Staind News Archives 2005

News

12/28/05

Casino tour lets Staind's Lewis show softer side

Aaron Lewis has been leading a double life. Usually, he's known as the singer for the Massachusetts-bred melodic heavy metal band Staind. But for the holiday season, Lewis has turned unplugged crooner with a 10-date, all-casino solo tour that includes five shows at Mohegan Sun's Cabaret Theatre, tonight through Sunday (New Year's Day). Solo tour?

Is this the writing on the wall for the amazingly successful multiplatinum Staind? Speaking from his home in the Berkshires, as the band just finished headlining the Fall Brawl multiband metal tour, Lewis says definitely not.

At the end of January, Staind begins a new tour leg for its fifth album, ''Chapter V," which debuted at number one on the Billboard album charts last summer. It was the band's third consecutive CD to hit the top mark in its release week.

Wouldn't Lewis rather take a break like his bandmates and enjoy the holidays with his wife and children? He makes no bones about it: Playing casinos is highly lucrative.

''I can do this 10-date tour, or a month and a half with a promoter, and at the end of the day, the money in the till will be the same. That's the truth," he explains. ''Besides, I can't take a month and a half away from Staind right now."

For his solo stint, the setup is simple: just Lewis, a wooden stool, a microphone, and an acoustic guitar, with only the soundman for distant company. The performances, which will include stripped-down Staind songs and some covers, are unrehearsed and unscripted. Lewis says he doesn't plan which songs he'll do until he sits on the stool.

In the past, he's included such Staind hits as ''It's Been Awhile," ''Outside," and ''Home." He's also been known to break out covers from Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, and Bad Company.

''I don't know what I'm going to do until I get up there," Lewis says. ''It leaves a lot of possibilities for some real musical moments."

It also promises to make for an intimate show, warts and all.

''Sometimes, I can finish the song, sometimes I forget what the words are, or what chord I'm supposed to go into next," he says. Lewis says this flying by the seat of his pants approach gives him the greatest adrenaline rush of all.

''I could be rehearsing and playing the guitar that's sitting right in front of me," he says, pondering why he does it this way. ''But I'm not."

This isn't the first time Lewis has gone solo. But these jaunts tend to be less publicized. With only the Staind faithful paying attention, the shows are family affairs, Lewis says, with a warmth the big arena spectacle lacks.

''Playing a place like the Cabaret Theatre is a way to keep it much more exclusive, and much cozier," he says.

So far, Lewis has not gotten around to working on a solo CD. Eventually, he says, he will when the time is right.

As anyone who has seen Staind play will attest, Lewis clearly loves singing. Under the heavy-metal fury, he seems one step removed emotionally, steadily pouring his troubled, moody soul into the microphone.

''There's many ways to skin a cat," he says, breaking off to ponder the phrase. ''Hmm, I don't know what the person who came up with that saying was trying to say. It's horrible!" he says with a chuckle. ''But there are many ways to approach what I enjoy doing."

News

12/13/2005

Stern Taps Staind for Final Traditional Radio Broadcast

NEW YORK, NY--(MARKET WIRE)--Dec 13, 2005 -- Flip/Atlantic recording group Staind will be the sole musical guest on Howard Stern's final traditional radio broadcast, slated for Friday, December 16th. The group will perform on 56th Street in Manhattan, outside the studios of radio station K-Rock (WXRK). Stern and his show will move to Sirius Satellite Radio in January.

A longtime Staind fan and friend, Stern invited the band to create their own rendition of "The BeetleJuice Song" -- originally performed on the show by frequent guest BeetleJuice. Staind debuted their original acoustic arrangement of the song on the Howard Stern show this past summer. A recording of that live performance is included on the new Limited Edition CD/DVD of Staind's current album, "CHAPTER V." Entitled "This Is Beetle" aka "The BeetleJuice Song," it was written by Lester Green (aka BeetleJuice) and composer Richard Christy.

That same night, December 16th, Staind will headline the Roseland Ballroom in New York City, presented by K-Rock. The show is part of the band's current "Fall Brawl" cross-country tour, which also features Atlantic labelmates P.O.D. and Taproot, plus Texas rockers Flyleaf.

"CHAPTER V" (Flip/Atlantic), the fifth album from Staind, debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 this past August, marking the Massachusetts-based band's third consecutive chart-topper. The album follows 2003's critically acclaimed "14 SHADES OF GREY" and 2001's quintuple platinum "BREAK THE CYCLE," both of which also entered the Billboard 200 in the #1 spot.

The new album has thus far yielded two radio smashes -- the #1 multi-format hit, "Right Here," and the current single, "Falling," which has bulleted into the top ten on both the Rock and Active Rock charts. "Right Here" marked the band's fourth #1 radio track to date, following "For You," "It's Been Awhile," and "So Far Away."

The just-released Limited Edition CD/DVD version of "CHAPTER V" features the entire original album, plus five bonus tracks -- including an acoustic version of "It's Been Awhile" and "This Is Beetle." The bonus DVD features a full band documentary, plus extras including the "Right Here" video, two songs filmed live, bonus interviews, and outtakes. The deluxe package includes a 36-page book featuring the lyrics to all Staind songs, a photo history of the band, and liner notes.

News

12/06/2005

Updated Road Journal from Mike

friends & fun on the road

Hey there - figured i should check in and let you know what's been going on. well, since the last time I wrote we've pretty much crossed the country and we're in Florida now. Man, is it nice here! being from New England, it's kind of weird that it's december and there's no snow, it's 75 and sunny. It'd be tough for me to spend x-mas here - I need the cold weather!

The shows continue to be really good. Last time I wrote was right before the show with audioslave in vegas - that was awesome!! really good bill, the crowd was great and audioslave was really good. It was the first time I got to see them and I wasn't disappointed, they sounded really good.

After vegas we continued our trek east with a stop in Denver (great crowd) and then onto Texas for a bunch of dates which all went well. We had 5 shows in Texas since we weren't able to hit it all on the 3 Doors Down tour - Texas rules! actually, it was really cool because in Dallas, the night before Thanksgiving, Vinnie Paul showed up along with a friend of mine who plays for the cowboys (Mark Colombo). We actually got to see Vinnie in Vegas and he said he'd be coming to the show and invited us over for Thanksgiving dinner which Aaron took him up on. Myself and Jon actually had tickets to the Cowboys game Thanksgiving day (courtesy of Mark) so we couldn't make dinner. However, we did have a blast at the game - unfortunately, the Cowboys lost (Im a Pats fan obviously but I had to root for the Cowboys that day) but we had a lot of fun tailgating and going to the game. Aaron said Thanksgiving day dinner was awesome and actually borrowed one of Dime's guitars that he played on stage every night and is playing it during "King of all excuses" on this tour as a memorial to Dime. I've included some pics of us with vinnie and mark from that night so check'em out.

Once we finished up our run of Texas we split from the tour for a little bit to do a couple of bud 1 night stands and some radio dates in Florida. We headed north to Nashville where I got to hang out with my friend Todd Jones who was the closer for the florida marlins last year. If you got the special edition cd, he's the pitcher we're playing wiffle ball with in Milwaukee. We had a day off the night before and went to dinner and he and some of his buddies came to the show the next day. The bud dates are pretty cool because they usually are in small clubs and it's a free show. People win tickets from the radio station and they are 21+ shows. So we did that in Nashville and Chicago before heading down to Florida for some radio shows this past weekend.

Radio shows are always pretty fun also because we get to hang out and play with bands that we might not usually be able to. One thing that always makes me nervous though is that a lot of these shows start at like 10 in the morning and we usually go on pretty late - I always get nervous people will leave before we play. I gotta say that in both West Palm and Clearwater (both were all day shows) - it was awesome because people were there all day and stayed for our set - thanx!! I always get nervous though because that's a real long day of music and people were there early. It was cool because it really looked like everyone had a good show.

