Paramore

Paramore turned a 2004 formation in Franklin, Tennessee, into a run of albums that moved from pop-punk urgency to broader rock and pop textures, while Hayley Williams remained its unmistakable lead vocalist. The band’s current lineup, in place since 2017, pairs Williams with guitarist Taylor York and drummer Zac Farro. Williams and Farro were founding members; York, a high school friend of the original lineup, joined in 2007.

The group’s route to a record deal was unusual. Atlantic Records signed Williams after she was scouted as a teenager, but allowed her to remain in the band rather than pursue a solo career. The other members signed with Fueled by Ramen, an Atlantic subsidiary. Paramore’s debut, All We Know Is Falling, arrived in 2005 and later reached number 30 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart and number four on the UK Rock Chart.

The 2007 follow-up Riot! brought the band mainstream success through “Misery Business,” “Crushcrushcrush,” and “That’s What You Get.” Certified platinum in the United States, the album also led to a Best New Artist nomination at the 2008 Grammy Awards. Brand New Eyes followed in 2009, reaching number two on the Billboard 200 and producing the top-forty single “The Only Exception.” It earned platinum certification in both Ireland and the United Kingdom.

After Zac Farro and guitarist Josh Farro left in 2010, Paramore continued with its 2013 self-titled fourth album. Paramore became the group’s first number-one album on the Billboard 200 and also topped charts in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico. Its singles included “Still Into You” and “Ain’t It Fun,” the latter winning the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song for Williams and York as songwriters, Paramore’s first Grammy win. Bassist Jeremy Davis departed near the end of 2015, and Zac Farro returned before 2017’s After Laughter. That album and 2023’s This Is Why both reached the top ten; This Is Why won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album. Paramore has been on hiatus since September 2025.