 20, 2011). "Josh Farro claims Paramore lyrics contradicted his faith". NME .
  6. Michaels, Sean (February 3, 2011). "Ex-Paramore guitarist announces new band". the Guardian. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  7. "Exclusive: Josh Farro Returns With Post-Paramore Band Novel American". MTV. February 2, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
  8. "Ex-Paramore members Zac and Josh Farro joins forces for new band". nme.com. February 22, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
  9. "Walkways by Farro". February 5, 2016 via music.apple.com.
  10. "A Note From Josh - Blog Detail". Paramore.net. February 5, 2010. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
  11. "Phil Wickham - This Is Amazing Grace - Behind The Song". YouTube. July 7, 2013. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021.