Andy Herrick

Andy Herrick

How did the band get started? How did you meet and how long have you been together?
Andy Herrick: The band got started in late 1998, but I didn't join until February of '99. I am best friends with Rob the guitarist, and we used to be in a band togther in high school. He put in a good word for me, played them the stuff we recorded with our old band, and that's how I got in.

How would you describe your music?
Andy Herrick: I would say its in the "new metal" style of bands like Machine Head, Fear Factory, Slipknot, etc. Even so, it doesn't sound like any one band. I think it has a unique vibe to it. We take the best elements of metal and hardcore: the songwriting, technicality and musicality of a new metal style band, and the stage presence and intensity that a lot of good hardcore bands have.

What are your biggest influences?
Andy Herrick: My earliest influences in metal were Lars Ulrich and Charlie Benante. I think the two drummers who inspire my playing the most now are Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) and Gene Hoglan (Death). I am really big on Alice in Chains and Machine Head right now as well. I am a huge fan of Christina Aguilera as well, her voice is amazing, and she smokes the other teen girl singers. Plus, I have determined she is my future wife.

What made you want to be in the band? And if you weren’t in the band what would you be doing now?
Andy Herrick: I've always had a love for playing music, and I was glad when the opportunity came about to work with great people and musicians. I want our band to be really well known and liked. If I wasn't doing this, I would probably be in school full time and working. There's nothing wrong with that really, I do want to finish college, but there's no way I can pass up the opportunity we have right now.

Are any band members in side projects? If so what are they, and explain a little about them.
Andy Herrick: Our bass player is in a local death metal band, they are quite amazing. Outside of that, we all stick to our #1 musical priority. We have plenty to do between Chimaira, our jobs, and life in general.

How would you feel if a band took their sound from yours and became very well known?
Andy Herrick: I would be highly upset, but I don't really worry about that happening. That's how things work in Top 40 music though. The Backstreet Boys paved the way for N Sync, Britney Spears pioneered the trail for Mandy Moore and Jessica Simpson. As far as our stuff goes, if anyone else gets big replicating our style, that would just make us bigger as well.

What current bands do you like or respect?
Andy Herrick: My three favorite bands right now are Machine Head, Dream Theater, and Alice in Chains. I am also a huge fan of Fear Factory, Slipknot, Creed, and Days Of The New. I'm big on jazz as well, I love Chick Corea, Miles Davis, stuff like that.

What demo/album do you like the best?
Andy Herrick: I think "This Present Darkness" is the best work any of us have been involved with, I am beyond happy with it.

What is the meaning behind the songs?
Andy Herrick: All of the songs relate to personal experiences such as dealing with love and the loss of close friends. Every word on the album is very personal and emotional, I think that comes across very clear on the CD