In May of 2014, Black Veil Brides frontman Andy Biersack released a solo music video and song under the alias "Andy Black," titled "They Don't Need to Understand." The lyrics suggest a nostalgia for younger days, but more specifically, reminiscing on the work it took to get from Cincinnati to Los Angeles in one of today's best-known rock bands. The music video features Biersack surprisingly out of his element. What's usually a cut-up t-shirt and tight, black jeans are replaced with a sharp black suit and tie. His hair is slicked back in a way that might make the viewer guess some '50s movie star time-traveled to the current decade and got a bunch of tattoos and a lip ring. The font that introduces Biersack and the black-and-white filter could even confirm those suspicions.
What's especially remarkable about the video, though, is that Biersack features old home videos of himself as a kid, dressing up as a rock star and performing his favorite songs. While it evokes a certain nostalgia, it's also a sort of declaration of pride, presenting this dichotomy between Biersack as a dreaming child and his current state of success.
Already, the aesthetic is a far leap from the usual hair-metal, all-black clothes demeanor Black Veil Brides usually presents, but the sound goes a further than that. Biersack introduces an electronic, pop-rock element to this song, so there is already a prominent distinction between Andy Black and Black Veil Brides. He articulately stated in an interview that it was a solo side-project that he didn't necessarily want the band to join as well, since their usual genre is powerful, chugging hard rock that's probably what it would sound like if fire came to life and started singing, and that's not something he wanted to change about Black Veil Brides.
However, after the video was released and several interviews were done, that was the last we heard of this mysterious "Andy Black." That much was true until about five weeks ago, when Biersack posted a photo on his instagram hinting at a big announcement.
The announcement was that Biersack was continuing work on an entire Andy Black album, which got fans excited enough as it was.
Imagine the excitement at all these Instagram posts Biersack has been uploading featuring lots and lots of guests, from Patrick Stump to Benji and Joel Madden to Ashton Irwin to Gerard Way. Something huge is on the way, especially when you say names that have consistently been at the forefront of subgenres of rock 'n' roll, so it begs the question: what's Andy up to? Are they collaborating on lyrics, featured singers?
I suppose we'll get our answer with the release of the album. For now, we'll have to eagerly wait.
