What it Means to be in the Skeleton Clique: the Twenty One Pilots Fandom

 Twenty One Pilots Fandom

(Photograph I took In Philadelphia at the Twenty One Pilots Bandito Tour in 2018)

Brief History of the Band...

            Twenty One Pilots is an alternative pop indie group first formed in Ohio in 2009. The original band consisted of lead singer Tyler Joseph and two other members who left the group in 2011. Upon their departure, Joseph called on drummer Josh Dunn and the two became what the world currently knows as Twenty One Pilots. Their big brush with fame wasn't quite until the release of their 2015 album Blurryface (1). Since then, Twenty One Pilots have been a staple band for those struggling with depression, anxiety, identity, etc. Their 2013 album Vessel quickly blew up after their mainstream appearance (1). Songs like "Car Radio," "Truce," "House of Gold," "Trees," and "Holding on to You" are all great examples of songs with such emotion and sentimental value which make the band so relatable, personal, and ultimately lovable.

What Makes them Special to Me

        The first song I ever heard from this band was actually a cover of their song "Fairly Local." Immediately I searched for the original song and fell in love with the energy. That same day, I listened to their entire discography and knew this band was special to me. When I'm sad, I'll listen to "Goner." When I'm in love, I'll listen to "Tear in my Heart." When I need to be reminded I'm not alone, I'll listen to "Kitchen Sink" or "Car Radio." When I'm having a good day with friends, I'll listen to "Ride." Their sound is so versatile and personal which to me is important with the music I listen to. Each song is a message and a reminder that while things may be hard sometimes, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and someone to walk with you through.

The Skeleton Clique

(2)

        On September 4, 2002, Tyler Joseph made a tweet which fans speculate to be the origin of the "Skeleton Clique." The tweet reads, "under clothes, under skin, underneath we're all the same, for when you remove the tricky tricks only skeleton bones remain" (3). Their earliest merch from one of their earliest albums Regional at Best also consisted of these skeleton hoodies. The Clique logo, as pictured above, is a post Blurryface edit of the original skeleton on the left. The new logo symbolizes a skeleton on the left and an alien on the right. Tyler represents the skeleton and Josh the alien. During live performances, the duo wear masks which correspond to their representative figure (2). The Clique is very much alive on all social media platforms, even having their own Twitter page with over 300k followers and an Instagram page with over 500k followers. In an interview by Live Nation, Tyler Joseph of Twenty One Pilots refers to their fanbase as "the first ever all-inclusive clique" (4). 

        Members of the Skeleton Clique understand the importance family has to the members of Twenty One Pilots, so the fanbase treats each other as family. Fans hold Clique public meetups through social media just because the group is truly so close to a family (5). The environment of a Twenty One Pilots concert was the most social and positive out of the plethora I've attended. Fans feel comfortable enough to walk up and compliment your merch or your makeup. They'll ask about your favorite songs and share stories about why the band means so much to them. One of the band's signature phrases is "the few, the proud, and the emotional." When you're a serious member of the Clique, you know it's a space for people who feel just like you and will treat you with the same empathy, consideration, and kindness you would give to others. This is the only fandom I've personally participated in, but out of all of the ones I could have chosen, I'm glad it's this one.

New Wave of Fans: Banditos

        After a long wait for another album, Twenty One Pilots released their newest album Trench in 2018. The album contains a song called Bandito which fans speculate is about Tyler's promise to stay true to himself and his music and knowing his fans will stick with him (6). Newer fans, referred to as the "Trench era" fans, call themselves banditos. However, after several journeys through reddit threads, The official name for the fandom is still, and always will be, the Skeleton Clique.

Works Cited

1. "Twenty One Pilots." Twenty One Pilots                                                                                                  Wiki, https://twentyonepilots.fandom.com/wiki/Twenty_One_Pilots. Accessed March 10, 2021.

2.  Twenty One Pilots. "Skeleton Clique." Twenty One Pilots Wiki,                                                   https://twentyonepilots.fandom.com/wiki/Skeleton_Clique. Accessed March 10, 2021.

3. @tylerrjoseph. "under clothes, under skin, underneath we're all the same, for when you remove the     tricky tricks only skeleton bones remain." Twitter, September 14, 2002, 1:32                 p.m., https://40.media.tumblr.com/778037b3059cc6b39d11ddfa398b50d7/tumblr_nyrcckAEvF1upj1x    mo1_400.jpg.

4. Lux. "Twenty One Pilots on Skeleton Clique, Family, & Emotional Roadshow." Youtube, uploaded      by 105.7 the Point, August 3, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfBD_gxc8YA&t=378s.

5. LN Team. "How to Join the Skeleton Clique." Live Nation     TV, https://www.lntvglobal.com/nz/article/how-to-join-skeleton-clique/. Accessed March 10, 2021.