Sometimes they just don’t get it! You can’t be any clearer! I mean, how many times do we have to tell you, “THERE IS NO US!”
And that is more true than ever before. Brand new band, without even an album out there, but regardless of where they are, its WHO is at the table that is going to take this band to legendary status. Who’s the band? It is There is No Us , the latest and greatest project by Andy Gerold. And who is he? He is a professional instrumentalist, but best known as being the former bassist of megalithic Marilyn Manson. And what are we to expect from There is No Us? Per the Facebook page:
There Is No Us is a social movement to expose the failure of the human race.
Beyond that nugget of wisdom, there is really little else to be said, other than, read on! Discover what is coming down the pike, take a listen to a few samplings, and you will discover exactly why There Is No Us is RockRevolt’s Indie Band of the Week!
You’ve been a little elusive, and I asked many people about you. They were no help. So let’s just start with, where did you grow up and how was the music scene?
I mainly grew up in Phoenix Arizona. When I first started playing in bands, the music scene was pretty great. There were a bunch of cool places to play and local bands were actually drawing people to the shows. I graduated from an Art/Music school, so all we did was music.
Well that’s awesome. What bands influenced you? What was the school you graduated from?
New School for the Arts is where I graduated. My favorite bands growing up were, NIN, Guns N Roses, Metallica…
Some of my favs too! At about what age did you know you wanted to be a musician?
I started playing guitar at age 12. I enjoyed it but I really didn’t think about devoting my life to it until I started playing in bands. I wanted to be a pro skater when I was a kid. (laughs).
I think we all wanted to be a pro-skater! (laughs) Did you come from a religious family?
My mom’s side was very catholic; not so much on my dad’s side. They were divorced when I was about 2 yrs old. I lived with my mom till I was in high school then went to AZ to live with my dad. They always got along great after they split.
How did they feel about your interest in music as a career?
Well, they were of course reluctant at first, but always supportive. My mom bought me my first guitar and my dad my first amp. I guess once I started making money they realized it was legit. My dad went to all the shows he could. He probably saw me play with almost every band I’ve been in.
“Farewell to Humanity” by There Is No Us
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Very fantastic. So, we all know you were in Marilyn Manson but what other bands have you been in?
Oh man, too many to list! My wiki page has all the bands I’ve been in! (laughs)
Yeah true! So how did you get into Marilyn Manson?
I was in a band called My Darling Murder. We wrote some songs and decided we wanted Sean Beavan (who worked on NIN as well as Manson records) to produce it. So we drove to Cali and basically knocked on his front door! (laughs) He ended up producing our first EP and we had a relationship with him ever since. When My Darling Murder broke up, the three band members moved to LA to become hired guns. I joined a band called Ashes Divide (founded by Billy Howerdel from A Perfect Circle). He was also friendly with Twiggy. Cut to a year or so later and Manson needed a bass player. So via Sean and Billy I met up with Twiggy and Ginger, and we jammed for a couple hours. And that was that.
(laughs) So the million dollar question everyone wants to know. What was it like being in one of the most controversial bands ever?
(laughs) It was definitely interesting. I mean, just the fact that I was such a huge fan beforehand. Antichrist Superstar was one of my all-time favorite records. Also, when I was in the band Chris Vrenna was the keyboard player, so it was pretty amazing to tour with these guys. I got to travel the world a couple times over playing some of my favorite songs. It was awesome!
It seems like you liked it. I’m not aware of any problems you had. So I’m wondering, why did you leave?
Well, that depends on who and when you ask. After the tour they didn’t do anything for like two years. I had to make money still, so I started touring with Rock of Ages. Once they finished the next record, Manson and Twiggy had a different drummer (who I helped get) and Vrenna was gone and they decided to use Fred (who is Twiggy’s longtime friend and bandmate). That’s just kinda how it is with that band. There is really no cohesion with band members. The tour they are doing now has yet another completely different line up except Twiggy.
Ok that’s very understandable. Tell me something that we don’t know about Manson?
(Laughs) I bet you know more about him than I do!
(Laughs) Ok, fair enough. Your wiki says you are “multi-talented”. What else you play other than guitar and bass?
I play drums and keyboards as well. I played drums in one of my first bands.
Cool cool. Do you ever write music?
Yes. I’ve been the main writer in almost all my bands. The new project I’m working on now is written all by me. I played all the instruments. I just needed someone who could scream. (laughs)
I also write for TV. I work for a publishing company that places songs in television. The TV stuff is fun. I get to write in all different genres. I’ve had stuff placed on shows like LA Ink, Two and a half Men, Rachel Zoe and some sports related stuff as well. A lot of it is just background music for the show.
In your new band, There Is No Us, who did you get to scream?
My friend Jim Louvau is the singer. We were in our first bands together as kids. We’ve been best friends ever since. So it’s cool to be working with him again on something new (even though we’re old).
“A Letter to Loved Ones” by There Is No Us
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I love the new music so far. You did great basically on your own. When did you start working on it?
Not too long ago. Maybe a couple months.
And is Jim Louvau the only other person working on it with you?
As far as the project is going right now, it’s just me and Jim. If and when we do a show I’ll have to put something together.
Oh! I sure hope you do! How did you come up with the name There Is No Us?
Basically by watching people stare into their phones all day. We have lost our sense of real human interaction. We only interact with people via online media, even when we’re sitting right next to them. We are self-absorbed and narcissistic. I’m just as guilty.
I’m one of the worst! It makes perfect sense and it’s a cool name. So we have the new lyric video. Do you plan to do and entire album?
Well, I have six songs written as of now, so I’m just gonna keep going. We’ll post another song pretty soon. If I can get about 15 done then maybe we’ll pick the best 12 and put an album together.
Fantastic. Do you have a projected date?
No date yet.
Well I’ll be watching for it. How do you feel about fans?
I interact with them as much as possible. I keep my Facebook private but I respond to all messages I get. I’ve reached out to people like you for help getting the new project out there and so far it’s been great. I just want to be able to write music and have people listen.
Well I promise to help you as much as possible because the new music is fantastic and you’re a great guy.
Well thank you, I appreciate all your help.
You’re very welcome. Being a huge fan myself, I feel honored to help get it out. If you could pick any band to tour with, who would it be?
Playing for them or opening for them?
Well, both! (laughs)
Playing guitar for NIN would be my first choice – even though I’ve heard horror stories about Reznor. Robin Finck is one of my all-time favorite guitar players.
If Pantera were still around, I would have loved to open for them.
Yeah I have to agree about Robin Finck. You would be great opening for Pantera. I’m expecting really good things from There Is No Us. And that’s about all the questions I have for you. Would you like to add anything?
I just want to thank you and everyone else for all the support. I really do appreciate it!