Well, anyhoo, we have a day off today and out tour manager lives in Florida so we're gonna go spend a day on his boat and having a cook out. After 3 shows in a row - Im ready for a little rest and relaxation. we play in Orlando tomorrow and then start heading back up north into the cold. A couple of more weeks left and then we get home for the holidays. Well, i'll check in again soon and let ya know what's going on.

News

11/18/05

Updated Road Journal from Mike

well here we are in phoenix and things are going well. it's awesome to be doing our own shows - the crowds have been great and the shows are a lot of fun. we've been super busy lately, more so than usual it seems. between going to stations and playing, interviews and the shows, it was nice to have a day off yesterday.

we did the jimmy kimmel show on monday which i think went well. i actually got to watch it on tv on the way down to san diego that night and was pretty happy with the way it came out. tv can be tricky sometimes - i think it's hard to sound good and get the live feeling across. the kimmel show is a bit different becuase they acutally set up a stage outside like a concert and bring in fans so it's a fun thing to do.

Aaron and i were actually pretty lucky - on wednesday we had to go to 3 radio stations and play acoustically and in between the second and third stops we swung by a friend of ours shop - paul yaffe. he's a motorcycle builder here in phoenix who we hooked up with on a previous tour and went out riding with. he let us take some bikes off the showroom floor and ride them to the third appearance we had that day. after we played we went out riding for a while that night. it was a blast. of course i didn't have my camera with me or else i would have included some pics - it was sitting in my hotel room.

After the show tonight here in phoenix we're off to vegas for a show with audioslave which im really looking forward to. i really like them and im excited about being able to play with them and check out their show. we have an instore in vegas during the day to promote the new limitied addition of chapter V that came out tuesday- so that should be cool. if you're in vegas, swing by and see us.

Well, that's about it for now. i'll be sure to check in soon and hopefully we'll see ya on the road.

News

11/17/05

LiveDaily recently conducted an interview with STAIND frontman Aaron Lewis.

LiveDaily: Where does your songwriting inspiration come from?

Aaron Lewis: "What I talk about in the songs, I have a really hard time expressing that otherwise. I tend to stuff things down and internalize it until it's causing me harm. So, instead, I allow it to come out in my lyrics. I've never really needed an outlet for things that make me feel good, or happy thoughts. I don't need to get those off my chest. The stuff that I tend to get out in the songs that I write, it's necessary to do so."

LiveDaily: Who influenced your writing and musical style growing up?

Aaron Lewis: "Growing up I went through phases of LED ZEPPELIN, THE DOORS, THE WHO, and older stuff like that, to BLACK SABBATH, and early VAN HALEN. Then I kind of skipped out on the whole '80s thing, although there were a couple of bands that I thought were pretty good. I always liked MÖTLEY CRÜE and SKID ROW, but there was some stuff that was really bad, which really caused me to not pay attention to some music. When the '90s grunge thing happened, the biggest thing for me was that they were singing in a voice that I possessed. I mean, I can sing like the '80s guys now, but I couldn't back then. So when the '90s came along, it was a movement of music that was being sung in a register that I could sing.

"I've got to give a lot of credit to Jonathan [Davis] from KORN. That first record that they did [self-titled, 1994], I think I wore two copies of that record out, just listening to it so much. The strength that he had to put forth what he was saying lyrically on those songs, to have the balls to say what he was saying, it was really significant. He definitely helped me to feel that it was okay to dig as deep into myself as I was."

Read the entire interview at LiveDaily.com.

News

11/08/05

Shout out to my buddy Ashlee who called into Rockline last night.

She asked Mike to update the road Journal so here it is way to go Ash.

11/08/05 ~ Fall brawl starts today!ok, so here i am again - i got called out last night when we were doing the radio show rockline asking when there would be a new journal update. so, here it is...

we just got back from an awesome tour of canada - we pretty much crossed the country and did 7 shows which all went great. default was the opener and it was cool to play with those guys - sounded great every night. now were back in the states and we start out first show of the fall headlining tour in seattle tonight with pod/taproot and flyleaf. this tour goes until about the 19th or so of december so check out the dates and see if we're coming near ya and come out to a show. it should be pretty cool, we've added some new songs to the set and we're playing some songs that we haven't ever played live which has been a lot of fun. we even dusted off a song from tormented which people always ask us to play something off of. now we are.

anyhoo, we were off for a bit but the 3 doors down tour really was a lot of fun. we had a blast the second to last night when pretty much the whole tour went bowling in atlanta. there was a contest for people around the country to come and see the show and then go bowling with us. i know what your thinking - sounds really boring - however, it was a blast. it was cool because alter bridge was on the show and they showed up along with the guys from 3 doors down so i think it was cool for everyone that won because all the other bands were there hanging out also. the only thing is - i forgot how much i suck at bowling. seriously, the first ball i went to throw - i crossed over the line there and the lane was so slippery i fell right on my ass. what a dork!! luckily it got a little bit better after that - not much though. fun times.

one other thing that's new is that falling was released as the 2nd single off chapter V and a video was made for it this weekend. we're trying something a little bit different - we're not in the video. that makes for a great video shoot for us since we don't have to be there. hopefully it comes out good - it's a pretty funny concept so im looking forward to seeing it. it's about a pee wee football game that goes wrong. i'll leave it at that until i see it and i'll elaborate more then.

also, the special edition of chapter V comes out on nov 15 (next tuesday) which im really looking foreword to. it comes in a pretty cool book with all the lyrics to all of our records, memorabilia we've collected over the years (it's worth picking this thing up just to see the halloween pic of aaron and i in drag), the dvd (which i think came out awesome) and 5 bonus songs like the "beetlejuice song" from the howard stern show, the original version of reply some unreleased songs and an acoustic version of "it's been a while". im really happy with the way it came out - i think you guys will dig it.

well, that's about it for now - i'll be sure to check in again (much sooner next time) and let you know how the tours going and what else we got going on.

seeya
mike

News

11/04/05

New Staind Video Depicts Dark Side Of Pee Wee Football

A cringe-inducing moment from director Cooper Johnson's childhood eventually became the inspiration for Staind's video for "Falling," the second single off their fifth album, Chapter V.

Johnson, who's worked with the likes of Hot Hot Heat and Glassjaw, says it was an incident he's never lived down — in his own mind, anyway. And he'll be reliving it for the New England dude-core band in Los Angeles on Sunday.

"It's a dark depiction of a Pee Wee football game," he explained. "The thing that happened to me when I was a kid involved basketball — me taking the ball and shooting at the wrong basket. I wasn't the big sports guy, but I was on the team. The game had already been won, and they started putting in the bench warmers so they'd get a little game time. I'd done this move in practice so many times, where you fake this way, you fake that way and go up for a layup. But I'm on the wrong side of the court. So I got [the ball], I panicked, I faked and I faked, and I jumped up and made the basket.

"This video is about these moments in our lives that are very embarrassing," he continued, "where, like the song says, you fall, but you can pick yourself up off the ground, dust yourself off and move on."

Johnson said the video will focus on a small child who's called into the Pee Wee action when the team's star player is hurt. The ball winds up in the kid's hands toward the end of the game, which is tied. He heads downfield, and the camera follows him in slow motion. From time to time the action cuts away to the parents on the sidelines who, according to the director, are "just freaking out and screaming," and then to the coach, "who is jumping around and falling over the Gatorade," and finally, to the boy's teammates, who are crushed by what ends up being a loss.

"And then the kid jumps into the end zone, totally victorious, on top of the world, and everyone else is a mess," Johnson said. "We're poking fun at the parents who are usually involved in these games who get really intense." Expect the clip to feature incensed fathers embroiled in fisticuffs and crazed mothers losing their cool.

