This is a re-posting of the original interview done on 12/20/11 by Alicia Vigil for the first and now defunct BVB ARMY fansite, BVB INTERNATIONAL

Interview with Richard Villa III, Artist and Owner of Exhibit A Gallery

By Alicia Vigil

Alicia: Hey BVB Army! This is Alicia, a bridesmaid from Black Veil Brides International. I’m here with the amazing & talented Richard Villa III, owner of Exhibit A Gallery and the artist behind Black Veil Brides. Hey Richard, can you tell us and the BVB fans, where we’re at tonight?

RV: We are here at Exhibit A Gallery, for Andy Six’s 20th birthday party.

ANDY SIX'S 20TH BIRTHDAY INVITE - NEW REBELS / FALLEN ANGELS LOGO ON RIGHT - DESIGNED BY RICHARD VILLA III

 

ANDY AT HIS 20TH BIRTHDAY PARTY AT EXHIBIT A GALLERY


Alicia: Since this is an interview for the BVB army, I’m sure they’ve all heard or seen your name before. I don’t think the BVB Army realizes how big of an impact you’ve had on the band & all of us. Tell us some of the things you’ve done & contributed to BVB.

BLACK VEIL BRIDES - WE STITCH THESE WOUNDS ALBUM COVER 2010 - DESIGNED BY RICHARD VILLA III

RV: I designed the BVB album cover for “We Stitch These Wounds”, along with other pieces of artwork that are contained within the CD package. There have been a few t-shirt designs that I’ve made, as well. I redesigned the original BVB logo, and created the “Mourning Star”(BVB Star logo) or aka the “Pentacharm,” as it’s marketed by Bandmerch. I named it the “Mourning Star” for a reason, not a “pentacharm,” I designed it, so I get to name it, so sorry Bandmerch. Also, there is a multitude of BVB art that people outside of the band haven’t seen yet. Currently, there are other projects in the works that are up and coming, but it is a secret.

Alicia: Anything you want to share or not yet?

RV: At times there are some not so noticeable reveals here and there, that give people a preview of things to come (like elements used here for Andy’s birthday party), but everyone will have to wait and see.

Alicia: You, also designed the set for the “Perfect Weapon” video shoot?

RV: Well, technically, I was in charge of the Creative Direction. So yes, I designed a lot of the visuals, along with the help of 3 three other production artists that work for me. I would not have made the deadline for the shoot, if not for them and together it was like having eight arms.

Alicia: What did you design on the set of “Perfect Weapon”?

RV: The “Golden Baroque Brides”, the “Holy Death Brides”, the “Holy Death Twins” or aka, what the fans have nicknamed them, George. Also, the Brides pedestals that they stood on, the black banners hanging from the rafters and all the Mourning Star T-shirts worn by the fans.

Alicia: Richard, you’ve been a big influence on BVB, & have become real good friends with the band, especially Andy. Tell us how you got involved with black veil brides.


BIPOLAR ART SHOW - FEATURING LIVE MUSIC BY BLACK VEIL BRIDES - DESIGNED BY RICHARD VILLA III - BVB BELOW AND CANDID BIPOAR EVENT PICS

