ANDY

NAME

Andy Cole

OTHER ASSOCIATED ACTS/PREVIOUS BANDS?

We Are The Riot (2010-Current); Merlin’s Traffic (2002-2006); Reflux (1998-2004)

WHEN DID YOU FIRST START PLAYING YOUR INSTRUMENT?  WHAT AGE?

I first started playing bass at 11 years of age.  I didn’t have a bass guitar, so I took the 2 high strings off an old acoustic and taught myself how to play on that.

FAVORITE TRACK OFF THE NEO GEO RECORD?  WHY?

My favorite track off the Neo Geo record would be Lies & Butterflies.  I’m a sucker for a good hook, and that chorus gets buried in your brain.  I also love the energy and crowd reaction to that song.  It always seems to get the pit moving.

WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST TOUR STORY TO DATE?

There are so many to choose from.  One that stands out is from our last show on the 2010 Warped Tour in Portland, Oregon.  Our tour manager (who shall remain name less – we’ll call him Bob), was hanging out at the Suicide Silence bus.  Jerry (from Danzig) was on the tour with Green Jelly.  He walked up to ‘Bob’ with a plate of Mushrooms and gave him one.  The events that transpired after that point were freakin hilarious!  Our tour manager’s friend walked him back to the RV.  He poked his head inside and said “ummm…Bob may or may not have just done Mushroom’s with Jerry from Danzig…”.  From what I remember ‘Bob’ put all of his clothes and bags in a near by shopping cart and threatened to walk back to California.  While ‘Bob’ was going off fireworks started, and mid-sentence ‘Bob’ let go of the shopping cart and started running towards the fireworks clapping and laughing.  I will never forget the joy on ‘Bobs’ face.  I believe he slept for the next 24 hours.

IF YOU WEREN’T A MUSICIAN, WHAT CAREER WOULD YOU HAVE?

I have a degree in Occupational Therapy.  I manage to balance being a musician and a health professional, however if I wasn’t a musician, I would definitely devote my life to developing further expertise as an OT.

WHAT BANDS DEFINED YOU GROWING UP?

I grew up listening to Alternative Music.  The bands that defined my youth would definitely be Marilyn Manson, Tool, A Perfect Circle, Orgy, Incubus, My Chemical Romance, Coal Chamber etc.  Through university I became a huge fan of Avenged Sevenfold and the post-hardcore scene.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?

What I love about the music industry is playing live in addition to the fact that my music has a positive impact on people’s lives.  This is evident in the dedication of our fans and the smiles on peoples faces while they watch Neo Geo perform.

IF YOU COULD DO A DUET OR CO-WRITE WITH ANY ARTIST, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

Any of the previously mentioned influences.  I am very very fortunate that in my other band We Are The Riot, I get to collaborate and write with Meegs Rascon and Mikal Cox, formerly of Coal Chamber.  I had a poster of these suckers on my wall in high school, so it surreal that 12 years later I’m in a band with them.