Perpetual Motion Machine

MOTIONLESS IN WHITE REMAIN A FORCE FOR THE DISENFRANCHISED DESPITE A NEW DISGUISE

- Jon Wiederhorn

AS MUCH AS they’re a rallying cry for dismayed, misunderstood youth, Motionless In White are a force of near-spiritual communion for the musicians in the band. Ever since guitarist Ryan Sitkowski joined the Scranton, Pennsylvania, group in 2008, Motionless in White have formed the crux of his identity as much as it’s been his livelihood. “From the start, we’ve all been equal parts friends, musicians and something bigger,” Sitkowski says. “Somehow, we’ve united to create this thing that people who have had the same kinds of emotions and experiences as we’ve had can latch onto and take part in.” The kinship the band has with its fans has served it well. Motionless in White’s latest album, Disguised, debuted at Number 27 on the Billboard 200 and reached Number 4 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart. In 2019, the band opened for Alice Cooper and Halestorm and headlined shows with We Came As Romans and After the Burial. “When people say we’re killing it, I’m flattered,” Sitkowski says. “But I feel like we’ve been on this gradual incline for our whole career. I don’t really see ourselves changing much from one year to the next.”