RV: We were planning an Art Show entitled “Bipolar”, we wanted to have the event convey a feeling of being creatively bipolar. We had artists create art pieces from a polar opposite place in their minds, different from what they were use to creating , the difference could vary anywhere from the style or subject matter that was the flip side of who they are, something unexpected. I, also wanted a band to play the event, but it had to be the right band. A friend, whom I also work with introduced me to BVB. With a name like Black Veil Brides, it sparked my interest, I thought that the name sounded pretty bipolar to me. I looked BVB up on Youtube and found the video for “Knives and Pens”. Automatically, I heard and saw the metal influences, but this to me was a new form of Contemporary Metal. I love metal, but I knew some people at the event would love them and others would hate them, but that is what I would ultimately want. In general, that’s how I like people to respond to creativity, if everyone likes you then there is something wrong, I mean, I wouldn’t expect a Kanye West or a Katy Perry fan, with their mindset to like BVB, but that’s perfectly fine. It takes a certain type of person to be a metal fan, so if someone does not get it, and likes talking shit, who cares, they’re an asshole, and if an asshole doesn’t like you, Good. Who cares what an asshole thinks. So with my mind set on BVB to be the musical part of bipolar, Andy and the band were contacted, and they agreed to perform for “Bipolar”. Andy and I had a few meetings to go over details of the show, while going over details, we realized we had a lot more in common than the event. Andy and I would talk and debate on topics such as; religion, politics, art and life in general. Andy is highly intelligent, that is pretty amazing for someone at any age, but especially for someone who was 18 at the time. In the months to come, we would gain each others respect and friendship, this became the beginning of some very special endeavors. So, with the band on board for “Bipolar”, the opening reception was a go ahead. The gallery followed the “Bipolar” theme. The front of the gallery was a funeral wake, with all the ominous embellishments that would be expected at someone’s death. The back of the gallery was the complete opposite, the visuals were Iike a childs birthday party, bright and colorful lights, pinatas, balloons, candy, cotton candy, popcorn machine and even bubbles. No one at the event was really expecting what they saw or what they heard. A coffin with a corpse, laid in front of the gallery surrounded by well-known contemporary artists work, while in the back of the gallery showcased four very corpse like figures dressed in black, were playing to a packed crowd, surrounded by a colorful childlike environment. The night would end as a success for BVB and the Gallery, this was the first ever Black Veil Brides Los Angeles show. A night full of Art, Skateboarding, Music, Fashion and... the L.A. Vice cops, threatening to take me to jail, if I let the band play, thank God that did not happen.

Alicia: So, being the amazing artist that you are, what paths did you take to further and make your career possible?”

RV: No real, defined path. I do what I do, because I want to. I do it, because I have to do it, it never was a choice, it chose me. While other kids were into sports and playing outside, I was drawing or creating something. I never thought, ‘Hey, this would be a good career path’, it was just a inner desire that needed to be filled. Art is like breathing, sleeping and eating, it is just a part of me, it’s something that I have to do or I wouldn’t be me. As for a career, it was never planned ahead at all, and I never thought I could make a living doing it.

Alicia: Well, that’s awesome! To do what you love for a living and as your job, that’s great.

RV: Yeah, they really don’t give you that opportunity to choose something like that in high school on career day, it’s like ‘what do you want to be when you graduate ?’ Hmmmm, you can either be a plumber, a garbage man, a doctor, a lawyer or something else that they try to manipulate you into. They don’t present anything to us about being an artist or being anything creative. I mean, can you imagine, ‘Okay here’s the career booth for everyone that wants to be a rock star, or someone who wants to be an artist, right in between the U.S. Post Office and some Corporate Company’s booth. High schools, really don’t give you the creative options.

Alicia: Not here in America.

RV: No, absolutely not.

Alicia: In Germany they do.

RV: Yeah, they do? I also think they do in Sweden, as well. In Sweden, I believe they will actually give you money to study the arts and they will help you to try to make a living at it. Yeah, that would be nice if they did that here, It’s too bad this country really does not support the arts.

Alicia: What would you call your style of art?

RV: My style of art? It really doesn’t have a ‘style’, at least I don’t think so. I mean, someone might look at my artwork and they might compare it to some existing style, but to me, it’s just me. I do love the idea of doing something that is commercially viable. I’m not really into doing artwork that’s defined as fine art, where someone can buy your art piece, hang it on their wall, where they’re the only ones that see it and experience it. I love being able to do art for CD covers or T-shirt graphics, then see it replicated again and again. This is something that I think Andy and I have in common, to have what was produced, released to the masses, to be able to go out in public and see someone wearing your artwork or see it in a store, to me, that’s a HUGE deal, to me, that’s what’s cool, it’s like ‘Oh my god, I did that T-Shirt!’ or ‘I did that album!’, and that’s cool to have the opportunity to see that type of mass exposure. So, I would not consider myself a ‘Fine Artist’ defined by one style of art, I am a proud Commercial Artist. My style is very diverse and needs to be for me to survive as a commercial artist. So, I guess I am lucky I have a vast interest and influence of the world around me. I would think if any artist had only one defined style, it’s kind of like having tunnel vision or being narrow minded. I think a true artist should be broad-minded, be able to see the unseen and not be limited to one style or frame of thinking.

