Over the past two decades, Motionless In White has carved out a space all their own in modern heavy music — blending gothic aesthetics, industrial textures, metalcore aggression, and arena-ready hooks into a sound that feels both theatrical and deeply personal. From their early Warped Tour days to commanding festival main stages around the world, the band has built a fiercely loyal fanbase drawn to their message of resilience, self-acceptance, and unapologetic individuality. Now, at the 20-year mark, they aren’t just celebrating longevity — they’re proving they’re still evolving.
Motionless in White is stepping confidently into its next chapter. The Scranton-bred metal mainstays recently released their anniversary single, “Afraid of the Dark,” a track that connects the band’s past, present, and future — mixing metallic fury with electronic embellishments for a fist-in-the-air anthem that already feels destined to become a fan favorite.
With a spring tour alongside Bring Me the Horizon on the horizon and a milestone year well underway, we caught up with frontman Chris Cerulli aboard ShipRocked to talk new music, Warped Tour memories, vegan tour eats, and why Halloween Horror Nights might just be his true happy place.
When we last talked, you were just starting to work on new music. It’s been a while — what became the biggest inspiration for what you created?
Wow, it has been that long. Honestly, this year the biggest inspiration was our own career. It’s the 20th year of being a band, which is crazy to say out loud. Having that to lean on and looking at the duration of everything we’ve done — we thought, let’s make new music that feels like a span of what has made up Motionless the whole time.
There are moments in these new songs that, while they’re fresh, touch on things we’ve done throughout our career. It was cool to be a little self-referential and recall moments fans have loved in the past, but do them in a new way.
The new single “Afraid of the Dark” feels reflective. What’s the story behind it?
It’s more about the mental and personal side of being in a band for 20 years. Ten years ago we put out “570,” which was more observational — like, this is what we physically did to get here. We toughed it out, we survived all these external challenges.
“Afraid of the Dark” is more internal. There have been huge, triumphant moments in our career, but there’s also been pain and struggle that comes with it. I wanted to write from the mental side of that journey — what it feels like inside after two decades of this life.
You guys keep coming back to ShipRocked. What makes it special?
I would do it every year if we could. It’s the nicest vibes of any event we’ve done. Everybody treats you like family — I know that’s an overused term, but it’s true. You see people who’ve been coming for eight or ten years, or it’s their first year, and you just know you’ll see them again.
It’s infectious. You feel welcome. You feel seen. It’s hard to want to miss it.
You’ve played almost every major DWP festival this past year — Sonic Temple, Rockville, Louder Than Life. Any standout moments?
Rockville was intense. The heat was insane. We had pyro going and it was so hot we were like, “We need to rethink this.” We’ve toned down the fire a bit. It looks sick, but when it’s 110 degrees and five bands before you also had pyro, it doesn’t hit the same.
Now we focus on going just as hard without needing the most flames possible. It’s about impact, not excess.
You’re vegan on tour. What’s been your perfect bite on the road?
It’s tough because it’s not consistent everywhere. But there are spots I love. Spiral Diner in Dallas is awesome. Winter Park Biscuit Company in Orlando is great. There’s a ramen spot called JINYA that has amazing vegan options — their spicy creamy vegan ramen is phenomenal. That’s probably one of my favorite dishes ever.
Dream vacation?
Every couple of years I do it — Orlando with my family. Universal, Disney, Halloween Horror Nights. That’s my happy place. Getting to treat my family now, after they supported me when I had nothing, that’s the dream.
If I could live inside Halloween Horror Nights while it’s open, I would.
Has any place ever inspired a song?
Mostly home. In “570” we say “from Stockholm to Scranton.” Stockholm was always a place I wanted to go before we made it there. When we finally did, it was freezing and felt like I was in a movie. That was awesome.
What would fans be surprised to learn about life on tour?
We’re super boring. We don’t party. We never really were that kind of band. We watch movies, work on our own projects, hang out. It’s pretty chill. I think some people still imagine the whole sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll thing — but for us, it’s movie nights.
Craziest place you’ve ever slept?
On the trailer door in a Walmart parking lot. We drove to Warped Tour in Florida, got there the night before with nowhere to stay, opened the trailer, laid down on the ramp door, and that was it.
Standout Warped Tour memory?
When we put out “570,” it was right before Warped Tour in our hometown area. We walked out on stage to “The Office” theme song, hit the first note, and people held up all these custom signs they made for us. As far back as you could see, just signs in the air.
It was one of the first times it really felt like, “Wow. We made it.”
Summary
Twenty years in, Motionless In White isn’t chasing trends or trying to recreate the past. With “Afraid of the Dark,” Chris Cerulli and company are honoring every step — from Walmart parking lots to festival main stages — and turning that history into fuel for what’s next.
And if ShipRocked, sold-out tours, and a spring run with Bring Me the Horizon are any indication, the dark has never looked brighter.
MOTIONELESS IN WHITE ON TOUR:
WITH BRING ME THE HORIZON:
4/28 — Toronto, ON — Scotiabank Arena
4/29 — Montreal, QB — Centre Bell
5/1 — Worcester, MA — DCU Center
5/2 — New York, NY — Madison Square Garden
5/4 — Baltimore, MD — CFG Bank Arena
5/5 — Pittsburgh, PA — PPG Paints Arena
5/7 — Nashville, TN — Bridgestone Arena
5/9 — Daytona Beach, FL — Welcome to Rockville*
5/11 — St. Louis, MO — Enterprise Center
5/12 — Kansas City, MO — T-Mobile Center
5/13 — St. Paul, MN — Grand Casino Arena
5/15 — Rosemont, IL — Allstate Arena
5/16 — Columbus, OH — Sonic Temple Festival *
*Festival Date