William Control

William Control
William Control live in Bristol, September 2016.
Background information
Origin	Seattle, Washington, United States
Genres	Dark wave, synthpop, gothic rock
Years active	2008—present
Labels	Control Records, Victory
Associated acts	Aiden, Me vs Myself, Jeffree Star, FVK, Black Veil Brides, Obscure Pleasures, Ashestoangels, New Years Day, Combichrist
Website	http://www.williamcontrol.com
Members	William Control Kenneth Fletcher Ian MacWilliams Ben Tourkantonis

William Control is an American electronic music project founded in 2008 in Seattle, Washington. It was the side project of Aiden’s William Francis before Aiden's hiatus, and he now operates as William Control full-time.^[1][2][3][4] 'William Control' therefore refers to both the band as a whole and to Francis as his stage name. Francis was signed to Victory Records before starting his own independent label Control Records, and, as William Control, has released four full-length albums (Hate Culture, Noir, Silentium Amoris, and The Neuromancer), an EP (Novus Ordo Seclorum), two acoustic albums (Skeleton Strings and Skeleton Strings 2), two live DVDs (Live In London Town and Babylon) and a remix album (Remix). The first EP (The Pale) of the fifth studio album Revelations was released on October 14, 2016. This album will be split into 4 separate EPs released over a period of months instead of one single release.^[5] Since The Neuromancer Francis has referred to his live band as 'The Neuromantic Boys', and the tag line is now used in conjunction with the William Control name to advertise performances. The 'Boys' currently consist of Kenneth Fletcher (who has been a part of the William Control project since Hate Culture), Ian MacWilliams, and Ben Tourkantonis.

History

2008

William Control's debut album, Hate Culture, was released in 2008, and is, according to a Kerrang! magazine interview, the story of a character named William Control and his last night on earth before he kills himself. Hate Culture peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Electronic Albums chart and No. 43 on the Heatseekers chart.^[6][6] The band released a video for "Beautiful Loser", the album's only single, and then toured with Escape The Fate on their This War Is Ours Tour in late 2008.^[7] Their live debut was at Revolution in The Bronx, New York City, on September 26, 2008.^[8]

2009-2010

In 2009, Control began working on a new William Control album, entitled Noir and this eventually surfaced on June 8, 2010.^[6] He invited friends (including Ash Costello of Orange County rock band New Years Day and Jeffree Star)^[9][10][11] and fans to come up to the studio and record vocals for part of the album. While it did not appear on Noir, a teaser video for the song Deathclub (a song that has only been released as a remix and has yet to be heard in its original form) was released on Control's social networking sites. The original track is actually an outtake from the Hate Culture sessions. The sole single from Noir was I'm Only Human Sometimes.

Later in 2010 Control released a series of spoken word tracks through iTunes, all works by Edgar Allan Poe. These were: Eleonora (July 13), The Tell-Tale Heart (September 13), The Oval Portrait (October 15), and The Raven (October 30). The band supported Black Veil Brides on their Entertainment Or Death Tour.^[12]

Shortly after the release of Noir Control left Victory Records, and founded his own record company, Control Records, based near Seattle, Washington.^[13] He now records all his music under this label.

2011

On November 29, 2011 a new five-track EP entitled Novus Ordo Seclorum was announced.^[14] On the same day Control published a second book, Prose + Poems, having previously published Flowers & Filth with Lisa Johnson.

2012

On January 26, 2012, Control announced that the band's third full-length album would be released on April 2, 2012, and called Silentium Amoris. They performed on the Fight To Unite US Tour, with Brokencyde and Blood on the Dance Floor in April and May 2012.^[15] In June 2012, William Control headlined their own New Faith Tour, playing shows in the UK, the Netherlands, and France. During this tour, they also headlined the Red Bull stage at Donington's Download Festival.^[16] A music video for the only single off Silentium Amoris, Kiss Me Judas, was released on June 26, 2012 on YouTube.