"The video focuses on the pressures that might be put on some kids by their parents," Staind guitarist Mike Mushok said. "You hear about those things where two fathers get into a fight over a game or with a coach, but it's just a game. It's not the Super Bowl. That's what the video pokes fun at: the parents' reactions and them fighting in the stands. It points out that these people should relax a bit and let the kids have fun."

Much like Audioslave's clip for "Doesn't Remind Me" (see "Audioslave Avoid Being Aerosmith Circa 1987 Thanks To Chris Milk"), "Falling," the harder-hitting follow-up to the ductile radio ballad "Right Here," will be the first of Staind's videos to be story-based from tip to toe, with none of the band's members featured in it. According to Mushok, that was more an issue of timing than anything else.

"It's a lazy man's way of doing a video," Mushok said. "My original idea was to make it like an ultimate-highlights clip from ESPN — because that's my interpretation of Aaron [Lewis'] lyrics, 'Falling is easy/ It's getting back up that becomes the problem' — and showing guys in baseball running into the wall and dropping the ball; guys colliding with each other when there's a good hit in football; some skateboarder doing some super trick [that] he doesn't land. But then turn around and show some of those same guys making great plays." Mushok said the band might do an alternate version of the video, using just that idea.

Staind, who've been touring nonstop since even before Chapter V's initial release this past August, are gearing up for the Fall Brawl (see "P.O.D., Staind Get In The Ring For Fall Brawl Tour") and have no immediate plans to take a rest. Mushok said the band hopes to be on the road throughout much of 2006. He also said fans can expect to hear some of the band's oldest material, which will be included in set-list rotation for the Brawl.

"Some of these songs we've never played out," he said. "It makes for kind of an interesting set. We wanted to mix it up to make it special for people who have seen us before. We'll be doing 'Break' and 'Come Again' off of Tormented and some songs from 14 Shades of Grey, like 'Blow Away' and 'Reality.' "

On November 15, Staind will reissue Chapter V with improved packaging, a DVD, a 36-page booklet and five bonus cuts, including "The Beetlejuice Song" (see "Stern's Beetlejuice: The Jolly Dwarf With Staind, Blues Traveler In His Corner").

The booklet features photos of Staind during the band's earliest years. ("There's one of Aaron and me in drag," Mushok said. "If you think I'm ugly as a guy, you should see me in a dress.") Also included are concert posters and advertisements, including those from the band's first gig, at Hartford, Connecticut's Webster Theater, where Staind met Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst, who helped them get signed.

The DVD, which features concert footage and acoustic sessions, also has bloopers. "I haven't seen those," the guitarist said. "I'm sure there's a bunch of me making an ass of myself."

News

11/03/05

Music Interview: It's been awhile since you heard Staind

With the release of their newest album, Chapter V, Staind coaxes their audience into counting the predecessors leading to the latest chapter. In support of the new disc the band has also hit the road giving fans a live taste of fresh tunes as well as some old favourites.

"We have a lot more songs to choose from now," guitarist Mike Mushok explains. "We can change the setup and make it a little bit more interesting, not only for us but for the people who have seen us before as well as those have not."

Staind hit it big in 2001 with their release Break the Cycle, featuring the smash "It's Been Awhile." Fortunately their success hasn't gone to their heads like other groups. Staind still enjoys playing smaller venues along with the larger ones their musical success dictates.

"It varies, we play pretty much every size, we just played in Guelph where it was a 1,000 seater and it was a great show. It doesn't really matter the size as long as the people are there and they're into what we're doing, that's the most important thing."

Staind shouldn't have much of a problem filling seats if Chapter V is any indication. The album seamlessly mixes the group's musical abilities of creating heavy riffs as well as tender melodies.

"I think it's the best thing that we've done," Mushok boasts. "It's our best attempt at combining some of the more aggressive stuff that we've done and some of the softer stuff that we've done, it makes it an interesting album if you want to listen to the whole thing."

On Chapter V the band worked with a new producer, Dave Botrill, who has worked with such groups as Tool. Though his input played a role in the creation of the album, songwriting processes did not change.

"It comes from the songs that we bring down and what Dave did was try to help and get those songs as good as they could be," Mushok details.

When Staind became successful the band underwent an interesting transition--from bar-band to rock-star. Mushok lists influential acts who the band looked to in order to understand how to make the transition smooth.

"We were covering anything from Pearl Jam to Alice In Chains to Pantera, Deftones, Rage Against the Machine and things like that," he says. Now the group finds themselves on the opposite end of the spectrum where they are the influence for younger bands.

"It's funny, we just did a tour with Breaking Benjamin and 3 Doors Down and those guys were like, we used to cover 'Mudshovel,'" Mushok says. "That was one instance where it was brought to my attention and I thought, that's pretty cool."

This humble attitude towards stardom is refreshing and as the group continues their tour fans can expect to be welcomed with open arms and good music.

News

09/22/2005

STAIND, P.O.D., TAPROOT Gear Up For 'Fall Brawl' Tour

Flip/Atlantic recording group STAIND has weighed in with the announcement of a major headlining U.S. tour, dubbed the "Fall Brawl". The cross-country trek will find the band joining forces with Atlantic labelmates P.O.D. and TAPROOT, plus Texas rockers FLYLEAF, for what promises to be one of the season's most electrifying events. The itinerary is slated to kick off November 11 in San Jose, California and run through mid-December.

The "Fall Brawl" tour will see the three Atlantic bands supporting new releases: STAIND's "Chapter V" and TAPROOT's "Blue-Sky Research" — both of which are in stores now — and P.O.D.'s eagerly awaited new album, "Testify", which is slated to arrive in January 2006.

Prior to the kick-off of the "Fall Brawl", STAIND will play a string of dates across Canada, running from October 29 through November 6, as well as shows in Seattle and Spokane (with TAPROOT and FLYLEAF opening). In addition, interspersed with the "Fall Brawl" shows, STAIND will play several radio-sponsored events (dates to be announced) as well as a couple of special headlining shows.

For complete tour information & regular updates, please visit: www.fallbrawltour.com

"Chapter V" (Flip/Atlantic), the fifth album from STAIND, recently made its debut at #1 on the Billboard 200, marking the Massachusetts-based band's third consecutive chart-topper. The album follows 2003's critically acclaimed "14 Shades of Grey" and 2001's quintuple platinum "Break the Cycle", both of which also entered the Billboard 200 in the #1 spot. STAIND has spent the summer celebrating the release of "Chapter V" with a series of concert dates alongside 3 DOORS DOWN. That tour wrapped up on September 11 in Charlotte.

"Right Here", the first single from "Chapter V", stands as yet another multi-format radio smash for STAIND. The track is in its fourth consecutive week in the #1 spot at Rock radio nationwide, hits the #1 spot this week at Active Rock, and has climbed to #2 at Alternative outlets. The song is now crossing over to the Hot AC format, where it has bulleted into the top 30. "Right Here" marks the band's fourth #1 radio track to date, following "For You", "It's Been A While", and "So Far Away".

P.O.D. is currently putting the finishing touches on "Testify", their fourth Atlantic release and first new music since 2003's "Payable on Death". The album — produced by the band in collaboration with Glen Ballard (DAVE MATTHEWS BAND, AEROSMITH, VAN HALEN) — looks to be the Southern California-based band's most provocative and powerful work to date. The album's first single will impact rock and alternative radio in mid-November.

With a 13-year career under their belts, P.O.D. has logged a remarkable array of achievements, including worldwide sales exceeding seven million, sold-out international concert tours, a series of top-charting rock radio hits, and three #1 videos on MTV's "Total Request Live". Supported by their passionate fanbase — known as "the Warriors" — the band has created what they describe as "a catalog of music that we want to respect and honor with each step into the future."

"Blue-Sky Research" (Velvet Hammer/Atlantic), TAPROOT's much-anticipated third album, arrived in stores in mid-August. The set — produced by Toby Wright (ALICE IN CHAINS, KORN, SOULFLY) — sees the Ann Arbor-based quartet continuing their musical exploration of hard rock's many textures. Among the album's highlights are the first single, "Calling", as well as a trio of intriguing collaborations with Billy Corgan. TAPROOT is currently on tour with CHEVELLE, with dates scheduled through late-October.