Alicia: That’s awesome! So, on the Exhibit A Gallery website (www.exhibitagallery.com), you’ve actually designed a few T-Shirts! I’ve actually got one myself and I love it. Tell us more about your designs and what influenced you to do them?”

RV: I have to be inspired by the subject or client, they are the Muse. It’s up to me to give them a visual representation that is unique to them. After this has been established, an equally important part that is crucial to every creation, is for there to be a deeper meaning, more than what most people would see on the surface. I don’t want it to be too obvious. That’s one of the points that I feel Black Veil Brides and I have in common. For an example, when Andy writes his lyrics, he writes lyrics that are not so blatant and obvious, the listener has to interpret what he’s saying and singing about, to try to figure out what the meaning is for themselves. When it comes to art, I do the same, I want people to look at it and find the meaning below the surface. There is usually more there, but it’s up to the person viewing my artwork to figure it out. So, whether if it’s art I’ve done for BVB, Alva,  or anything else, I want people to be able to dissect it, and try to connect the dots, to figure out what I was thinking for themselves, if they really look, they might just find a deeper meaning.

Alicia: Which piece of artwork that you’ve made would be your favorite? If you had to pick?

RV: I would say it’s normally whatever the last piece of art I did. The last art piece I made was for Andy’s 20th birthday invite, it’s one of my favorites. It’s one of my favorites, because it was a personal piece to design, because Andy to me is a close friend. Not to mention, I got to basically create whatever the hell I wanted, there wasn’t a record label or any other outside entity telling me what to do, this art was from the heart and it was a gift for his birthday, that was it. When I finished it, I thought some people were going to look at it and think it’s evil, but there is a lot of meaning behind it, aside from its looks. I think the art came out beautifully dark and full of meaning, the motivation was me simply thinking of someone and there life, thinking of his birthday, what his life experiences/influences were, trying to put that into some sort of visual work that would match the man and the occasion. The final artwork for the invite that was sent out to the public is what I came up with.

Alicia: That’s crazy, wow! So, what is your preferred medium when working on art? Why?

RV: All of the above, because I would get really bored working with just one. I want to use everything to create, whether it’s oils or if it’s watercolors, pencils, airbrush or using a computer tablet. It doesn’t matter what the medium is, it’s whatever is a challenge for me, and that’s one of the reasons I liked working on the video for “Perfect Weapon”, it has been just another medium for me to use for artistic expression. Coming up with ideas, building props, there were no traditional art materials used, like what is needed to create a painting. As with all types of mediums, before they’re implemented into a piece, it all has to begin with an idea, a thought to be materialized. Having worked on the video was like painting, but with people and props instead of a brush and paint. It was a challenge, trying to come up with ideas and present them in a way that would work within all the existing elements. To be able to work from the conception to the execution, and then to see how people would react to it, that to me is spiritually uplifting. To see everyone’s responses, feeds that part of me that just wants to be able to create even more. I wanted people to feel a little of whatever it is, that the band and I were thinking, whatever it was at the moment in our heads, and to be able to see that happening outside myself in a video is great. Working with Patrick Fogarty and BVB or any other creative person, is very much a symbiotic relationship, it’s a give and take of thoughts that feeds one another’s creative growth. All forms of creativity are a way of expressing yourself and a way to give a part of oneself to others. When I first saw Iron Maiden’s “Killers” album cover, it inspired me to be the artist I am today. If not for Derek Riggs and Maiden, who are the best in Heavy Metal, I would not be where I am today and therefore, would of never had the opportunity doing art for BVB, we all inspire one another. If I could write lyrics or music and perform them, I probably would, but I can’t and that’s why I appreciate what musicians do, because they can express themselves lyrically and musically, and in turn they give me and others the fuel to also create.

