Some bands get their name from inside jokes. Others just throw darts at a dictionary. But Black Veil Brides? Their name came from something darker, older, and way more dramatic than you’d expect from a bunch of guys in war paint and leather.

Before they were selling out shows and lighting up YouTube with heavy eyeliner and bigger riffs, they were just a band trying to find the right words to match their sound. And they found it in a phrase that sounded more like a funeral than a glam-metal anthem.

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What the Name Means

Former bassist Ashley Purdy explained the meaning of the band name “Black Veil Brides”:

“Black Veil Brides is a Roman Catholic term used for when a woman marries into the church and gives up all the pleasures of life to devote her life to God. She is then deemed a Black Veil Bride. Sorta similar to a rock band where you have to give up many things in pursuit of what you’re passionate about or believe in. It also has the dichotomy of the positive and negative. The happiest time in one’s life, could be getting married. And the opposite of that in one’s life would be at a funeral of a loved one. It all tends to fit really well for a dark and heavy rock band.[“Black Veil Brides” refers to Roman Catholic nuns who take their final vows — a ceremony where they symbolically marry the church and wear black veils. It’s a moment of sacrifice, rebirth, and complete devotion. In a way, it’s a wedding and a funeral rolled into one.”

Andy Biersack (lead singer and founder) liked the symbolism. He wasn’t interested in the religious side — he was drawn to the imagery. The name evoked loss, commitment, transformation, and the kind of theatrical darkness that felt right at home with the band’s sound and aesthetic.

Think about it: a black veil, a bride, a ritual. It’s gothic. It’s visual. It’s a name that sounds like an album cover before you even hear a note.

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Why It Fits

Black Veil Brides were never subtle. From day one, they were swinging for something bigger than the scene around them — more theatrical than the hardcore bands, more glam than the post-grunge wave, and definitely more committed to the “look.”

The name gave them that kind of identity. It wasn’t just about sounding heavy. It was about building a world. One where misfits, outcasts, and kids with too much eyeliner and too many feelings could feel like they belonged to something. Something serious. Something sacred.

In that sense, the name wasn’t just a symbol. It was a signal.

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Final Thought

A good band name doesn’t just look cool on a shirt — it makes you feel something. Black Veil Brides didn’t just pick a name that sounded heavy. They chose one that told a story before the music even started.

And if you’ve ever felt like the outsider, the underdog, or the one dressing louder than the room — you probably understood it instantly.

Keep it loud (and dramatic),

Sam 🤘