Jeremy Davis

Bassist of Paramore, from the early days in Franklin, Tennessee, through three studio albums and a legal battle.

Jeremiah Clayton Davis (born February 8, 1985), also known as Jerm, is an American musician, songwriter, and bassist. He was the bassist for the rock band Paramore from 2004 until his departure in December 2015. Davis joined the band after its formation by Hayley Williams and Josh Farro, having met Williams in 2002 through mutual friends. He played on the band's major albums including Riot!, Brand New Eyes, and the self-titled Paramore, and was nominated for Best Bassist at the Alternative Press Music Awards in 2014. His tenure with the band was marked by an early departure and return, and ended with a legal dispute over song ownership and royalties.

Quick Facts

Birth name

Jeremiah Clayton Davis

Born

8 February 1985

Birthplace

Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.

Spouse

Kathryn Camsey (2011)

Alias

Jerm

Genre

Alternative rock
pop rock
pop-punk
emo
hip-hop

Occupation

Musician
songwriter
rapper

Instrument

Bass guitar; vocals

Lore & Background

Jeremy Davis's journey with Paramore began in 2002 in Franklin, Tennessee, where he met Hayley Williams through mutual friends. Through her, he met the Farro brothers, Josh and Zac. When Paramore was created in 2004, Davis joined as the bassist. He admitted that due to Zac's age (14 at the time), he thought people wouldn't take them seriously until they saw him play. The band signed with Fueled by Ramen in 2005. During the recording of their first album, All We Know Is Falling, in Orlando, Florida, Davis told the other members he intended to quit. Davis played bass on the album before leaving, and he was temporarily replaced for live shows by John Hembree. However, he rejoined soon after and was present for the band's second album, Riot! (2007). He also played bass on the live album Live in the UK 2008 (also released as The Final Riot!). The band's third album, Brand New Eyes, was released on September 29, 2009, and their fourth, Paramore, in 2013. In 2014, Davis was nominated for Best Bassist at the Alternative Press Music Awards. On December 14, 2015, it was announced that Davis would no longer be in the band, and Paramore would continue as a duo. In February 2016, Davis became embroiled in a legal battle with Williams and Taylor York over ownership and authorship of the songs and a portion of the royalties from Paramore, as well as a share of the band's touring revenue and other income. Davis claimed Varoom Whoa, the business entity that operates Paramore, was a partnership, and that Williams and York were also partners. The business denied this, claiming Williams and York are employees (York also admitted this himself), that Davis was paid what he earned during his time in the band, and that while Williams is the only one signed to Atlantic Records, she shared her personal earnings with the band out of a sense of camaraderie.

Reader's Guide

Jeremy Davis was the bassist for Paramore from their inception in 2004 until his departure in December 2015. He played on three of the band's studio albums: Riot! (2007), Brand New Eyes (2009), and Paramore (2013). He also played bass on the live albums The Final Riot! and Live in the UK. During the recording of their first album, All We Know Is Falling, Davis temporarily left the band and was replaced by John Hembree, but he rejoined soon after. In 2014, he was nominated for Best Bassist at the Alternative Press Music Awards. After leaving Paramore, Davis co-produced and played bass on the B.o.B. song "Violet Vibrato", released in 2015. He launched a record label named Post Trap Entertainment in October 2020, and on May 7, 2021, he released his solo debut album, Grand Ole Opportunity. Davis married British actress Kathryn Camsey on September 30, 2011, and their first child, Bliss Belle Buttercup Davis, was born on December 28, 2013.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Jeremy Davis?

He is the founding bassist of Paramore who joined Hayley Williams in Franklin, Tennessee, before the band officially formed. Known professionally as Jerm, he served in this role from 2004 until late 2015.

What albums did Jeremy Davis play on?

Davis performed bass guitar on three major studio records, including Riot!, Brand New Eyes, and the self-titled album Paramore. His contributions helped define the band's sound during their peak commercial years.