"Calling" is provoking a great reaction at multi-format rock radio outlets across the country. The track has bulleted into the top 10 at Active Rock and into the top 15 at Rock outlets nationwide, while also climbing the Alternative charts.

STAIND on tour, including the "Fall Brawl" with P.O.D., TAPROOT, FLYLEAF (venues to be announced)

w/ DEFAULT:

Oct. 29 - Montreal, QC
Oct. 30 - Toronto, ON
Oct. 31 - Guelph, ON
Nov. 02 - Thunder Bay, ON
Nov. 03 - Winnipeg, MB
Nov. 05 - Edmonton, AB
Nov. 06 - Calgary, AB

w/ TAPROOT, FLYLEAF:

Nov. 08 - Seattle, WA
Nov. 09 - Spokane, WA

"Fall Brawl" w/ P.O.D., TAPROOT, FLYLEAF:

Nov. 11 - San Jose, CA
Nov. 12 - San Bernardino, CA
Nov. 14 - Bakersfield, CA
Nov. 15 - San Diego, CA
Nov. 17 - Tucson, AZ
Nov. 18 - Phoenix, AZ
Nov. 21 - Denver, CO
Nov. 22 - Amarillo, TX
Nov. 23 - Dallas, TX
Nov. 25 - San Antonio, TX
Nov. 26 - Corpus Christi, TX
Nov. 27 - Houston, TX
Nov. 29 - Nashville, TN (STAIND only)
Nov. 30 - Chicago, IL (STAIND only)
Dec. 06 - Orlando, FL
Dec. 07 - North Myrtle Beach, SC
Dec. 09 - Baltimore, MD
Dec. 10 - Atlantic City, NJ
Dec. 11 - Poughkeepsie, NY
Dec. 13 - Springfield, MA
Dec. 14 - Sayreville, NJ (STAIND only)

News

00/00/2005

Beyond the pit with Mike Mushok

Answers from Mike Mushok

(Q) What's the first album you ever bought?

(A) Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - so far.

(Q) What's the last album you bought?

(A) New Foo Fighters.

(Q) What song makes you think of your childhood? What image does it conjour up?

(A) Taxi by Harry Chapin - being with my parents and listening to Harry Chapin.

(Q) What's the funniest thing that has happened on tour?

(A) A guy that works for us crapped his pants while walking through the lobby of a hotel trying to make it to his room. That was funny!

(Q) What is the craziest fan encounter you've ever had?

(A) One time in Seattle aaron and I got into an elevator and a girl was in it and started crying because she was in an elevator with us - it was kind of weird to get that response, I tried to explain to her that we're just normal people who happen to play music.

(Q) Who would you say are your main musical influences, and have you ever met them?

(A) Jimmy Page and Eddie Van Halen were big influences while growing up. I did have the opportunity to meet Page at one of our shows in London - he was really cool - we talked about the weather for about 10 minutes and that was it.

(Q) Coke or Pepsi?

(A) Coke.

(Q) If you had unlimited money to take a 1 week vacation, where would you go and why?

(A) I'd take my wife to Australia because I've never been and it looks like a beautiful place.

(Q) What's your favorite venues to play at in the US and why?

(A) House of Blues are always fun venues to play - they're really set up for the bands and they are good size venues so I think all the fan can enjoy themselves. However, I always say that any venue that has people that are into what we are doing is a good venue to play.

(Q) What is your favorite song to play live (of your own)?

(A) Mudshovel is always a fun one to play because the audience is always so into it.

(Q) What do you see yourself doing at age 65?

(A) No idea - hopefully enjoying life with my family.

(Q) If you could put together the perfect 3-act show to go see, who would be playing?

(A) Van Halen (with David Lee Roth), Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix.

News

09/12/05

Artists Inspire In MTV Relief Special

More than 50 musical acts came together last Saturday to make music for Hurricane Katrina victims.

During the "ReAct Now: Music & Relief" special to benefit victims of the largest natural disaster in US history, artists from every genre delivered emotional performances and urged viewers to do whatever they could to help the hundreds of thousands displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Every performance was heartfelt and seemed like a highlight. From blues, rock and country to R&B, hip-hop, dixieland and zydeco, the music heard on the show represented a melting pot of the New Orleans sound.

Alicia Keys opened the show with the song "You'll Never Walk Alone" from the musical "Carousel," while Neil Young and the Fisk Jubilee Singers closed the night with "Walking To New Orleans."

Green Day played "Wake Me Up When September Ends" live from its Boston concert, and Coldplay performed "Fix You" from its New York show. The cameras also caught 3 Doors Down in Charleston, South Carolina performing "Here By Me." Common, David Banner, Kanye West, and the Game were among the hip-hop artists to perform, and country artists taking the stage included Big & Rich, Sugarland, Alan Jackson and Hank Williams Jr.

Among the other performers were Allen Toussaint, Audioslave, Beck, Bon Jovi, Brian Wilson, Buckwheat Zydeco, Chris Thomas King, Dave Matthews Band, Elton John, Emmylou Harris, Fiona Apple, Foo Fighters, Good Charlotte, Jewel, John Mellencamp, Linkin Park's Chester Bennington, Maroon 5, Melissa Etheridge, Motley Crue, Norah Jones, Pearl Jam, Rob Thomas, the Radiators, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sheryl Crow, Staind, Trent Reznor, and U2.

"ReAct Now" aired commercial-free on all MTV Networks' channels, including MTV, MTV2, VH1 and CMT and ran for four hours. MTV's Overdrive and VH1's VSpot broadband channels also ran the show live online.

The show featured studio performances from Los Angeles, Nashville, New York and also performances from concerts around the world. Phone numbers and details on how to contribute or get involved in relief efforts scrolled along the bottom of the TV screen as the concert took place. The Red Cross, the Salvation Army and America's Second Harvest are among the organizations who will benefit from ReAct Now.

For more information on how you can help relief efforts or to watch the ReAct Now: Music & Relief special, visit www.think.mtv.com.

News

09/02/05

MTV, VH1 & CMT Special, 'ReAct Now: Music & Relief' to Air Saturday, September 10 from 8pm-11pm ET/PT

Additional Artists Join this Multi-Genre, Multi-Platform Special Including

The Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Kanye West, Sheryl Crow, Paul McCartney, Alan Jackson, 3 Doors Down, Kelly Clarkson, Brian Wilson, Melissa Etheridge, The Neville Brothers, Trent Reznor, Cash Money's Baby and Lil' Wayne and more.

Special To Direct Donations to The American Red Cross, The Salvation Army and America's Second Harvest and to Promote Volunteerism.

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- MTV, VH1, and CMT announced more artists set to take part in an ongoing Hurricane Katrina relief campaign which launches Saturday, September 10th from 8-11pm ET/PT with "ReAct Now: Music & Relief," a multi-artist, multi-genre, multi-platform special set to air commercial free and simultaneously across all the music networks including: MTV, VH1, CMT, MTV2, VH1 Classic, mtvU, and MTV Overdrive & VSpot, MTV & VH1's broadband video services.

The special will seek to raise much needed funds for The American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, America's Second Harvest and similar organizations as they continue their relief efforts in the devastating wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The campaign will also seek to activate the diverse audiences across MTV, VH1, and CMT to drive volunteerism, donations, and general awareness.

A wide array of artists will appear in the special including: The Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Kanye West, Sheryl Crow, Paul McCartney, Alan Jackson, 3 Doors Down, Kelly Clarkson, Brian Wilson, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kid Rock, Melissa Etheridge, The Neville Brothers, Trent Reznor, Cash Money's Baby and Lil' Wayne, Motley Crue, Simple Plan, Dashboard Confessional, Goo Goo Dolls, Staind, Good Charlotte, Audioslave, Common, John Mayer, Marc Broussard, Maroon 5, The Radiators, and more.

