Former Paramore lead guitarist Josh Farro and drummer Zac Farro have finally commented on their decision to depart the band, a move that was confirmed publicly by lead singer Hayley Williams this weekend.
In a joint blog statement, the brothers recount the formation of the band, which transformed from a garage passion project into a “manufactured product of a major label” built to support “Hayley’s dream.”
Once the band had been re-established with Williams as the front, the Farros explain that the singer’s manager and father began controlling the bulk of the band’s operations. As an example, they cite the fact that Hayley and her manager had been taking private meetings with record labels and eventually signed the frontwoman to Atlantic Records.
“We didn’t understand why Hayley was the only one signing the contract since we were told this was a ‘band,’ but we were too young to grasp all of this,” notes the statement.
The band began touring with Williams’ father as the “tour manager/driver of a twelve-passenger van.” According to the statement, “Her dad would constantly threaten to “pull the plug” on the whole band if we complained about anything, suggesting that we were hired guns and Hayley was the real artist, when in reality we were also part of the band.”
“We’ve always been treated as less important than Hayley. It’s been obvious how her family views things.”
Reflecting on how the original band was essentially dissolved and then essentially re-formed as a support vehicle for Hayley Williams, the brothers note that Paramore “toured non-stop for two and half years building our fan base, pretending to be a band that started naturally.”
Prior to the recording of “Riot!,” which remains the band’s most commercially-important album, bassist Jeremy Davis, who had been Hayley Williams’ selection, was apparently “kicked out” based on what Josh Farro says was a “lack of work ethic” and “participation in things that Zac, Hayley and I didn’t agree with.” Davis was eventually let back into the band, as was Farro-backed rhythm guitarist Taylor York.
Josh Farro and Hayley Williams dated and broke up during the campaign for “Riot!.” Following the breakup, the elder Farro felt that “Things then started going downhill for our band,” adding, “Hayley and Jeremy’s views started changing from what we all once believed in. The band almost split after cancelling a tour in Europe, but we managed to keep it together somehow. This is when Zac and I started to consider quitting the band.”
The band remained together for album “Brand New Eyes,” but according to the Farros, Hayley’s proposed lyrics were “negative” and counter to the Biblical spirit that was supposedly at the band’s core.
“We fought her about how her lyrics misrepresented our band and what we stood for, but in the end she got her way. Instead of fighting her any longer, we decided to just roll over and let it go,” explains the statement.
The statement says that the rifts only grew wider on the tour for “Brand New Eyes” — “Suddenly the band had spilt into two sides. Touring became more difficult since we couldn’t agree on anything.”
Combined with a feeling that they missed out on valuable teenage and young adult years, the brothers decided to depart the band.
The statement wraps, “After a lot a prayer and counsel Zac and I came to the decision that it was time to leave the band. We truly feel that God is leading us elsewhere and is going to do great things with us. The intention of this statement was not to belittle or disgrace the rest of the band, it was simply to clarify our decision for leaving and our desire to finally tell you guys the truth. We are still hoping to work out a friendly way to leave our part of Paramore intact with the remaining band members, including Hayley.
“We want to thank you guys for all of your love and support over the past 7 years. It’s been an honor creating and playing music for you. If music is what God calls us to in the future, we hope that you all will be a part of it.”