In August and September 2012, William Control filmed their debut live DVD, Live in London Town, directed by Tim Bullock and produced by A Glass Half.^[17] The film features a live show, shot at the O2 Academy Islington, as well as behind the scenes footage and interviews from two other dates. The twenty-track DVD was released in January 2013, with a new and previously unreleased twenty-first track Speak to Me of Abduction over the closing credits.

October and November 2012 saw the band supporting The Birthday Massacre on their American tour, alongside Aesthetic Perfection.^[18]

2013

William Control appeared as special guest on The Church Of The Wild Ones US Tour with Black Veil Brides in early 2013. Control also starred in the film Legion of the Black,^[19] a movie based upon the Black Veil Brides album Wretched and Divine.

In March 2013, Control asked fans for donations to help fund his home recording studio, Hell's Half Acre. He later released the digital-only acoustic album Skeleton Strings, consisting of 9 original and cover tracks, including Noir and HIM's "The Funeral of Hearts". In November of the same year William Control headlined the Friday night at Whitby Goth Weekend,^[20] after playing a support slot at the festival in April.^[21]

On October 1, 2013 Control announced that the next studio album would be called The Neuromancer, and that it was slated for release in early December 2013, just before the start of the US Revel Without A Cause Tour.^[22] Additionally, Control announced that his book Revelator Book One: The Neuromancer would be shipped earlier than expected and likely within the first two weeks of the month. The book was initially sold exclusively through pre-order, in a limited quantity of 500. However, the pre-orders sold so quickly that an additional 100 copies were made available shortly thereafter.^[23] It is now available several sources both as a paperback and digitally.^[24]

2014

The Neuromancer was finally released April 4, 2014.^[25][26][27] There were two singles from the album; Revelator and Price We Pay.

In spring 2014, and again from October–December 2014, William Control supported the aggrotech band Combichrist on both the American and European legs of their We Love You Tour.^[28][29][30] In April 2014, whilst on this tour, the band recorded a live DVD at Bar Sinister in Hollywood. This DVD was released as Babylon, and featured Andy Biersack of Black Veil Brides and Ash Costello of New Years Day.^[31]

William Control played a UK tour, entitled The Punishment Tour, in August 2014, with support from Ashestoangels and Bad Pollyanna.^[32] An appearance at Alt-Fest 2014 was originally part of this tour, but the festival was cancelled.^[33]

November 2014 saw the release of Revelator Book Two: The Hate Culture.^[24] This was again initially through Control's own website, but it is also now available both in paperback and digitally from various sources. A second acoustic album, Skeleton Strings 2, followed on Christmas Eve.

It was around this time that the new William Control velvet rose logo was launched, inspired by lyrics from Adore (Fall In Love Forever), off The Neuromancer. It has appeared in various forms on releases and merchandise since then.

• 

An album of remixes of William Control tracks (Remix) was also made available, as a free download through NoiseTrade.^[34]

2015

At the start of 2015 Control announced that he was starting his own screen-printing business, Control Merch, to give him creative freedom over his own merchandise. This was initially in a rented studio but in early 2016 he purchased his own shop, allowing for expansion of the business.^[35][36] He also launched the brand Submit Clothing.

The Punishment Tour part 2 took place in April 2015 (UK) and May–June 2015 (USA).^[37] Support came from Ashestoangels in the UK and Requiem and Justin Symbol in the US. The band once again performed at Whitby Goth Weekend, this time on the Sunday night, playing before The Damned.^[38] The band did one final 2015 live show at Toronto's Aftermath Festival in August 2015.^[39]

2016

Control began teasing fans with snippets of new music from the 5th studio album in video clips on Instagram, Facebook etc., working on the album with Kenneth Fletcher and Axel Otero of Lay Your Ghost at his home studio in spring/summer 2016.^[40] He embarked on a solo 5 date acoustic tour of the UK (The Skeleton Strings Tour) in July 2016,^[41] supported by Crilly of Ashestoangels, and the full band returned to the UK in September 2016 for the 10 date Synths And Sinners Tour.^[42] The Monster, the first single from the band's The Pale EP (the first of four that will make up the album Revelations) was released as a YouTube video on September 5, and pre-orders for the EP through the Control Merch site began on September 22, with iTunes pre-orders starting the following day. Several US dates for October and November 2016 were then announced, after the planned full USA tour fell through, including a performance on JBTV.^[43][44][45] The Pale, completed by tracks Confess, When The Love Is Pain and Mother Superior, received its full release on October 14, 2016. A video for Confess, filmed by Fletcher in Edinburgh, Scotland whilst on the Synths And Sinners Tour, followed on October 26, as did a video for When The Love Is Pain on November 12. The Pale hit number one on both the Billboard Dance/Electronic album chart and the Heatseekers album chart.^[46]

