The popular emo band Paramore have always had their fair share of inner band problems. Their band member turnover rate could rival the Smashing Pumpkins. So earlier this month it was no surprise that Paramore had lost  Josh and Zac Farro, two of the band’s founding members.

Hayley Williams, Paramore’s front woman, was quick to release a statement indicating the band will go on and wishing the departed members all the best. But as with all band breakups the official band statement isn’t exactly the whole story.

Thankfully Josh went to his own blog to tell his version of the tale. The whole thing is worth a read in full and it showcases some classic music business practices of lying, cheating, and being a general eh-hole. Below are just a few interesting points.

Zac and I had a garage band in high school with the intentions of just making music for the love of it. ….one day Zac met Hayley. We asked her to come try out and eventually to join the band.

Months down the road things changed and this band became all about Hayley. She had a manager at the time that controlled her every move along with her parents.

…We traveled to LA a few weeks later for a showcase and it was a nightmare. Hayley’s manager would tell the band to be in the lobby of the hotel at a certain time, but he and Hayley wouldn’t show for hours.

We found out that they had been meeting with record label executives all morning without us, which is totally weird given that this wasn’t simply a solo artist, but we were a band. The band was in the dark the whole time.

…. The label and management then decided to build our band up the grass-roots route. They put Hayley on Fueled by Ramen not making it known she was signed to Atlantic as well. All the while we still questioned whether or not we were an actual band, but Hayley continued to insist we were, despite our being ignored and pushed around by the label.

They then sent us all to Orlando to rehearse and write eight hours a day for our first record. Half -way though this process, Jeremy decided to quit.

…we toured non-stop for two and half years building our fan base, pretending to be a band that started naturally. In reality, what started as natural somehow morphed into a manufactured product of a major label, riding on the coattails of “Hayley’s dream.”

Once again we hit the road and toured on our biggest record as a band. As you all know Hayley and I dated and broke up during this album cycle. Things then started going downhill for our band.

…In addition to the band turmoil, touring had really taken its toll on us both. We left home at such a young age and missed taking part in normal teenage years. When you own part of a band and are constantly playing, you make sacrifices. Touring has taken its toll on our family members as well. I specifically remember many moments where our parents would break down in tears when we had to leave. It broke my heart. (More at Josh Farro’s blog)

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