They join previously announced artists: Ludacris, Green Day, Usher, Alicia Keys, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews Band, Rob Thomas, David Banner, Linkin Park's Chester Bennington.

The live programming block from 8-11pm ET/PT will emanate from New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, and Atlanta, and will feature a combination of live and taped performances and messages from artists.

Additional details will be announced in the coming days. "Since we announced this campaign, there has been an incredible outpouring of support from the music and entertainment community who want to lend their voices, performances or messages of hope to those in need," said Van Toffler, President MTV Networks Music Group.

"The affected area hit hard by Hurricane Katrina shares a rich musical and cultural heritage, so it's all the more meaningful that we try to support these massive relief efforts through music and encouraging our audiences to help any way they can.

"Starting earlier this week, all the CMT, VH1, and MTV platforms have begun awareness campaigns to provide information to viewers on how to get involved and participate in the relief efforts.

Viewers and users will continue to be directed to web sites and numbers where they can make donations of money, clothing, equipment, and anything else that may help the affected areas.

Each of the respective news departments for MTV, VH1, and CMT are also covering and filing reports from the devastated areas. MTV News is planning a special that will also air on Saturday, September 10th, directly preceding "ReAct Now" on MTV.

The American Red Cross is asking people to help by making an online contribution to the Disaster Relief Fund at http://www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW to donate, signing up with a local chapter to volunteer or making a blood donation.

The Salvation Army is currently providing services to storm victims and first responders in the Gulf Coast states. A $100 donation to The Salvation Army will feed a family of four for two days, provide two cases of drinking water and one household clean-up kit, containing brooms, mops, buckets, and cleaning supplies. A contribution can be made online at http://www.salvationarmyusa.org, or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

America's Second Harvest -- The Nation's Food Bank Network is in need of food and funds to respond to Hurricane Katrina in states impacted by the disaster including Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.

America's Second Harvest national Network of food banks and food-rescue organizations have moved into disaster response mode to help sister food banks directly impacted by the wrath of the ferocious storm.

News

08/26/05

Marlins hang out with Staind

At Wrigley Field on Friday, Jones introduced the Marlins to recording artists Staind. Members of the band, which has numerous hit songs, including "It's Been Awhile," were on the field as Jones' guests during warmups.

The group will hold a concert on Saturday at Milwaukee, and guitarist Mike Mushok says they plan to tour South Florida in the fall.

Earlier this month, Staind released its latest album, "Chapter V," which already has a hit single, "Right Here." The group is touring with 3 Doors Down.

The members of Staind are from Springfield, Mass., and are naturally Red Sox fans. They also cheer on Jones, who was on stage with the band during a concert a few years ago in Biloxi, Miss.

"It's funny," Mushok said. "He said, 'I played in an All-Star Game and this is the best day of my life.' I think he was making it up. I put him next to me. You don't want him to sing. He was just into it. Ever since then, we've been good friends."

Jones, who played some air guitar on stage that day, says he became friends with the group when he was pitching for the Tigers.

"I met them through a mutual friend in the record business," Jones said. "They let me on stage. It was cool to see the energy from the crowd back to them."

Jones introduced the band to 74-year-old manager Jack McKeon, who is more into the music of Perry Como and Frank Sinatra.

When McKeon met the band members, he played along that he had heard of them, although he no clue.

"I told them I was more into classical musical," said McKeon.

McKeon doesn't listen to classical music, either, but says he does as a joke. McKeon has been known to take the names from vodka labels and tell people those are classical artists.

"He said [he's heard of us], but I know he's lying," Mushok said.

"I've heard of them," McKeon said afterward. "I heard of them earlier today."

News

08/15/05

Jon Wysocki steps out from behind the drum kit to talk about the band and their music.

The four-piece rock band Staind really needs no introduction. They've been knocking around the scene for more than a decade now, during which time they've managed to pump out five full-length albums and build up quite a loyal fanbase.

The legend surrounding the band is equally as impressive as their 10 year + tenure, having first run into a brief altercation with Limp Bizkit frontman-turned-label exec Fred Durst lo these many years ago. As the story goes, Staind found themselves opening up for the Bizkit, but incurred the wrath of Durst due to somewhat objectionable album artwork on their independently released debut. All beef was quashed, however, after Durst survived their bristling live show. He offered them a deal and the rest, as they say, is history.

Now, five albums and ten years-and-some-change into their career Staind—Aaron Lewis, Johnny April, Jon Wysocki, Mike Mushok—have recently released Chapter V, their fourth major label effort.

We caught up with drummer Jon Wysocki and spoke about golf, how to capture that live energy on CD, and more.

IGN Music: Not to start off on a tangent, but when I interviewed Aaron [Lewis, Staind frontman] a few years back he and I ended up talking for a spell about his devotion to fishing. I was wondering if you had any hobbies that you engage in during your downtime, you know to relax and get your mind off of music and the rigors of making an album and touring.

Jon Wysocki: [laughs] Yeah, I play golf. I'm a golfer and actually Aaron's become a golfer within that time, as well. So a lot of times we'll go out and play golf when we're on tour and so on and so forth.

IGN Music: No disrespect to golfing, but it has sort of become a rock and roll cliché in a manner of speaking with folks like Eddie Van Halen, J. Mascis, and Alice Cooper, just to name a few, all being devotees of the sport.

Jon Wysocki: Yeah, it does seem that way [laughs].

IGN Music: Is the appeal all about getting out there on the green and just letting your mind float away for awhile?

Jon Wysocki: Yeah, that's kind of what it is. It's competitive, it's a very difficult game. Like you said, man, it's just something to kind of get your mind off of everything, dick up the day a little bit, you know that kind of thing.

IGN Music: This may be stretching things a bit, but do you see any connection between rock n' roll, and more specifically drumming, and golf? You know, from a philosophical or theoretically standpoint? And conversely, do you take anything from either of these endeavors and then apply it to the other?

Jon Wysocki: I would say mostly the competitive nature of it. I take what I do really seriously. [When we perform live] that hour-and-a-half, two hours, whatever when we're on stage everything just has to be right and perfect for me up there. That's kind of what I try and do out on the course. Golf is a very difficult sport, so you can have a really good game one day and then the next day not so good. And you know, that happens at times on stage. I'm very critical of my playing myself.

IGN Music: That answer can almost be equated to a general metaphor for life, as well, if we want to get into that [laughs].

Jon Wysocki: Absolutely!

IGN Music: Now Staind has been together for more than 10 years now. In this day and age for anything within the art world to last for more than a decade is a feat worthy of note. I mean we've all seen bands put out an album, gain critical and commercial success and then fall to pieces.

Jon Wysocki: It's really amazing. Going into this I don't think we really ever had imagined it to have gone this far and to be able to stay in the game as long as we have. It's just a really good feeling. And with the release of the new record it's just a really good time for us.

IGN Music: When it comes to the music it almost seems like you guys strive for that live vibe, especially when you're in the studio. You know, to capture that excitement of playing in front of an audience and transferring that onto record. That seems to be one of the trickiest aspects of being in a band. I mean how do you bottle that live energy and then uncork it in the studio?

Jon Wysocki: That's a really good question because that's really what we try to do. We try not to overdo things in the studio as far as adding too many things to make it so that we cannot perform the songs live. We like to keep the songs in somewhat of a simple form so that they do translate well live. For instance you go in the studio and you can layer 300 guitar parts and have all this other stuff going over the top of it, this, that, and the other thing. It's called fluff and we try and stay away from that as much as possible just so that we are able to perform those songs live. And actually we pride ourselves pretty much on being able to perform our songs pretty close to how they come out on the record. However there are songs on the CDs that come across better live and that's just how it works out. You never even know that that's the way it's gonna be until the album is done and you've gone out and played the songs live. You never know exactly which songs those are gonna be until we get out and start playing them.