In spring 2016 it was revealed that a trilogy of films was to be made from the three Revelator books.^[47][48]

November 2016 saw posts appear on Control's social media accounts about the third book in the Revelator trilogy. Pre-orders for the first edition went on sale on December 2nd, and sold out within a day.

Band members

• William Control - lead vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, keyboards, synthesizers, production (2008–present).

The Neuromantic Boys

The Boys got their name from lyrics from the track Revelator, off The Neuromancer.

• Kenneth Fletcher - guitar (2008–present), bass, backing vocals (2012–present), synthesizers.
• Ian MacWilliams - keyboards, synthesizers (2013–present), backing vocals.
• Ben Tourkantonis - drums, percussion (2014–present).^[49][50][51]

Former members

• Nick Wiggins - bass, backing vocals (2008–2012)
• Keef West - drums, percussion (2012)
• Philip Kross - bass, backing vocals (2012)
• Crilly Ashes - synthesizers, keyboards (2014 (UK Tour))

Discography

Studio albums

• Hate Culture (2008)
• Noir (2010)
• Silentium Amoris (2012)
• The Neuromancer (2014)
• Revelations (The Pale EP) (2016)

EPs

• Novus Ordo Seclorum (2011)
• The Pale EP (2016)

Acoustic Albums

• Skeleton Strings (2013)
• Skeleton Strings 2 (2014)

Remix Albums

• Remix (2014)

Live Albums

• Live In London Town (2012)
• Babylon (2014)

Singles

• Beautiful Loser (2008)
• I'm Only Human Sometimes (2010)
• Kiss Me Judas (2012)
• Revelator (2014)
• Price We Pay (2014)
• The Monster (2016)
• Confess (2016)
• When The Love Is Pain (2016)

Music videos

• Beautiful Loser (2008)
• Deathclub (2009)
• I'm Only Human Sometimes (2010)
• Kiss Me Judas (2012)
• Speak To Me Of Abduction (2012)
• The Velvet Warms And Binds (2013)
• New World Order (2013)
• Revelator (2014)
• Price We Pay (2014)
• Illuminator lyric video (2014)
• The Monster (2016)
• Confess (2016)
• When The Love Is Pain (2016)

Soundtrack Contributions

• Saw V (2008) - Strangers
• Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009) - Deathclub (feat. Matt Skiba) (Wes Borland/Renholdër Remix)
• Underworld: Awakening (2012) - The Posthumous Letter
• Fucking Mystic (2014) - Adore (Fall In Love Forever)

Bibliography

• Flowers & Filth (September 9, 2009) – a book of poetry and photography by William Control (words) and Lisa Johnson (photography). ISBN unknown

• Prose + Poems (November 12, 2011) – a book of poetry, short pieces and essays by William Control. It was initially sold through Control's own website, and PDF copies were available as part of some of the Silentium Amoris pre-order packages.^[52] A couple of the passages were published on the Alternative Press website.^[53][54] ISBN unknown

• Revelator Book One: The Neuromancer (October 28, 2013) – the first in a trilogy of novels by William Control that explores the origins of the character of William Control.^[55] The books mirror the story told across the course of Control's albums. Pre-orders were initially made available through Control's own website and limited to 500 copies.^[56] A second and third editions were also released.^[23] ISBN 978-1-304-40272-1

• Revelator Book Two: The Hate Culture (2014) – the second in the trilogy.^[55] ISBN 978-1-304-40272-1