IRON MAIDEN - KILERS ALBUM COVER - DESIGNED BY DEREK RIGGS

Alicia: How did you get involved with Tony Alva and Exhibit A Gallery? How did that come about?


RICHARD VILLA III AND TONY ALVA

RV: Exhibit A Gallery was my idea and my responsibility, it started with my working relationship with Tony Alva, before the gallery or Alva Los Angeles existed. I was doing graphic work for Alva, while Tony was still in Oceanside. I had a friend that was a music producer that worked out of the now Gallery/Alva location. I had a small art department at the location, that is now used for storage. The whole store front of the gallery wasn’t being used, except for band rehearsals. I told my friend, we should take advantage of the store front and rent it out. Since, I was doing some work for Tony Alva, I thought he might be interested in renting it. So, I set-up a meeting with Tony at Shakey’s Pizza, down the street. We had some food and I just blurted out ‘Hey, I have this idea! Let’s open an Alva store at this location on Fairfax, and he said  ‘Yes! Let’s do it!.’ It was that easy and we opened up Alva Los Angeles.

Alicia: How long ago was this?”


MOVIE - LORDS OF DOGTOWN - BOMB DECK GRAPHIC DESIGNED BY RICHARD VILLA III

RV: This was in 2005, right after “Lords of Dogtown”. Then about a year after that, my producer friend was abandoning the location for financial reasons. So, this left Tony and I with the responsibility of the property, and we had to figure out what we were going to do. We basically decided to lease the whole place, the location would still remain Alva Los Angeles along with the storefront, and I “ VisionFactor ” was now doing graphics upstairs, we did that for about a year. The following year I had an idea, I know Tony is first and foremost about skateboarding and surfing, and I can appreciate both of them, but that’s Tony’s passion, I wanted to insert more of my own passions into the location, also have something Tony and I could bridge our creative outputs. So I asked him, ‘Let’s open up an art gallery?’ He was very supportive to the idea, and we opened the it. I would come up with the name, Exhibit A Gallery and started the process of implementing the opening. If you look at the Exhibit A Gallery logo, the A is the Alva A, but the hand is my painted hand print. It was to be a merging of art and skateboarding. Before the first official gallery event, we ended up renovated the place. Our first art show was called ”Neo-Retro” a Shepard Fairey / Exhibit A Gallery event. Fairey is known for Obey and recently for the infamous Obama ‘Hope’ poster. Our first show was a success, selling every piece available, which was about $40,000 worth of art.

Alicia: That is impressive!!”

