Biersack: Fans can save rock music

Black Veil Brides frontman Andy Biersack says rock music is at risk of dying out if fans don’t do more to support the genre.

He believes pop and rap could wipe out the heavier scene by sheer weight of numbers, unless people become more proactive.

Biersack tells KaaosTV: “Rock’n’roll is in a difficult place right now. People don’t buy music they way they used to, so we’re limping around when it comes to public appeal.

“It’s really up to the kids who listen to rock to get out there, come to live shows, buy records when they can and really support the genre. Otherwise, it will get taken away from us. Because hip-hop fans and pop fans buy records and go to shows in big numbers.”

He cites Avenged Sevenfold and Slipknot as bands who are flying the flag on bigger stages, but adds: “If you look at hard rock bands with guitar solos and pyro, there’s really only a few.”

That doesn’t mean he’s given up hope, though. He says: “I believe rock’n’roll is alive and well. I just think people need to show their support.”

Earlier this year Biersack told TeamRock: “People acknowledge that there are still huge music icons. But asking me if rock can have icons as big as Jay-Z, Rihanna and Eminem is like asking me if a rotary phone or black-and-white TV sets could make a comeback.”

Black Veil Brides appear at this year’s Download Festival on June 12-14, headlined by Slipknot, Muse and Kiss.

Freelance Online News Contributor

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.