• Revelator Book Three: The Hell Of Heaven (2016) – the final part of the trilogy

Collaborations

Guest appearances

• To Feel the Rain by On the Last Day, on the EP Wars Like Whispers (2005) (as Wil Francis)^[57]
• Bleeds No More (live) by Silverstein, on their compilation 18 Candles: The Early Years (2006) (as Wil Francis)^[58]
• Box Full of Sharp Objects (live) by The Used, during Taste Of Chaos 2007 (2007) (as Wil Francis)^[59]
• Bleeding Rain by Vampires Everywhere!, on the album Kiss the Sun Goodbye (2011)^[60]
• Now That You're Dead by The Used, on the album Vulnerable (2012)^[61]
• We Join Forces by Mister Underground (2012)^[62]
• Voice of F.E.A.R. on the album Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones, by Black Veil Brides (2013)^[63]
• Bury A Legend by One Last Shot, on the album Bastards of the Plague (2013)^[64]
• Pure Fucking Evil by Blood on the Dance Floor, on the album Bitchcraft (2014)^[65]
• Neon In The Dance Halls and City Falls To Dust' by Fearless Vampire Killers, on the album Unbreakable Hearts (2014)^[66]
• Living Hell by Ashestoangels, on the album Horror Cult^[67]

Production work

• The EP Revenge (2011) by Seattle band Girl On Fire.^[68]
• EPs The Ghost (2011) and Through The Rain (2011) by Seattle-based dark rock band To Paint The Sky (as Wil Francis).^[69]
• The album I Tried To Make You Immortal, You Tried To Make Me A KILLER (2012) by the New Jersey rock band A Midnight Tragedy.^[70]
• The album Mile End (2013) by the Austrian punk band Stupe-iT.^[71]
• The albums With Tape And Needles (2013), Horror Cult (2014) and How To Bleed (2016) for English electro-goth punks Ashestoangels.^[72][73][74]
• The album Unbreakable Hearts (2014) by English rock band Fearless Vampire Killers.^[75]

Tours

Headline

• Noir Tour - UK (July/August 2010) William Control with Mavricz and Octane Ok^[76]
• Live In London - UK (August/September 2012) William Control with Obscure Pleasures and Ashestoangels^[77]
• New Faith Tour - UK (May/June 2012) William Control with Fearless Vampire Killers and Obscure Pleasures^[78]
• UK Headliner - UK (April/May 2013) William Control with AlterRed^[79]
• Revel Without A Cause Tour - US (2013) William Control with Fearless Vampire Killers and Davey Suicide^[22]
• The Punishment Tour - UK/Europe (August 2014) William Control with Ashestoangels and Bad Pollyanna^[80]
• The Punishment Tour - UK (April 2015) William Control with Ashestoangels^[38]
• The Punishment Tour - US (2015) William Control with Requiem and Justin Symbol^[81]
• The Skeleton Strings Tour - UK (July 2016) Acoustic William Control with Crilly Ashes^[41]
• The Synths And Sinners Tour - UK (2016) William Control with Bad Pollyanna, Pretty Addicted and As Sirens Fall^[42]
• The Synths And Sinners Tour - USA (October and November 2016) William Control with MXMS (November dates only)^[43][44][45]

Support/Festivals

• The War Is Ours Tour - US (2008) Escape The Fate with William Control^[7]
• Fight To Unite Tour - US (2012) Brokencyde, Blood on the Dance Floor and William Control^[15]
• Entertainment Or Death Tour - US (2010) Black Veil Brides with William Control and Motionless in White^[12]
• June 3, 2012 - Melkweg, Powerfest^[82]
• June 10, 2012 - Donington Park, Download Festival^[16]
• The Birthday Massacre - US (2012) The Birthday Massacre with William Control and Aesthetic Perfection^[18]
• Church Of The Wild Ones Tour - US (2013) Black Veil Brides with William Control^[83]
• April 27, 2013 - Whitby Goth Weekend^[21]
• November 1, 2013 - Whitby Goth Weekend^[20]
• We Love You Tour - US (2014) Combichrist with William Control and New Years Day^[28]
• We Love You Tour Part 2 - US (2014) Combichrist with William Control, Davey Suicide and Darksiderz^[29]
• We Love You Tour - Europe (2014) Combichrist with William Control^[30]
• April 26, 2015 - Whitby Goth Weekend^[38]
• August 27, 2015 - Toronto, Aftermath Festival^[39]
• October 30, 2016 - supporting Prayers, Los Angeles, Mayan Theater^[84]
• Homecoming Tour: Curtain Call - US/Canada (2017) Andy Black with William Control and Palaye Royale^[85]