RV: Yeah, not bad for a first art show. So, after that we had several different art shows that had to do with different creative ideas like, for example: “Die Posers Die”, “Daggers Rule”, “The Totally Bitchin’ Night of the Dead” and “Bipolar” (the BVB show). Our shows would give me an outlet to be able to express the artist in me. Exhibit A Gallery is different from Alva Los Angeles, it’s more than skateboarding, it is an outlet for everything creative. Tony Alva, is also more than just a Legendary Skateboarder, Tony loves music, he has played bass in a Punk band in the 80’s called “The Scoundrelz”and currently is in a Reggae-Punk-Metal band, called General Fucking Principal (G.F.P.). It has always been about skate, art and music for Tony. So, when we decided to do the art show “Bipolar”, we both wanted live music to be performed, and Black Veil Brides was a perfect match for the show. They would stimulate the senses, as well as the art and the surroundings. To some, a thing of beauty and to others a nightmare. It’s funny, because I remember thinking back during the soundcheck for BVB at “Bipolar,” we had some skater guys who showed up early and I remember these guys in the back alley going, ‘How’d these fags, get to be apart of this?’ And Andy heard them and responded from the stage from the mic, ‘What was that? Yes, I’m a fucking a faget! He was being fucked with, he confronted it, and actually shut them up and continued with the sound check. I ended up telling those same guys, “That band on stage, is there because of me. They are very talented guys and that’s the reason why they’re part of this event.” I personally cannot relate to the negativity that some people have towards BVB and their fans, but I do love that tension of ‘Who in fuck are these guys?’ I love how some people are put off by them, some people just don’t want to accept them. To me BVB are artists, just like me, it’s all about “creative expression” and that’s what has motivated every art show that we’ve done, that is what Black Veil Brides is doing and so it all seems to fit perfectly together. At first glance, most people probably don’t think Black Veil Brides and Tony Alva have anything in common, but there are some comparisons. Tony was doing what he wanted regardless of the haters/doubters and became a pro at 19, started his own company, played in a Punk Rock band, created innovated skateboard designs and traveled the world. Black Veil Brides are doing what they want to do their way, regardless of their haters; Five young guys on a major label, putting out an innovative album, touring the world, appearing in magazines and pissing a lot of people off. And so, yeah there definitely are a lot of similarities between all associated. It’s kind of ironic that come late spring/early summer, Black Veil Brides are going to be part of the 2011 Warped Tour, and Alva has a booth at the So Cal Warped Tour shows. It’s a little strange, BVB will be such a big part of the Warped Tour in 2011, they’re one of the top five most anticipated bands on the bill. When it comes to the Warped Tour, you think of Vans, you can’t help but think of their number one ambassador of skateboarding ”Tony Alva”. The first Black Veil Brides L.A. performance was at Exhibit A Gallery, now that’s amazing how its all connected. I’ll tell you about a conversation I had with Tony earlier today, I asked him, ‘Hey, wouldn’t it be cool to be able to introduce Black Veil Brides at the shows in O.C. and L.A. at the Warped Tour?’ and he looked at me, and said ‘Fuck Yeah’. So, I guess Tony might be introducing Black Veil Bride’s first Warped tour! You know, I think they’ll definitely be getting the respect they deserve, when you have Tony Alva onstage saying, ‘These are some friends of mine. ‘Here is fucking Black Veil Brides’.

Alicia: That’s awesome! So, how does music and the skateboarding world, influence your art?”

RV: You know what, it’s like the next show that we have on February 26th, “Die Posers Die II- The Non-conformists” art show. The definition of a non-conformist is different than a conformist or an anarchist, it’s more than someone that doesn’t want to conform. A non- conformist is basically someone that has their own vision and does what they feel like doing regardless of the consequences. Nonconformists don’t follow trends/fashion, they are not into the flavor of the month, they don’t rebel against establishments just to be cool, they don’t pick sides to fit in, they do what they feel. These are the leaders and innovators in skateboarding, music, art and the world. They are the oddballs, the black sheep, they’re not part of the general crowd, this is the mentality that influences me. For me, this is important for artistic growth, to be able to think outside the box. This is why I like to surround myself around people who think for themselves, who are authentic. There are alot of posers , you are not punk rock just because you wear a punk rock T-shirt, you can’t name the band members in a band, really? c’mon.’ I think people should be who they are deep down inside, people need to be real and whether others like it or not, so what!

Alicia: Exactly! What were your musical influences growing up?

RV: A moment that is stuck in my head was in the late 80’s, a radio station here in L.A., played three albums in their entirely at an end of summer event at my school. One of the featured albums played was, “Back In Black” (AC/DC), Shout at the Devil (Motley Crue) and the third I can’t remember.

AC/DC - BACK IN BLACK - ALBUM ART - ON LEFT AND MOTLEY CRUE - SHOUT AT THE DEVIL - ALBUM ART ON RIGHT

Alicia: Are you serious?! What? At your school? That’s crazy!

