* En anglais uniquement
The founder and lead vocalist for the American rock band
Black Veil Brides,
Andy Black is the solo project from
Andy Biersack. Following a natural progression in
Biersack's musical trajectory, from the metalcore birth of
BVB to their evolution into a glam metal outfit,
Andy Black's pop-leaning rock, which debuted in 2016, was the next step in
Biersack's sound.
Born Andrew Dennis Biersack in Cincinnati, Ohio, he grew up singing and playing piano, attending Cincinnati's School for Creative and Performing Arts, where he focused on drama and vocals. At 18, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue music.
Black Veil Brides released their debut album, We Stitch These Wounds, in 2010. Their fourth album arrived in 2014, the same year
Biersack began working on
Andy Black. For the new project,
Biersack drew more upon the anthemic sounds of early
U2 and
Bruce Springsteen rather than his other major influences
Mötley Crüe,
Kiss, and
Poison. In early 2016, debut single "We Don't Have to Dance" was released, featuring cleaner vocals and incorporating a
Killers-esque synth melody. His second single, "Stay Alive," featured
Matt Skiba (
Alkaline Trio,
blink-182).
The Shadow Side was produced by
John Feldmann (
Panic! At the Disco,
the Used,
Good Charlotte) and included guest spots from emo/pop-punk friends
Ashton Irwin (
5 Seconds of Summer),
Joel Madden (
Good Charlotte),
Rian Dawson (
All Time Low),
Gerard Way (
My Chemical Romance), and
Patrick Stump (
Fall Out Boy). Combining the muscle of arena rock with a pop-punk spirit,
Andy Black provided a new outlet for
Biersack's many influences.
Black's sophomore effort,
The Ghost of Ohio, followed in early 2019. ~ Neil Z. Yeung