Notes

1. "Dark Meets Domineering, An Interview With William Control - Gothic Beauty Magazine". 31 July 2015.
2. "A Brief Moment with William Control". 5 May 2015.
3. Daily, Haulix. "The Filth and the Fetish: A Conversation With William Control".
4. "Rock Regeneration - Interview: Wil Francis of Aiden and William Control".
5. "William Control reaches beyond the scene with new EP, 'Revelations'—listen (exclusive) - Features - Alternative Press".
6. "William Control - Chart history - Billboard".
7. "Escape the Fate Biography". 16 August 2011.
8. "William Control (Aiden's WiL Francis) set to make live debut - News - Alternative Press".
9. "Liza Graves guest vocals on William Control Record "Noir"!".
10. "William Control (Ft. Kurupt & Liza Graves) – Why Dance With The Devil When You Have Me?".
11. "William Control (Ft. Ash Costello & Jeffree Star) – Dorian Gray".
12. "Black Veil Brides book headlining tour with William Control - News - Alternative Press".
13. http://thepulsemag.com/wordpress/2013/04/04-13-william-control-a-modern-day-new-order
14. "William Control - Novus Ordo Seclorum".
15. "On The Road Again: William Control on the Fight To Unite Tour - Features - Alternative Press".
16. "Download Festival 2012 Line-Up :: Clashfinder General".
17. https://www.discogs.com/William-Control-Live-In-London-Town/master/756701
18. "The Birthday Massacre Announce N. American Tour - Bloody Disgusting!". 13 August 2012.
19. "Legion of the Black". 21 December 2012 – via IMDb.
20. http://www.whitbygothweekend.co.uk/docs/WhitbyGothWeekendGuide-Winter2013.pdf
21. http://www.whitbygothweekend.co.uk/docs/WGWWilliamControl.pdf
22. Arsenault, Nici (16 October 2013). "WILLIAM CONTROL ANNOUNCES "REVEL WITHOUT A CAUSE" 2013 US TOUR - Substream Magazine".
23. "William Control's "Revelator" pre-order extended - News - Alternative Press".
24. "All Alone with William Control - Mind Equals Blown".
25. Control, William. "The Neuromancer Delayed……. - William Control".
26. "William Control confirms release date for 'The Neuromancer' - News - Alternative Press".
27. "William Control delays new album in a letter to his fans - News - Alternative Press".
28. "New Years Day, William Control to tour with Combichrist - News - Alternative Press".
29. "Darksiderz Announces US Tour Dates with Combichrist, William Control, & Davey Suicide - New Noise Magazine". 30 September 2014.
30. "Combichrist @ A38".
31. "William Control announces 'Babylon' live DVD - News - Alternative Press".
32. Stickler, Jon. "William Control Lines Up August Punishment Tour - Stereoboard".
33. "Alt-Fest cancelled as 'deeply sorry' organisers disappoint Marilyn". 4 August 2014.
34. "William Control - Remix Remix".
35. "William Control continues to fight for creative freedom, opens Control Records - Pure Rock News". 5 May 2016.
36. Lawrie, Sam (6 May 2016). "William Control opens own label, Control Records".
37. "Music Mayhem Magazine - Music Reviews, Interviews, Photos and News".
38. "William Control Announces UK Tour With Ashestoangels - Kerrang!". 9 April 2015.
39. "Aftermath Festival Invading Toronto This August". 4 June 2015.
40. OriginalRock (1 October 2016). "Lay Your Ghost Releases Debut EP 'A Darker Love'".
41. "Behind the Scenes: The Skeleton Strings Tour (William Control & Crilly Ashes)". 26 July 2016.