RV: Yeah! It was the weirdest thing. AC/DC – Back in Black, that was insane for a school event, it was really cool. That would probably be the first situation where music had an influence on me, before that I did not pay that much attention to music. I remember friends asking, ‘Okay-what does AC/DC stand for? Against Christ Devils Child?’ and that was my first introduction into a controversy regarding metal music, but of course, I now know it stands for alternate current/direct current, or does it? I remember listening to Mötley Crüe’s, Shout at the Devil as a kid and feeling guilty for listening to it. I would hide the CD under my bed, telling myself, ‘‘I can’t listen to this, this is devil’s music’. I was scared to death that I was going to hell, because of it and I wasn’t even religious. So, I would say the three most impactful bands for me were; first was AC/DC, then it was Mötley Crüe and the last big band that had a major effect on me was Metallica. After them, there was a huge void of musical talent,  time would usher in an new era of shit. Hip hop had, and still does dominate the music industry. Yes, I have enjoyed some rap, like NWA. I even went to a couple of rap concerts with friends. I could not believe people would pay to see some guy, or guys, jump up and down on stage, with their pants hanging off their ass and talking over music, that was sampled from rock bands that have real musical talent. Artist that performed and played actual instruments, the rock bands. It was not until, Black Veil Brides that I felt, how I felt when I was a kid. You know, if you listen to a lot of bands from the 80s, 90s, or even 2000s, a lot of the music is really hard to relate to; it’s either party music, about getting laid, a beat for dancing or ‘how cool I am with all my bling’ music or just simply someone whining. Black Veil Brides for me was the first band I heard in a long time that represents what heavy metal has always been about, for me and others. It’s heavy, dark, mysterious, intelligent, uplifting and empowering. Black Veil Brides inspires you to say, ‘Hey, you know what, fuck all this bullshit around me, and stand up to the people who talk shit. Just say fuck you! This is my life and all are welcome, but if you cross the line you’ll get kicked in the face.’ It’s been a long, long time since a band had such a strong message of finding your personal inner strength. True metal includes and does not exclude, if there is a metal band out there that does not welcome everyone, then that’s not metal. It bothers me to hear one genre talk shit about another genre, that’s not metal. This shit talking between one sub-genre and another started in the late 90’s until now with all those Post Pop-Punk bands. It seems as though that old Punk attitude, a false attitude lacking conviction. ‘It’s me against the world’ has infected certain genres of metal. It’s funny, I know some Old School Punk Rockers would enjoy to get some of these post-punk guys in a pit, and I guarantee these shit talkers won’t leave the pit the same. I respect Punk, but it was always hard for me to relate to. I am a Metalhead, I love Metal and all the genres and subgenres. Back in the 80′s if you went to an Iron Maiden, Motley Crue or Metallica concert, looked at the sea of fans, you would see every genre of metal represented and everyone getting along. It was all in the family, so to me exclusion is more of a Punk Rock attitude, definitely not METAL!

Metal is supposed to have a music bias, because the fans are proud. If you want to come on board the Crazy Train, all are welcome. This core belief of any metal fan is the same.

 

Alicia: I completely agree with that. How do you know or feel when your artwork is complete?

RV: It’s never EVER complete! You have to tell yourself enough is enough sometimes, ‘Okay, I’m adding too much’ or ‘this is just getting a little bit out of control,’ it’s just never done.

Alicia: How do you know when you should just leave it alone?

RV: When you don’t have any time left.

Alicia: Yeah, we saw that you continued with the BVB logo for Andy’s Birthday invitation.

RV: Yes, I did continue to expand on the logo. It was much later and I was mentally separated from it for awhile. I was able to see the logo with a fresh pair of eyes, I was able to see all kinds of possible changes I could make. When I first made it, it was done to me, I wasn’t thinking about tweaking it, changing it or anything, but the Imagination never sleeps, just keeps going. I took a look at it recently, thought to myself, ‘You know what, I can tweak this and make this a little bit different’ and viola, a new BVB logo, that was it. I wasn’t thinking if people would like it, but whatever.. Do you like it?”

Alicia: Yes, I do like it! Yeah, I think it’s cool, it’s almost depicting how they’re growing and changing as artists/musicians.

