The Middle School Cult of Twenty One Pilots

In middle school, being a Twenty One Pilots fan was somewhat like being a cult—a cult composed of band kids, emos, and weirdos. I was, naturally, part of this cult. But why were so many middle schoolers obsessed with the band? 

The duo, composed of Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun, appealed to a very specific brand of pre-teens who were creative, a bit strange, and terribly misunderstood (at least, it felt that way). The band was weird themselves, inventing a character called “Blurryface” and naming an album after him. Blurryface was essentially a personification of Tyler’s dark side and mental health struggles. Fans theorized about what was happening to Blurryface through music videos, lyrics, and cryptic messaging from the band. Was he dead? Alive? What does the black paint on his neck mean? It was like solving a dark mystery through music, so it’s no wonder young people were obsessed. 

In addition to the Blurryface storyline, my friends and I latched onto their quirky sound: an amalgamation of ukuleles, rapping, whiny vocals, electronic distortion, and pseudo-deep lyrics like “I’m a kitchen sink/You don’t know what that means/Because a kitchen sink to you is not a kitchen sink to me.” At the time, I thought this was the most profound statement to have ever been uttered, engaging in “philosophical” debates with my friends on what it meant to be a “kitchen sink.” 

We were obsessed; which is why, when they announced their “Tour de Columbus” in 2017, we were ecstatic. This mini-tour took place over a weekend in the duo’s hometown of Columbus, Ohio, where they came back to play smaller venues they had played when first starting out. Since the venues were smaller, demand was high, and only certain people would receive codes to purchase tickets. My friends and I had all of our family members sign up to receive codes, and luckily enough, we got one. A few months later, my mom generously drove us 3 hours to Columbus for the fated concert. 

Thousands of fans gathered early in line on a hot summer day, buzzing with excitement. The entire experience felt electrified, especially when the concert actually started. It was humid and sweaty, but I didn’t care. I felt part of something so unique and energetic. Everyone was screaming the lyrics, and the duo even entered the crowd in giant hamster balls. It was a surreal experience. 

The experience became even more surreal when my friends and I surreptitiously met the band. We attended a local art show showcasing Twenty One Pilots-inspired pieces in honor of their Tour de Columbus. As we were leaving, a security guard stopped us and said that we really did not want to leave. We got the hint that something big was about to happen and walked back inside. I am indebted to that security guard to this day. 

Fans gathered into a room where the news was delivered: Josh and Tyler were here, and they were going to meet all of their fans. I truly do not remember much of what ensued other than that I freaked out. How was this happening? What would I say to them? 

When it was our turn to meet them, I think I said something super generic like “I love your music,” at a loss for words in their massive presence (though they were not much taller than me). So much of the experience is a hazy—but happy—blur, and I have a picture with them to commemorate the moment. I’m being very brave by including it below, my poor fashion choices and awkwardness on full display. 

I did eventually outgrow my Twenty One Pilots phase, and for a while I looked back on it with so much embarrassment, wondering why I was so engrossed by two average men. Now, I still hold some residual embarrassment (I shiver thinking about when I dressed up as them). However, I also see that time in my life as a silly era that encapsulates what it means to be young and grow into yourself. I view many of my cringey actions with a new fondness for a young girl who was unapologetically herself. I owe a lot to her. All hot girls were once weird emo kids, after all. 

It’s also a fun conversation starter, reminiscing with new people I meet who also happened to go through similar phases. Awkward phases are funny and bring people together. It’s a very distinct experience that many can relate to. My friends and I will sometimes listen to old Twenty One Pilots music (not the new stuff, obviously), and laugh at how many lyrics we remember. We assure each other that it’s partially ironic, but really, it’s mostly nostalgic. 

I am a former Twenty One Pilots cult member, and I am proud! Sometimes. I can critique Twenty One Pilots and their fan base for days (and I have), but I prefer to focus on the joy of being young and part of a weird little moment in time.