EVERY TIME I DIE Guitarist Defends Singer's PANTERA Jam With FALL OUT BOY

EVERY TIME I DIE guitarist Andy Williams has addressed the apparent backlash against his band that was created when the group's lead vocalist Keith Buckley performed a cover of PANTERA's "Walk" with the pop-punk band FALL OUT BOY during a show in Buffalo, New York.

Commenting on the performance — which reportedly took place on November 19 during a secret FALL OUT BOY show where they performed under the name SCHRUTE FARMS — Williams said, "A long time ago, when we were first starting out, we would play places like Chicago and Milwaukee. We would play with bands like KILL THE SLAVE MASTER, EXTINCTION, RACE TRAITOR and ARMA ANGELUS. All great bands from that area at the time. We would joke around and fuck around with the dudes in that band 'cuz they were OUR friends. They would put us up and cook for us. They would always put us on the biggest shows and every once in awhile you would get an unexpected call because they were just thinking about us and wanted to hear from us, and it was vice versa — they would come to Buffalo and the same would happen and our phone actually went both ways.

"We went on tour with MARTYR, 7 ANGELS 7 PLAGUES and Andy Hurley [FALL OUT BOY] went just to hang out with us. On that tour Pete [Wentz of FALL OUT BOY] came to a show in Chicago and danced for us and then we stayed with them. He gave me a demo and said, 'Hey man, I know you won't like this. It's my new band. We're a pop punk band!' I chuckled and didn't really take him serious. I went back and listened to it.

"I have to tell you honestly, I really didn't like it. He was right. But I gave it the benefit of a doubt 'cuz he always treated me with respect.

"Sooooooooo, basically my point is that how can you throw jabs at us for just hanging with friends of around 10 years? Some of us in the band have known those dudes for almost 15 years now.

"Next time a friend of yours asks you to show up at a birthday party, you should question it because he's your friend and he does things for you and you love that person?? There is no question, you go.

"That's what the problem is with people today is that everyone is so worried about how they look and what people are going to think of them. Fuck that! Be your own person and do what you want. If someone isn't 'cool' or popular, but is always good to you and actually sticks his or her neck out for you, do that person the favor and pay it forward.

"I hope this shines a little more light on a situation that shouldn't even be questioned. But there is a bit of history between us and those boys. Nothing changes when you consider someone a friend."

Fan-filmed video footage of EVERY TIME I DIE singer Keith Buckley and FALL OUT BOY performing PANTERA's "Walk" on November 19 in Buffalo, New York can be viewed below: