Josh Farro commenting on Jeremy’s departure

Josh Farro, who left Paramore in December of 2010 is now about to release a debut solo album. Recently he has spoken to NME Magazine and was asked about Paramore. He talked about leaving the band, his famous but very negative exit blog posted back in 2010, apologizing to Hayley and finally, he commented on Jeremy Davis leaving Paramore 5 years after he did it.

There was also a question about a possible reunion with Hayley and Taylor. How are they doing now? How does Josh feel about Jeremy’s departure? Click “read more” for the answers.

Your exit blog made it sound as if Paramore had always been riven with tension. What was the straw that broke the camel’s back?
“Back then, I was extremely young and naive. We hit the road when I was 15 – 17 when we started touring hardcore. I don’t regret it. It was a blast but I got burnt out. And yes there was drama. It was like a family. It was like how your brothers and sisters start to annoy you to death, and I’m sure I drove them crazy too. It got to the point where I was kind of over it – and the drama caused by all of us. Tensions flared. I needed a break – and Paramore obviously wanted to keep going which is awesome for them – but I needed to stop, so I decided it would be best if I moved on.”

Paramore have gone through six members now. Is there a survivors club?
“(Laughs) No… I’ll see our old guitar player every once in a while around town and then our old bass player, John Hembree – he reached out to me [in the aftermath]. We text each other and talk fairly regularly. But no Paramore survivors club. That would be funny wouldn’t it?”

Original bassist Jeremy Davis quit the group in December. Did you see it coming?
“I honestly didn’t see it coming, and I know Jeremy’s a great dude but Hayley and Taylor [York, guitarist] are great people too. It definitely wasn’t on my radar. It was surprising. It’s sad that it has to be that way but he’s got a wife and daughter so it’s understandable.”

Are you in contact with any of the band now?
“Yeah. We don’t hang out every day but definitely we’ll see each other around and we’re totally cool now. We bump into each other and chat like old friends. It’s a good feeling to know that you’re on good terms with someone you had a bad breakup with, so all’s well now. Maybe one day we’ll be really good friends again and be able to hang out, but as of right now it’s taking those next steps of ‘okay at first it was raw and nobody wanted to talk to each other’ and now I feel we’re at that stepping stone where we can be in each other’s presence and it’s good now and everybody feels great, but maybe that next step is hanging out. Who knows? Maybe it’s in the near future.”

Hayley called your blog “the worst day of my life”. Who made the first move towards reconciliation?
“To be honest, I just saw them one day and we talked and made small chat and I told them I felt like I was supposed to apologise for everything – like any decent human would for wronging someone. I didn’t know how they’d take it, but they were very receptive and like, ‘Oh, it’s totally cool. That you for saying that’. It was weird but freeing at the same time. From that point on, it’s been great.”

Could you ever envisage yourself rejoining Paramore – is the door open?
“The thought has crossed my mind before, but I don’t think so. It would be interesting to ever be asked to rejoin the band but I don’t think it would ever happen, and I wouldn’t join again because I’m trying to focus on my career and I really believe in my music.”

A full interview is available HERE.