AFI's Davey Havok talks rumors and misconceptions: "I don’t really get involved in any of that"

May 29, 2017

AFI released their new record, AFI (The Blood Record), back in January, and in a recent sit down with NME, frontman Davey Havok talks more about the way media has portrayed them as a band, the way they’ve maintained their close relationship with their fans, and even more, about the lack of misconceptions—but the massive amounts of mistruths—they have faced over the years.

“I don’t know if there is a singular misconception about us. There are so many different rumors about us as people, as a band, and personally, that are polarized,” Havok told NME.

Watch the interview in full below.

Havok first talks more about the band’s new record, which he tells NME is one that truly represents who they are as a band in a way they haven’t necessarily had the chance to do before.

Citing such songs as “She Speaks The Language,” “Above The Bridge” and “Aurelia,” Havok says that the sounds and feelings expressed in those songs have been part of them for years, but they haven’t been expressed that way before, which is something they're happy to share.

And it’s something the fans have embraced, too. He talks more about their dedication and passion, which they are “very appreciative” of, and he believes it stems from the band's honesty.

“I do feel that they can sense the truth in what we create. We’re very honest in our writing and that appeals to them. They somehow connect or relate to it,” Havok tells NME. “It’s such a great feeling to be able to reach people and have that profound an impact on them where they’re moved to either simply come see us or get our imagery of my lyrics tattooed on them or create, paint or form bands based on some kind of inspiration from us.”

And in regards to the rumors that have been spread throughout the years? Havok explains that they don’t even matter.

“There have been rumors about me for many, many years,” Havok says. “I’ve overdosed and died many times, I’ve been a junkie, I’ve been violent and militant straight-edge, I’ve been the kindest person in the world, I’ve been a completely appalling horrible person, Christian, Satanist, the gamut. All of it is there, but I don’t really get involved in any of that because it doesn’t matter.”

AFI and Circa Survive will be headed on a co-headlining tour this summer. Check out the full list of cities and dates below!

Check out the interview in full below:

AFI and Circa Survive Dates:

Tuesday, July 18 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle++
Wednesday, July 19 Nashville, TN War Memorial Auditorium++
Friday, July 21 St. Louis, MO Pageant++
Saturday, July 22 Kansas City, MO Arvest Bank Theatre @ The Midland
Monday, July 24 Oklahoma, OK Diamond Ballroom++
Tuesday, July 25 Papillion, NE Sumtur Amphitheater++
Thursday, July 27 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre++
Saturday, July 29 Las Vegas, NV Brooklyn Bowl++
Tuesday, August 1 San Diego, CA Car Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre++
Wednesday, August 2 Paso Robles, CA Vina Robles Amphitheatre++
Friday, August 4 Troutdale, OR Edgefield++
Saturday, August 5 Seattle, WA The Paramount Theatre++

What are your thoughts on public rumors and misconceptions? Let us know in the comments below.

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