42. Stickler, Jon. "William Control Sets Up 'Synths And Sinners' UK Tour - Stereoboard".
43. "William Control announces US west coast dates for Synth & Sinners tour". 21 October 2016.
44. "William Control".
45. "William Control LIVE - JBTV".
46. "Betty Who & William Control Top Dance/Electronic Charts".
47. "William Control's work is being turned into a film: Here's what you need to know - Features - Alternative Press".
48. https://www.famousmonsters.com/outre-eye-daniel-xiii-interview-william-control-jacob-johnston/
49. http://infectiousmagazine.com/interview-ben-tourkantonis-of-william-control/
50. http://louderthanwar.com/ben-tourkantonis-the-amatory-murder-interview/
51. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC504y9KXaLgXpulsMsTGWnA
52. Control, William. "Electronic Packages Now Available! - William Control".
53. "Alternative Press".
54. "Alternative Press".
55. "Wil Francis pens short novel about the origins of William Control - News - Alternative Press".
56. Control, William. "Revelator Pre Order available now! - William Control".
57. KailerSaigo (12 June 2010). "On The Last Day - To Feel the Rain feat. Wil Francis (of Aiden) lyrics" – via YouTube.
58. Arceus127 (31 July 2010). "Silverstein - Bleeds No More Feat. WiL from Aiden (Live) (17)" – via YouTube.
59. trinityrock86 (19 November 2007). "The Used & Wil Francis Aiden - a Box Full Of Sharp Objects" – via YouTube.
60. "Exclusive Stream: Vampires Everywhere!'s "Bleeding Rain (feat. William Control)" - Features - Alternative Press".
61. "The Used - Vulnerable (II)".
62. "We Join Forces - Mister Underground".
63. "Black Veil Brides, 'Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones' – Album Review".
64. "Bury A Legend (Feat. William Control of Aiden), by One Last Shot".
65. "Blood on the Dance Floor feat. William Control lyrics - Musixmatch".
66. "Fearless Vampire Killers Release Neon In The Dance Halls - Kerrang!". 1 August 2014.
67. "Ashestoangels - Living Hell (Feat. William Control) lyrics - Musixmatch".
68. "Exclusive Stream: Girl On Fire's "Revenge" - Features - Alternative Press".
69. joey (9 July 2011). "Meet Seattle Rockers To Paint The Sky".
70. "A Midnight Tragedy".
71. "Mile End, by Stupe-iT".
72. "Independent outlook /// Ashestoangels 'With Tape And Needles' [Album] 2013". 8 August 2013.
73. "AshesToAngels Premiere Still Dead Music Video - Kerrang!". 22 September 2014.
74. "Ashestoangels 'How to Bleed' - ALBUM REVIEW - GIGsoup". 26 April 2016.
75. E, Gaz. "Fearless Vampire Killers - 'Unbreakable Hearts' (Goremount Records)".
76. "WILLIAM CONTROL - Jun/Aug UK Tour 2010 Matted Mini Poster - 13.5x10cm" – via Amazon.
77. "LIVE REVIEW: William Control, London, 29/08/12 « Bring the Noise UK".
78. "William Control Announces Tour Dates With FVK and Obscure Pleasures - Hit The Floor". 24 April 2012.
79. "WILLIAM CONTROL - UK Tour 2013".
80. "WILLIAM CONTROL - THE PUNISHMENT TOUR - UK/Euro August 2014 DO NOT PURCHASE TICKETS VIA THIS WEBSITE - VALID TICKET LINK IN THE EVENT DETAILS - The Roadhouse Birmingham".
81. "William Control brings The Punishment Tour with Requiem and Justin Symbol".
82. "William Control @ Melkweg (Powerfest)".
83. "UTG INTERVIEW: William Control". 31 January 2013.
84. "William Control @ Mayan Theatre".
85. "Andy Black Reveals 'Homecoming Tour: Curtain Call' Dates".

External links

• Official website