INTERVIEW WITH JAKE PITTS FROM BLACK VEIL BRIDES

Full Name: Jacob Pitts

Exhibit A: How long have you been in BVB?

Jacob Pitts: Since November 2009

Exhibit A: What attracted you to Black Veil Brides?

Jacob Pitts: Being friends with Jinx who was in BVB. Eventually,  the opportunity came to write and record the album and I took it. I’ve always wanted to write and produce and this was my chance. During tour,  I became close friends with the band, after tour everyone became my best friend. This is the band I’ve always wanted to be in.Exhibit A: What did you first think when you saw Black Veil Brides?

Jacob Pitts: I met Andy at a party, talked to him for a little bit and he had mentioned being in a band. I remember going home and  looking them up, going onto Youtube and watching “Knives and Pens”. I thought to myself,  “this is kinda cool.. cool riff, but I just felt something was missing, something I was unsure of and I felt it could of been better.” I definitely didn’t think it was bad, but totally thought I could do this better and see where this could go (not to be cocky), because being a strong songwriter and producer, I saw the potential.

Exhibit A: Who do you relate to the most in Black Veil Brides?  Why?

Jacob Pitts: Andy, because we have gone through the same things with growing up, girlfriends, etc. We’ve had a tough childhood, being picked on all through middle school and high school. I wasn’t a popular kid in school, I was considered “the weird kid”, who everyone took advantage of and made fun of, not knowing how to  react. I didn’t let it bother me, because I told everyone I would become a rockstar.

Exhibit A: How long have you been playing guitar?

Jacob Pitts: 11 years

Exhibit A: Why did you choose to play guitar?

Jacob Pitts: When I was 10 yrs old, my dad bought me an acoustic guitar, I put the guitar away for 3 years. I picked the guitar back up when I started listening to Metallica, because of the tone of the guitar, I wanted to be able to do that.  My family was also, very musical, my mother being a composer and classical pianist. She taught me music and harmony theory, which helped me understand the music and made me capable to write the way I wanted to write.

Exhibit A: Since you mentioned Metallica, would Metal be one of your major influences?

Jacob Pitts: Yes definitely. Paul Gilbert and Buckethead have been my main influences when I play guitar solos. They’re not your typical boring guitar solos, I like my solos to tell a story.

Exhibit A: Listening to the new BVB stuff you could notice the change and classical tone in the guitars.

Exhibit A: What are some of your favorite classical composers?

Jacob Pitts: My mother.

Exhibit A: Do you relate to metal the most, because of the classical influence involved?

Jacob Pitts:  I like metal, because it’s complicated, technical, brutal and I like the challenge.

Exhibit A: What are some of your favorite bands, past and present?

Jacob Pitts: Van Halen, Scorpions and All That Remains. I stopped listening to other bands, because I don’t want to copy anything, I just do my own.

Exhibit A: What do you think of hip hop?

Jacob Pitts: I DON’T.

Exhibit A: What is your first metal memory?

Jacob Pitts: Aside from picking up my guitar, the first time I saw Slipknot (before they got big), back when they would light stuff on fire and beat themselves up on stage. When I was really young, it was all about being right up front in the middle of the crowd, being the first to go in when the pit opened up, when you got knocked down someone was always there to pick you up.

Exhibit A: Do you skateboard? And if so, what was your first board?

Jacob Pitts: Yes, and my first skateboard was a World Industries board.

Exhibit A: Did skateboarding ever put influence into your music or vice versa?

Jacob Pitts: When I was living in Malibu with one of my old bands, we would skateboard everyday, we’d skate to Venice beach, etc. I enjoyed watching skate/surf movies like “Lords Of Dogtowns” because of the punk and metal influences in them, it just fits so well.

Exhibit A: Are you excited about the new album coming out? And what excites you the most?

Jacob Pitts: Everything about this album is going to be pretty awesome, because this is going to be my first LEGIT album. This is the album I’ve had the most involvement in with the writing process, I really got to take my style and create a baby.

Exhibit A: Any hints on the album cover artwork?

Jacob Pitts: The artwork is amazing… I really can’t say anymore. ha

Exhibit A: Do you find album artwork to be an essential in an album?

Jacob Pitts: I personally do. I would go to the music store, the day a band’s album would come into stores and buy the album, look at the artwork from front to back, read everything from front to back, check who recorded it, artists involved, etc.

Exhibit A: Being an artist yourself, are you a fan of visual arts?

Jacob Pitts: I took art all through middle school and high school. It was something I enjoyed the most, because I could be creative and do what I wanted to do.

Exhibit A: What do you see for the future with BVB?

Jacob Pitts: Touring the world, every country at a time, doing what I love and making it last as long as it can.

Interview By NAZRN