IGN Music: So what are some of the songs you feel sound better live than on the album?

Jon Wysocki: Hmmm. Some of the heavier, more raw stuff comes across better live. It's hard to get energy across on a CD. You can do it, but it's more difficult. So the more raw sounding, the heavier stuff that we do. I don't know, it's just easier to do live because you're set up in a simple form. You've got the amps, the guitars, and drums, and that's it. There's no synth or things like that.

IGN Music: Staying on this tract, do you have a preference over playing live or recording in the studio?

Jon Wysocki: Obviously the nicest thing about playing live is that after you've created something in the studio then you get to go out and see the reaction of fans when you're playing the songs live. So for me, I'd have to say probably live. But, you know, obviously the creative process is really cool, as well, because you're creating your music, you're creating what you're gonna eventually end up playing live.

IGN Music: Now given you predilection toward playing live, how do you guys keep things fresh on tour. I mean playing live has to get a bit monotonous after awhile, you know whipping through a similar set list night after night and all of that.

Jon Wysocki: Yeah. You know the thing is that right now we're on tour with 3 Doors Down and we've constructed a set list where—since the new record just came out--basically we've only been playing three new songs just because people are unfamiliar with it and they want to hear some of the older stuff, the more popular stuff. So we try and mix in a little bit of that stuff with some of the newer stuff and then some other stuff that might be more geared toward the true fans, the real big Staind fans.

IGN Music: I realize that on a bigger tour there's time constraints and you're forced to have more of a precise set list. But do you leave room for improvisation and last minute changes to make it more fun and exiciting not only for you, but for the fans, as well?

Jon Wysocki: Oh yeah, we do. Right now we're actually doing a cover song, an Alice In Chains song, "Nutshell," that we tribute to a few of the fallen heroes like Layne Stayley, Dimebag, Joe C., who was a friend of ours. We do that and I think now we're gonna start changing up the set list a little bit, too. This is the deal: you don't want to come around and play a city twice and have the same exact set list. It's like 'People already just saw that, let's mix it up.' So that's kind of what we try and do now.

News

08/06/05

STAIND's Dysfunction Fanclub To Debut With Special In-Store Membership

To coincide with the August 9 release of their "Chapter V" CD (Flip/Atlantic), STAIND have created the "Dysfunctional Fanclub."

Debuting at Best Buy stores across the country and online on the day of the CD's release, the limited-edition in-store package will include a "Dysfunctional Fanclub" t-shirt design, one that's different from the t-shirt available with the online package.

For only $25.00 (plus shipping and handling for online memberships) or $24.99 at Best Buy, STAIND fans get: access to pre-sale tickets; a welcome letter from the band; an @Staind.com webmail address; the opportunity for meet & greets with the band; exclusive online content (news, STAIND's road journal, audio, video and photos, private message boards and blogs); chances to win contests and prizes and much more.

Of the new fan package, STAIND guitarist Mike Mushok says, "We wanted to create the perfect fan club pack to show our appreciation for all of our dysfunctional fans...enjoy!"

"This is an exciting package for all of STAIND's fans," says Lon Lindeland, Merchandising Leader, Music for Best Buy. "The band has created something very special with great value."

Naveen Jain, CEO of Sparkart, LLC adds, "We are excited to work with STAIND and Best Buy to put together this innovative package for the Dysfunctional Fanclub. It's a great value for STAIND fans as this package offers an unprecedented combination of merchandise, Sparkart technology and a unique Best Buy retail experience that gives STAIND fans the ultimate reward: a closer connection with the band."

"Chapter V" marks the first time STAIND — presently on a cross country tour with 3 DOORS DOWN — have worked with producer David Bottrill. The album's first single, "Right Here", is a Top Ten on both the Alternative (#8) and Active Rock (#6) charts.

All pre-sale ticket purchases are subject to availability on a first come, first served basis. All shows are subject to cancellation or postponement without notice. Please consult with the relevant venue for seating information prior to purchase and for any changes to the show schedule.

Meet-and-greets are subject to availability and tickets to show are not included in package.

News

07/28/05

Staind Pushing Hard To Put Grey Days Behind Them

Group hopes Chapter V will rekindle its success.

There was a time — say, four years ago — when the idea of Staind rabidly committing well-orchestrated acts of self-promotion would've seemed, well, a bit ridiculous. Overkill, even.

After all, hard-rock fans were champing at the freakin' bit for the New England bands 2001 disc, Break the Cycle, in the weeks leading up to its release, thanks to the mild-mannered single "It's Been Awhile." It debuted atop the Billboard albums chart, selling more than 716,000 copies during its first week on shelves.

But then came 2003's 14 Shades of Grey, which failed to re-create the same sort of pre-release fervor as its predecessor. Although it, too, debuted at #1, Grey has sold just 1.4 million copies, compared to Break the Cycle's nearly 5.4 million units scanned.

The pressure is on for Chapter V, which hits stores August 9 (see "Staind Guitarist Has That Old Familiar Feeling About Chapter V"). Accordingly, Staind have been going above and beyond the call of duty, trying to get the word out that a new disc is on the way — and, perhaps more importantly, reminding people who they are.

On the band's current nationwide tour with 3 Doors Down, Breaking Benjamin and No Address (see "Staind And 3 Doors Down Map Out Summer Trek"), guitarist Mike Mushok said he and the rest of Staind have been staging "backstage burn sessions" — and no, they're not what you think, you deviant.

"Through local radio stations, 20 people can come backstage and we play four acoustic songs for them," Mushok explained. "Then these fans can leave the venue with a CD of that performance. We've been trying to mix it up and not play the same songs so there's different CDs out there with different stuff on them."

The band also recently shot a video for the single "Right Here," which has dominated rock radio in recent weeks. Shot by Nathan Cox (Chevelle, System of a Down), the video features nothing but performance footage of Staind. But Mushok said what makes the video great is location, location, location.

"We did it at this house — 'house' is an understatement, this place was unbelievable — built at the turn of the century," he explained. To be more precise, the video was staged at the palatial Crocker Mansion in Mahwah, New Jersey, a 75-room, three-story architecturally outstanding edifice, listed on the state's Register of Historic Places. "The craftsmanship was unbelievable in the place. That added a real cool touch to the video."

In addition, Staind have been making in-store appearances at Best Buy locations throughout the country, during which fans who pre-order Chapter V can not only meet the band, but pick up a free three-song sampler featuring two new tracks, "Right Here" and "King of All Excuses"; the third song is a remix of "Come Again," off the band's self-released debut, Tormented.

" 'King of All Excuses' is one of the heaviest songs on the record," Mushok said. "It's just real aggressive, like an it-could-have-been-on-Tormented song, almost. Except Aaron's actually singing on it. It has a great melody, and the song deals with an issue he had with somebody who was the king of all excuses."

Mushok said Staind have also been road-testing some of the 12 tracks from Chapter V on their current tour, playing "Right Here," "Falling" (the forthcoming second single) and "Paper Jesus." In time, the band could add "Schizophrenic Conversations" to its set list. Mushok said the track is about "talking to yourself, and the things that go on in your head. It's a real pretty song." Overall, audiences have been responding positively to the material, which the guitarist takes as a good sign.

"The live setting's really not the best place to hear a song sometimes," he said. "Even for me, to hear a band do a song live, the first time, it's tough to gauge. It's just a hard setting sometimes for people to hear things for the first time."

News

07/18/05

HARTFORD - Gearing up for the Aug. 9 release of "Chapter V," local group Staind is on a barnstorming promotional tour and stopped at Hartford's Dodge Music center Saturday night pitching in on a bill that included Breaking Benjamin and a headlining set from 3 Doors Down.

The Springfield band used its one-hour performance to showcase new songs from "Chapter V" and reignite its loyal fan base with some choice Staind classics.

