AJ

AJ (they/them) is a 22 year old from Cleveland, OH that I met while in line for Twenty One Pilots in Atlanta, GA. After the tour was over I sent them some questions regarding their life as a stan.

Stan Culture: How many times have you seen Twenty One Pilots live?

AJ: The State Farm Arena Show (in Atlanta) was my 26th time seeing them, but I have since seen them two more times for a total of 28 shows!

SC: What’s the longest you’ve waited in line for? Why?

AJ: The longest I waited in line was 7 days in 2019. I followed the band that summer for a month and a half and for the first show my friends and I wanted to be barricade. We were alone for almost two days until more people showed up. It was worth it because Tyler Joseph (the lead singer) came and stood right over us for the part of Holding On To You where he gets into the crowd.

SC: How long have you been listening to Twenty One Pilots?

AJ: I have been listening to them since I was a sophomore in high school, which was 2015. I found them shortly after Blurryface came out when I saw a fan edit to the song “Car Radio” on the (now defunct) app Vine.

SC: How has Twenty One Pilots’ music impacted your life?

AJ: Twenty one pilots has not only been a coping mechanism for me but also a vehicle to allow me to experience so many things. They were one of the first bands to expand my music taste into more alternative music. I used to use their songs a lot to help cope with depression as most do, but I then used it to help find other people like me. I have made countless relationships with people who I believe will be in my life for the foreseeable future even though they do not listen to the band anymore. I have seen so many cool new places because of this band, getting to travel across the United States with my friends is one of my favorite things that I get to do because of them.

SC: Do you have any tattoos for the band?

AJ: I have 4 tattoos for the band, but none of them are super explicit. You wouldn’t know unless you were in the fandom or I told you. I have a Trench tattoo from a visual from their summer Bandito tour, a matching empty set sign (O with a diagonal line through it) with my best friend, a ghost for the song Morph, and an imaginary constellation made from the chords of the song Guns for Hands created by another fan.

SC: Have you had any notable interactions with the band?

AJ: I have met Tyler and Josh twice and have been pointed out several times during crowd-stands with Tyler. I used to give Josh a high five each show behind B-stage for Bandito Tour. He even told me he liked my split dye hair!

SC: Any specific tour memories that you would like to share?

AJ: My favorite memories are always being up on someone’s shoulders during the shows. I get to look out and see all the people I get to scream with for two hours. I also get to feel the love from whoever holds me, knowing they care and like me enough to hold me up on their shoulders!

SC: Do you have any regrets?

AJ: I definitely regret not being able to be on barricade. My claustrophobia and anxiety of being crushed because I’m so small makes it pretty unbearable. I love getting to see everyone get their spots on barricade after camping though! My favorite part is screaming when I see their happy faces on the big screens during the shows.

SC: You only have to answer if you want, but how do you afford to go to so many shows?

AJ: I have always had two jobs at once, I served since I was 16 and work a full time “big girl” job. I am incredibly lucky that both allow me to take the time off to follow tours. They know how much it means to me and that I’m a hard worker when I’m on the clock anyways.