RV: You know, it has never been calculated. There is definitely some creativity/connectivity happening with the band and I. I wasn’t planning on changing it, but it happened and I like it.

Alicia: And Andy was okay with that?

RV: I think so, Andy doesn’t really make that big of a deal over anything. I mean, you won’t hear him scream, “Oh my God, this is great” or “this sucks”, he normally is very respectful and in control. I will hear sometimes later, how he loved it and he was freaking out, but Andy usually just says, ‘Oh that’s really cool.’ I think he trusts me, if he does not like something I am sure he just won’t use it and that’s fine, but obviously he likes it if he uses it. He does know what he wants and knows what’s supposed to be, there are no accidental successes for Mr. Six.

Alicia: Since, you said you were working with Black Veil Brides now, can we expect you to be working with the next album artwork and other BVB-related things?”

RV: Honestly, that is up to them. I am privileged to do anything for the band. If they allow me to do the next album cover that would be an honor. I am working on new ideas, but anything can happen. It can very well be someone else doing the album cover and that would be fine with me. It’s Black Veil Brides, not the Richard Villa III project, but it is my plan to work on the next album cover, so we shall see.

Alicia: That’s another thing I really appreciate about you, you do so much for them. As an example, the “Mourning Star”, Hot Topic and so many others have it on their merch, you could get profit out of it, but choose to do it for the band.

RV: I do it first and foremost for Andy. I understand where he’s coming from and I appreciate his desire and motivation, I want to see him succeed. Any way I can help, I am there and I try not to think of who other than the band is profiting. I have to remind myself , I do what I do for BVB, not for any parasitic entity around them.

Alicia: What’s the best advice you can give an aspiring artist (of any kind)?”

RV: Just to do what’s real, if you really feel it, if you really believe it and if you’re doing it from a creative part of you, then that’s what you need to do. If you’re doing it and you’re trying to calculate what’s cool, use the calculated thinking for business, not creating art. You have to do what’s real to you, some people will get it and some will not. Don’t try to grab a crowd falsely and try to please other people first, because you’ll please no one in the end

Alicia: Are there any last comments you want to give our registers at Black Veil Brides International?”

RV: I will say something I told Andy a long time ago. I know a lot of the fans feel disenfranchised and they feel like oddballs, but the truth is these fans are the next round of creatives; the artists, musicians, designers, actors, directors, poets, etc. This is why some don’t feel they fit in society, because they are not supposed too. I know, there’s a generation gap between a lot of the fans and myself, but as for me, growing up I felt the same way they feel, but I definitely had a group of people that would stand up for one another and no one could make you feel less than anyone else. I remember back when I was about 16, some asshole yelled, ‘Hey faget. Go back to Hollywood!’ I was confused, why someone would attempt to fuck with me, it really didn’t bother me at all, I didn’t dwell on it. I had all of my friends and we all listened to metal, all dressed in black and had long hair, it was like a Heavy Metal gang, we had the support of one another. If you messed with us, you might get your ass kicked. So, as long as BVB fans have each other, they will have the strength in numbers, knowing this is very empowering. They will be able to accomplish whatever they want, I know there is difference, the way I or even the fans are growing up, compared to what Andy and the rest of BVB had to grow up with. He didn’t have any kind of support from any group of people that thought the same way he did, he was alone, an army of one, in his room with his Punk Rock and Heavy Metal records. There wasn’t a rock scene of support, there was no strength in numbers, he was either behind the times or ahead of times. Now, it’s his time, it’s BLACK VEIL BRIDES time, it’s the BVB Army’s time. So, now the fans don’t have to feel alone, because they’re not alone, they have each other and a band to rally around. Hopefully, the world will be catching up to bands like BVB. Thanks to Andy, Jake, Jinxx, Ashley, CC and other bands that are bringing back the full meaning of Rock/Metal. Where real thought, talent, meaning, lyrical content, superb musical ability and showmanship matters. It’s very exciting to see what the next few years will bring. If the world doesn’t come around, Fuck ‘em!