"Hello, Hartford," shouted lead singer Aaron Lewis, after ripping through "For You" with a vitriolic flair. "Everything all right out there?"

Staind continues to write its remarkable rock 'n' roll story as an independent band out of Springfield that catapulted to the top of the rock world. When "Chapter V" comes out the group will mount a headlining tour and, according to Lewis, will be back in the area sometime in November.

Regardless of how fans react to the new record, they will be awed by the evolution of the group's live shows.

For starters, Lewis has grown into his role as a front man. For years he has taken a back seat to the impact of his own songs, letting them exist on their own supported by the rolling thunder of drummer Jon Wysocki and bassist Johnny April, and the crippling guitar attack of Mike Mushok.

Lewis has often stated that he wrote those songs for himself, and the idea that an entire generation related to them was a humbling honor.

Saturday night, Lewis turned those songs over to the fans, singing directly to them, and exhorting them to sing along on songs like "Outside," and "It's Been A While." He sang as if he owed them something, and if you asked, Lewis would undoubtedly tell you that he owes them everything.

He was downright affable at times, introducing new song "Fallen" with a faux-British accent straight out of "This Is Spinal Tap," and offering a polite curtsy on his way off the stage.

The band's growth has been startling, from a bludgeoning metal quartet to an inspired rock outfit. They left the audience wanting more with guttural swipe at "Mudshovel," and the promise of things to come.

The fact that 3 Doors Down allowed a band as big as Staind to open its show (in Staind's own back yard no less) shows an admirable level of confidence.

The band roared through its 90-minute headlining performance with a solid set of hard rock songs and a full scale production that included giant grinding wheels and perfectly timed pyrotechnics.

The group is touring in support of their new release, "Seventeen Days," and delivered several new songs from the disc including the first single "Let Me Go."

Lead singer Brad Arnold is a viable front man and personalized songs like "Away From The Sun," and "Behind Those Eyes."

The group had fans standing on chairs and screaming along to the signature breakout hit "Kryptonite."

Breaking Benjamin opened the night with a 30 minute set.

News

07/15/05

In the ever-unfolding and expanding musical lives of multi-platinum Massachusetts-based band STAIND, CHAPTER V opens the book on a new phase of their journey. The 12-song album, produced by David Botrill (Tool, Godsmack) features the first single, the classic, mid-tempo and dynamic “Right Here,” as well standouts like the edgy, dark “Falling,” the poignant, retro-feeling “Schizophrenic Conversations,” and the soaring “Everything Changes.” CHAPTER V is Staind at their best, with songs ranging from forceful to quiet, from industrial-tinged to melodious, often within one song and with singer Aaron Lewis’ instantly recognizable voice heartfelt and fervent. Lyrically, Lewis isn’t afraid to look deep, and what he finds—the good, bad and ugly—is translated into soul-baring songs that he often agonizes over. “I’m my own worst critic,” Lewis admits. “The personal songs; it’s a way for me to get those things out, because I wouldn’t feel comfortable saying them to anyone. I’m pretty bad about being an internalist—I hold everything down and then explode. It’s better for everyone around me that I put that explosion down into lyrics rather than just exploding on somebody. “

As for where CHAPTER V fits into the band’s legacy, Lewis puts the CD into perspective: “It’s the fifth chapter of feelings in a six-year long book; a narrative of feelings. The title makes people go, ‘wait a second; Dysfunction, Break the Cycle, 14 Shades of Grey, Chapter V… that’s only four?’ So it will make people look for the fifth one.” (Which, for the record, is 1996’s independent release, TORMENTED.) On Chapter V, as on previous albums, Lewis says, “Lyrically, I always try to be as perfectly vague as possible. I mean, do you really want the director’s exact interpretation of what the movie is given to you?” That said, it’s clear that Lewis does lay bare his emotions, and on the album’s apt closer, “Reply,” those are feelings of thankfulness expressed to the band’s legions of faithful fans. In the song, Lewis sings, “So thank you for the letters that you thought you wrote in vain/And for the times you choose to stand out in the rain and wait for me…The life I live would never be the same, without you here.”

Many of those fans have been with Staind for more than 10 years. It’s been a decade since Staind played their first gig in February, 1995, and the ensuing years have been an escalating cycle of musical and personal growth and increasing success, without the accompanying blown-up egos that destroy so many bands. TORMENTED, Staind’s self-released debut, came out in 1996, and, playing the New England area over the next several years, the quartet came to the attention of Flip Records. DYSFUNCTION came out on the label in 1999, achieving platinum-plus status thanks to songs like “Just Go,” “Mudshovel” and “Home.” A cut on the FAMILY VALUES TOUR 1999 CD, “Outside,” became a #1 rock single, while a hit version also appeared on Staind’s next album, 2001’s BREAK THE CYCLE. That CD entered the Billboard Top 200 albums chart at #1 and has sold more than eight million albums to date. The songs “Fade,” “For You,” “Epiphany” and “It’s Been Awhile” from BREAK THE CYCLE made the band certified superstars, with “It’s Been Awhile” spending 16 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Modern Rock chart. A gold-certified MTV Unplugged DVD followed in 2002, with 2003 seeing the release of the critically-acclaimed 14 SHADES OF GREY, a CD that was praised by the New York Post for its “intense, propulsive melodies” and lauded as a “slow-burn collection” with “staying power.” 14 SHADES OF GREY marked the band’s second #1 entry on the Billboard “Top 200 Album Chart.”

Staind felt 14 SHADES OF GREY was their high-water mark to date, but were ready for the challenge of beginning work on its follow up in 2004. Band co-founder MIKE MUSHOK found that the process of making Chapter V played into the album’s ultimate sound. “We did our last two records (BREAK THE CYCLE and 14 SHADES OF GREY) with producer Josh Abraham, and we were thrilled with them, but we felt it was time to change things up; maybe take it somewhere different and get a new outlook.”

MUSHOK continues, “There has been progression from record to record; some were greater than others, and I think this is one that has made a larger step. We were able to capture what we do better than we ever have before. We can still play more aggressive songs, yet softer and prettier stuff. The highs are higher, and on each song, I asked myself, ‘what can I do to make certain parts jump out, how can I add textures or layers that make me--and someone else--want to listen to it again?’ When you listen to it again, you’re like, ‘I never heard that little melody dancing around in the background! The first time, they’ll hear the riffs, then the lyrics and melody, but later, they’ll hear other things going on.”

Bassist JOHNNY APRIL also found that working with producer Botrill pushed the band to new sonic heights. “A song that would normally take me four hours took me a whole day with David--he was going for perfection,” recallls April. April feels the sound on Chapter V is “a touch brighter,” and is happy with the dozen songs on the CD, even though three stellar songs were cut from the album.

Like his bandmates, drummer JON WYSOCKI left no stone unturned while recording CHAPTER V. “I pushed a lot harder on this record with my playing. With technology, you can make anything sound good, but we don’t fall back on that. Bands with mediocre talent can sound good (with technology), but live is where you see if they have ‘it,’ so we rely on our own skills in the studio.” While he acknowledges that the music industry has changed over the life of the band, he says that Staind “remain true to what we do. This new record is where we’re all at right now as a band and as people.”

That being the case, a careful listen to CHAPTER V will reveal some of Lewis’ inner workings and current fascinations. Though he says it’s hard for him to grasp the fact that people hang on to his every word--and he takes that responsibility, but not himself, seriously--he is unafraid to write what he feels.

