Based out of Los Angeles, Worldwide Panic is a hard rock/heavy metal band that started out in 2016 with the aim of writing heavy, catchy music and personal, meaningful lyrics.
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Lane Steele: Bass Vocals
George Guitarez: Guitars
George Patmas: Guitars
Jay Cali: Drums
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Worldwide Panic? How long has this band been around?
I am not sure about my other members, I have been a solo artist in the past Worldwide was my first band I resurrected from high school. Worldwide in a professional realm with this line up has existed since last June.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
I think it is a reference to how the world for many is constantly in a state of “Worldwide Panic” if you will. This holds no bearing to social or political biases. This is about how people are battling real issues in everyday life. It also is meant to encourage people to be strong enough to push through all the trials and tribulations and even though life is difficult have became the person they were meant to be inside and overcoming personal obstacles and correcting our character defects day by day
Who writes your songs?
I would have to say I bare most the writing in the band in our previous works. However that being said we have been writing a lot more as a unit since our last tour we just completed with Mushroomhead and it has been a very liberating and inspiring experience for all of us I believe. We now know the bedrock of what the sound of Worldwide Panic should be so now its just building upon that foundation.
I am very glad to have relinquished the role of being the primary writer. At first I was not privy to the idea at all as I have a vey quick work flow when I am alone but at the same time its limiting because as a multi instrumentalist, songwriter, producer I have become pigeonholed into having a certain pattern and sound where as now there are ideas that my band mates are contributing that I would have never came up with and some how it fits into the universe of the body of work that is, Worldwide Panic.
What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
Oh god I hope the topics change over time lol! Band’s that are over the top about a singular message I find often to be pointless and lose sight of the objective and the objective to me is to make honest art but also be entertaining. I would say candidly the topics that are most common on our upcoming EP, “The You In Me” are about what I have broached on before which is really looking deep into the mirror and going to war with your lesser self for the purpose of self improvement. We are driven by an altruistic purpose of being open and transparent in hopes that being raw and real with inspire others to do the same.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
I think we all would have very different answers for this question lol.. I must say as I do listen to a wide range of music genres I do listen to a lot of the bands I listened to when I was in high school. So I would go with my top five and not saying that our band sounds like any of these artists, but here we go. Rammstein, Slayer, Pantera, Kiss, Strapping Young Lad / Devin Townsend.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
This is a very pivotal moment for me. I went to go see Superjoint play. Phil was and still is a god because of Pantera and his overall attitude as a front man is unparalleled. So I was excited to finally see him play. But a band I never heard of at the time were the opening act and I am very glad I got there in time because it simply changed my life forever.
That band was, Strapping Young Lad, led by Devin Townsend and featuring the greatest metal drummer of all time Gene Hoglan. Watching Strapping play I was absolutely mesmerized. I never heard a front man with such vocal range and I never laughed so hard at a metal show. Devin showed me that you can be satirical and humorous even though you’re playing heavy music. I have him to thank for that.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …
I have more pre show rituals etc than my mates. I bring a hot water kettle on tour, I use throat coat tea, Lemon, Honey. I have a vocal warm up play list that I use. Once that is done I do some quick workouts, stretch and I while I do that I listen to Eminem’s “Till I Collapse” on repeat until its game time… No joke. I know that is corny but that song gets me pumped.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
We have played with huge bands, played massive sold out large-scale theaters. It is so hard to choose. I would say the highlight of our career is walking out onto the stage to see a big group of people with their fists raised to the sky ready to have a good time.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
METALLICA! OZZY!! SLIPKNOT! KORN! HELL YEAH! FFDP! MANSON! ZOMBIE! It does simply not get bigger than that.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank You and please check out our band