Black Veil Brides

Black Veil Brides

Black Veil Brides (BVB) is an American rock band based in Hollywood, California. The group is composed of Andy Biersack (lead vocals), Ashley Purdy (bass, backing vocals), Jake Pitts (lead guitar, backing vocals), Jeremy "Jinxx" Ferguson (rhythm guitar, backing vocals, violin, cello, piano) and Christian "CC" Coma (drums). They're known for their use of black and white makeup and body paint, tight black studded clothing, and long hair.

Labels: Lava Music/Universal Republic Records. Previously: StandBy Records.

Musical style

Black Veil Brides's style has constantly been changing ever since the group was formed in 2006. When they debuted with Sex & Hollywood, they had an old-school glam metal/hard rock sound. By the time We Stitch These Wounds was released, they were playing more towards a melodic metalcore and post-hardcore sound, with harsh screaming in abundance. The addition of guitarist Jake Pitts led to guitar solos on almost every track. With the release of Set The World On Fire, their appearance changed to resemble that of glam metal/shock rock bands, while their sound dropped the smooth singing and harsh screams in exchange for simply singing. They followed this musical style all the way up to their most current release, Wretched And Divine: The Story Of The Wild Ones. The classical influence of Jinxx is much more pronounced on this album, with many symphonic additions and the band's first instrumental track, Overture, featuring violins played by him.The band is self-described as simply rock 'n' roll.

Influences

Black Veil Brides's influences include: Kiss, Metallica, Avenged Sevenfold, Mötley Crüe, Poison, AFI, Twisted Sister, W.A.S.P., Def Leppard, Skid Row, Social Distortion, Billy Idol, Alice Cooper, Misfits, Hot Water Music, Alkaline Trio, Pendulum, Deadmau5, As I Lay Dying, In Flames, and Rise Against, the last five stated by Christian Coma.

Lyrics' meanings

Black Veil Brides's lyrics have dealt with topics aimed at people who feel like outcasts in society.

"We carry a message of believing in yourself and letting no one tell you otherwise. We stand up for the underdog and the disenfranchised. Anything strange, odd, or unique… we embrace that. So basically standing up for yourself; have fun and live your life how you choose. You only have one life, make the most of it." -Ashley Purdy

Origin of the name

"Black Veil Brides is a Roman Catholic term used for when a woman marries into the church and gives up all the pleasures of life to devote her life to God. She is then deemed a Black Veil Bride. Sorta similar to a rock band where you have to give up many things in pursuit of what you're passionate about or believe in. It also has the dichotomy of the positive and negative. The happiest time in one's life, could be getting married. And the opposite of that in one's life would be at a funeral of a loved one. It all tends to fit really well for a dark and heavy rock band." -Ashley Purdy

Origins and members

Black Veil Brides (originally called Biersack) was founded in 2006 in Cincinnati, Ohio with Andy Biersack, Johnny Herold (guitar), Nate Shipp (guitar), Phil Cenedella (bass) and Chris "Craven" Riesenberg (drums). The last four left in 2008, Chris "Hollywood" Bluser played guitar until 2009, David "Pan" Burton took after him for a brief period. Sandra Alvarenga (drums), Ashley Purdy, Jake Pitts, and Jinxx joined in 2009. Sandra left the band in 2010 and CC took her place. Andy is the only founding member remaining.

Criticism

Black Veil Brides was mislabeled as emo due to the members' style and appearance.

"Yeah, I mean, just always identify yourself as you. Whatever your name is, whatever your interests are like, you know, don't allow them to call you 'emo' or whatever else, 'cause those things, they really don't exist. That's the term of a guy who trolls message boards and those things. Like, 'emo' and 'faggot' and those things, 'cause those are what people learned ostensibly outside of what reality is so I just don't listen to those people. Don't let those people affect you." -Andy Biersack

Even when they won their Golden God Award for their song In The End winning 'song of the year' and mass radio hits, the band got berated and booed at by the audience. Phil Labonte, the frontman for All That Remains, posted a controversial comment slamming Andy Biersack's appearance and was accused of homophobia as a result.