Andy Williams of Every Time I Die: Stand Up Comic?

Stand-up comedy is one of the toughest gigs in the entertainment business. It's just you and a microphone, and a lot of awkward pauses, embarrassing moments and unsympathetic hecklers if your material bombs out. None of this deters Every Time I Die guitarist Andy Williams, who invites those situations and scenarios, as he tentatively plans a stand-up comedy tour.

"I am trying to book it," Williams told Noisecreep. "I want it to be really lame. I want to play in front of four people in a bar and have it not be a big thing where it is billed as Andy Williams of Every Time I Die doing stand-up. It will be Andy Williams is doing stand-up. I want the awkward moments, and to get ripped off by shady comedy promoters. If I come home thinking it was a failure, then it's not a failure, since that is what I was looking for."

Williams plans on having someone document every uncomfortable moment for a DVD release, too. He said, "I look forward to getting in a van for two weeks where I am booked at normal comedy clubs. This is not punk rock related.
It's just me trying to be into that scene and see where it takes me." The guitarist has a comedy routine; it's just a matter of getting out there and using it on audiences.

"It is such a risk," he acknowledged. "If anyone knows me, they know I never pull punches. It'll be the same jokes. If it's funny, it's funny. I have a joke about how tits don't have an age and it's offensive, but whatever, I won't shy away from say it. I have always been into controversy. The band has been looked at as funny, too." Anyone who has attended early ETID shows is familiar with the band's antics, such as dressing up in daisy dukes and wearing wigs!

"We will always be a party band, but I want to be taken seriously, too," Williams admitted. "Doing this comedy on my own will show people that I want to have stinkers and bomb shows. I want it documented. I want to be uncomfortable. I am a big scary dude in a compromising situation, and I want people to see how I deal! Awkward situations are more fun than great jokes. It's like reality TV."

Williams' only other extracurricular activity is a Black Flag cover band that features ETID's Josh Newton, Dillinger Escape Plan's Ben Weinman, Street Dogs' Tobe Bean and tattoo artist and first husband of Kat Von D, Oliver Peck, on vocals. "They were the greatest punk rock band ever, and we will keep it dangerous," Williams said.