I had the privilege of talking to Mark Pitts a few weeks ago. I've been super busy with school stuff (EOC and final preparation. Blah) so it's taken me a while to edit and put it together, and then my Google account was screwed up, so, yeah, I apologize.
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Can you tell me about Jake’s childhood? When/where he was born/raised, etc…
Jake was born Jacob Mark Pitts on August 21st 1985 in Nampa Idaho. Jake was raised in Nampa and Boise Idaho for most of his young life. Jake has an older sister Sarah. Jake had a pretty normal childhood until probably junior high school. I think one day Jake will write a book and elaborate about that time in his life. :) Jake moved to Minnesota to live with his mom when he was a sophomore in High School. I was sad to see him go but under the circumstances it was the best thing for him to do......
Flashback: BVB's song "Carolyn" was named after her, and Jake has the name tattooed on his chest.
What kind of music was he raised on?
I always had music playing, so he kind of heard some Van Halen some Led Zeppelin some Guns n Roses some Queen some Eagles and on and on . I think Jake really got hooked when he heard some Metallica.
His first concert?
I believe his first concert was Slipknot (not sure about that one but I know he saw them)
^Jake confirmed this on Twitter recently.
A lot of BVB fans have been bullied, depressed, self-harming, suicidal, things like that; has Jake struggled with any of these things in the past?
I’m pretty sure Jake never had any suicidal thoughts... Although I know there were times when he was very unhappy he would lose himself in his guitar and that would always cheer him up. He has never self-harmed...Being bullied… of course he was. He handled it pretty well by giving bullies dog biscuits when they thought they were getting some kind of cookie treat haha (read that story in a Revolver magazine interview).When he told people he was going to be a rock star he just got laughed at. Look who is laughing now!!!
Do you believe that rock is dead?
Rock is not dead… Thank you Black Veil Brides!!!!
"You're welcome."
What influence do you think popular music has on American youth in general?
Music in general these days I think really sucks, with the exception of a handful or two. What the media calls rock?? I don’t get it, the BVB Army understands Rock Music :)
Apparently fun. is a rock band now? "Rock" is not to be toyed with. ;)
When he was younger was he…optimistic about people in general, like he wasn’t scared of anything?
I think Jake was pretty optimistic about most people.. I know he was a man of few words but when he did say something it was profound. And it was his opinion, not someone else’s. For the most part Jake was not afraid to be different and not really care what people might think ..So no I don’t really think he was afraid of anything..Maybe not sure how things would work out but never afraid.
How old was Jake when he started playing guitar?
Jake started playing guitar at age 13.
Did/does Jake ever get stage fright?
Jake is always excited to go on stage…Maybe a few butterflies but no stage fright.
(Not my .gif. Credit to whoever made it.)
Was he artistic or creative growing up?
Jake was very creative growing up..When he was very little he got into my nails and hammer and nailed together many cardboard boxes and built something using about a thousand nails...Hahaha
How did Jake do academically in school?
Jake struggled in school..but when he moved to Minnesota his sophomore year he did very good and started his first band.
Is Jake introverted or extroverted?
I think both. On stage he is Rock Star. Jake off stage at home he is quite laid back and just a good person.
Can I ask what you think of the members of Black Veil Brides?
I have had the opportunity to hang out with all the band members at shows, back stage, and in a home environment..I would be honored to be able to have any one of them as my son .. Jake is my son but he is my good friend as well ..And I feel like the other band members are my friends.. I have fun hanging with them. They know I am Jake’s dad but I think they think I am a pretty cool BVB fan.
^You are. :)
· Ashley... he is a great performer on stage, always moving..offstage… depends on his plans.. Always enjoy visiting with him.
· Jinxx is a wild man onstage..Offstage… he is quiet and laid back and very interesting to visit with. Probably the most like Jake offstage (from what I have seen).
· Andy is always a gentleman when he sees me..he usually pops in and we visit then he doesn’t stick around too much.. I know at one time Made him the best bacon sandwich that he ever had. haha he must have been really hungry to say that.I asked him one time if I could take his picture.. he said "What do you want me to do?".. I said "Just show that great smile" ..he did ..it is a great picture
Photo courtesy of Mark Pitts
2010-ish, when they were still on the road traveling in a van. This was about the time I became a fan of BVB. Long story short, I'M SO DAMN PROUD, GUYS. I can't imagine how proud their parents must be.
· CC, well we all know he is a beast on the drums onstage..offstage CC is just a beast hahaha. No really CC is very cool, he is always on the run..really funny has great stories and has wild hair.
· And Jake.. Jake is my favorite :)
How often do you talk to Jake?
I probably actually talk to Jake once a week; when he is in the U.S. we text more often.
What well-known guitarist is Jake most like regarding musical style?
I think Jake has his own unique style of playing… maybe a cross between Eddie Van Halen and Synester Gates from A7X.
What well-known guitarist is Jake most like regarding attitude?
Jake has a calm attitude..Maybe again Synester Gates.. I had the privilege of meeting him once and he was just really laid back and very generous, much like my son :):):):)
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As if it isn’t obvious, I love Black Veil Brides, as a band and each member individually, for different reasons. I was honored to talk to Jake's dad (and, a couple of months ago, Andy's). Jake Pitts is EXTREMELY talented. Even if you aren't a fan of BVB, you can't deny that. If you've ever picked up a guitar, you know it's not exactly easy to play the damn thing (at first), and play it well.
The band had a kind of revolving-door thing going on for a while after Andy founded it. For years members were in and out, some decent guitarists, bassists, and drummers; others, god-awful. The first song I heard by Black Veil Brides was "The Gunsling"...loved it, and I still do, but it wasn't until Jinxx and Jake joined the band that I really dedicated myself to Black Veil Brides. When I heard that song, I knew they had potential (I've always admired Andy and I always will - he hasn't given up on BVB, even through the mess of dismal and disloyal instrumentalists in the band's past lineups), but I felt like they were missing something. By We Stitch These Wounds, they had found that something. Jake Pitts and Jinxx are an incredible combination.
Black Veil Brides without any one of these five guys wouldn't be the same. They all bring something phenomenal to the band. Sandra did, too, when she was the drummer. With her, they had a more punk/hard rock kind of sound; it was still awesome. Since CC joined, the plain and undeniable awesomeness hasn't faded, it's just taken on a more rock n roll kind of sound, and it's still really frickin great.
Have I mentioned how proud I am of the band? No? Well, I am. And Jake...wellllll. Jake is something else. I don't know how to say it. Some of these chord progressions and solos he comes up with make me want to live forever. Pretty amazing. Not very many musicians as young as he is (he's twelve years older than me) have figured out how to do that. I think it's natural, to pick up an instrument and play something as an audio representation of whatever you may be thinking or feeling or imagining, and for that to resonate with other people like Jake (and Jinxx, more so with the violin) does for me.
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Ooooookay, to end on a humorous note, remember when
The band had a kind of revolving-door thing going on for a while after Andy founded it. For years members were in and out, some decent guitarists, bassists, and drummers; others, god-awful. The first song I heard by Black Veil Brides was "The Gunsling"...loved it, and I still do, but it wasn't until Jinxx and Jake joined the band that I really dedicated myself to Black Veil Brides. When I heard that song, I knew they had potential (I've always admired Andy and I always will - he hasn't given up on BVB, even through the mess of dismal and disloyal instrumentalists in the band's past lineups), but I felt like they were missing something. By We Stitch These Wounds, they had found that something. Jake Pitts and Jinxx are an incredible combination.
Black Veil Brides without any one of these five guys wouldn't be the same. They all bring something phenomenal to the band. Sandra did, too, when she was the drummer. With her, they had a more punk/hard rock kind of sound; it was still awesome. Since CC joined, the plain and undeniable awesomeness hasn't faded, it's just taken on a more rock n roll kind of sound, and it's still really frickin great.
Have I mentioned how proud I am of the band? No? Well, I am. And Jake...wellllll. Jake is something else. I don't know how to say it. Some of these chord progressions and solos he comes up with make me want to live forever. Pretty amazing. Not very many musicians as young as he is (he's twelve years older than me) have figured out how to do that. I think it's natural, to pick up an instrument and play something as an audio representation of whatever you may be thinking or feeling or imagining, and for that to resonate with other people like Jake (and Jinxx, more so with the violin) does for me.
~
Ooooookay, to end on a humorous note, remember when
this happened?
(Not my .gif. Credit to whoever made it.)
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