Staind is happy with the growth evinced on Chapter V, and while they know fans worship Tormented and Dysfunction, to mine similar musical or lyrical territory would be to regress, Lewis feels. “My life, up to a point was shit,” begins the frontman. “But I’ve come a long way. I grew up in a trailer park in Vermont. That was the shit I got out of me in Tormented and Dysfunction, and tailing into BREAK THE CYCLE. But the title, BREAK THE CYCLE, says it all.” Still, Lewis admits on Chapter V, as with every new record, he feels apprehension as the process begins: “The beginning of Chapter V I was feeling uninspired. But pressure helps me out. I set myself up to be under extreme duress. The only record we’ve ever done that I’ve been ready for was the first one.” But as the dozen songs on Chapter V bear out, the pressure certainly worked to the band’s advantage. In some ways, the song “Falling” sums up Lewis’ – and the band’s – development and current state of mind, as he sings, “the falling is easy, it’s getting back up that becomes the problem.” Lewis concludes: “I can’t keep talking about how easy it is to fall. Life is about getting back up and brushing yourself off after the fall.”

News

07/14/05

Except for a shaved head or two, Staind doesn't have much in common with art-rock pioneer Peter Gabriel. But that perception may change with the release of Staind's new CD, "Chapter V."

Staind is currently touring in advance of the Aug. 9 release and will be at The Dodge Music Center (formerly the ctnow.com Meadows Music Theater) in Hartford Saturday night, opening for 3 Doors Down.

Fans of the Springfield-based hard rock quartet need not worry. Staind isn't changing into a world-beat pop combo. The Peter Gabriel connection comes by way of some of the sonic treatments on the new album, which was produced by Gabriel's longtime-studio wizard, Dave Bottrill. Bottrill, a Grammy-winning producer and engineer who also counts Tool and King Crimson among his clients, creates an aural landscape where each sound is well articulated.

"We really wanted to get as much distinction in the sounds as possible to make it sonically different from our other records," said guitarist Mike Mushok during a telephone interview last week. "That was our goal when we started looking for a producer."

That goal was achieved as Bottrill's pristine sound sculptures allow the details of each part to stand in stark relief against one another. While this sort of precision works well with the polyrhythmic playing of King Crimson and Gabriel, some fans might question whether it complements Staind's often volcanic music.

But Bottrill showed he could wield a sonic sledgehammer as well as a producer's paintbrush. Songs such as "Paper Jesus" and "King of All Excuses" rock as hard as anything the band has ever done.

"He knew what we sounded like and he had an idea of what things should sound like. He was a real stickler but it paid off," Mushok said. "On our last record, we were missing some of the aggressive songs, but this one melds everything we do, the harder songs and the quieter ones. I'm really happy with it."

Mushok's guitar work in particular benefits from the elevated production. This is evident on the intricate riff that grounds the album's first single, "Right Here." The riff sounds like one of those ideas that a guitarist gets and holds onto until the right song comes along. Mushok said that is close to the truth, but not quite.

"I carry a tape recorder around with me to record ideas," he said. "One day when I was looking for some ideas for the new record, I played that one back and I liked it, but I had no recollection of ever playing it before. But it turned into the first song we wrote when we got together for this record."

Mushok said the writing went as it always does: He and singer Aaron Lewis bring down some musical ideas, which are then fleshed out by bassist Johnny April and drummer Jon Wysocki. One change on this album was how the band recorded it. Except for the drums, which called for a bigger studio in upstate New York, most of the tracks were laid down at the band's rehearsal space in Springfield.

"Technology these days is amazing," Mushok said. "You don't need to be in a big studio in L.A. or New York to make a great-sounding record."

Mushok hopes fans agree with his positive assessment of "Chapter V." He is well aware that very few bands get to record three albums, let alone five, on a major label. Although the band's last CD, 2003's "14 Shades of Grey," sold more than a million copies, it was a comedown from the 4 million-plus units of 2001's "Break the Cycle."

"I'd like to think of this record as just another step, but the music business is in bad shape. It's difficult to maintain a band and a high level of success," he said. "We want to make a career of this and stay relevant. I'm nervous about it, but I think this is one of our best records, so hopefully people will want to hear it."

News

07/00/05

Aaron Lewis isn’t nearly as mopey as his songs would make you believe.

In fact, when the Staind frontman checked in with Fly Magazine last month to talk about the band’s forthcoming album, Chapter V, he seemed downright cheery. Some of that good mood could be attributed to the birth of his second daughter just a week before. As we spoke, she was cooing away in the background while Lewis’ elder daughter, Zoe, sang songs and raced around the table. To read some of his gloomy lyrics, you’d never suspect that Lewis had such a “Leave It To Beaver” home life.

But even during what seemed to be a moment of pure joy, Lewis’ various insecurities and complexes were never too far from the surface. It was like he could only keep the wolves at bay for so long before they started eating him alive.

From his apprehension about Chapter V’s release to his paranoia about being famous, Lewis gave the Fly an honest and open look at the psyche of a reluctant star.

Fly: So, now that you’ve got a one-week-old baby girl at home, are you feeling ready to face the craziness of another album cycle?

Aaron Lewis: Yes and no. I’m definitely ready to jump back in the game and hopefully solidify a spot in the game for us still, but I’m not in any hurry to want to leave my family and go out on the road again.

Fly: I got to preview the first three tracks off the new album. It’s sounding pretty triumphant, man. What sort of things were you going for sonically this time around?

Aaron Lewis: The only thought going into it was to really try to outdo what we did on the last record [14 Shades of Grey], which I guess we ended up feeling more strongly about than the critics did. But critics are just bitter people that can’t do it themselves.

Fly: There was definitely some positive press about it …

Aaron Lewis: It was fleeting, here and there, little pieces of positive reaction. But for the most part, because of the success that we had on the record before with Break the Cycle – they lift you up, they lift you up, they lift you up, and once you have that taste of success, they smash you down. That’s just the nature of the beast.

Fly: If you had been a new band, everyone would have been freaking out over you for going platinum. But since you sold like a billion copies of the previous album, it was considered a total flop.

Aaron Lewis: It was a “complete disaster,” and by the end of the cycle we had sold a million and a half [copies]!

Fly: Your guitarist [Mike Mushok] said that Chapter V gives him those old feelings again, like you guys are sitting on something big. Do you feel that same way?

Aaron Lewis: You know, I do. That’s not something that I would normally say. I’ve never been one to bust out the record and go, “Yo, check this out. This is the best shit going!” That’s just so not me. I have a hard time even playing it for people.

Fly: A lot of people noted that the last album had a more positive feel to it, and the news songs seem to continue with that. Is that something you did intentionally?

Aaron Lewis: It’s always been there. It’s just never really been noticed. I’ve gotten a bad reputation for being down at the mouth and kind of negative all the time. What that says to me is no one’s listening. You can take my songs for what the obvious is – what’s obvious in the songs is that there’s pain and there’s questioning and things of that nature. But in every song that’s been labeled a down-at-the-mouth song, there’s always, always a glimmer of hope in there somewhere.

My goal in writing a song is to be perfectly vague, to be as perfectly vague as I can possibly be so that 10 different people get 10 different ideas of what the song’s actually about. And they might all be wrong.

Fly: So you’re not really this brooding, gloomy guy everyone makes you out to be?

Aaron Lewis: [I’m] uncomfortable being the center of attention, so in order to protect myself from that, I tend to be a little standoffish. In the past, I tended to give a lot of one-word answers, just short and sweet – and people read that as something else. They don’t look at it as me being uncomfortable in my own skin. It’s not me being miserable or down. I am what I am. I can’t change. I’m 33 years old, and the first 26 years of my life weren’t all that great. I’m a product of what I’ve been through in my life.

Fly: Do you think you’ve grown more accustomed to the fame over time?

Aaron Lewis: No! I live in a town of twelve hundred people out in the middle of nowhere. Everybody in town knows who I am, and nobody cares. Nobody treats me any differently. Everybody lives up here in this town for the same reason, basically: to be left alone, to be able to just live life. And I’m a father. I’m more of a family man. I don’t go out. I don’t drink, so there’s no reason for me to go out on the town. I’m too busy with my real life to get sucked into my pretend life.

Fly: Do you think you have a real understanding of how big this band’s really gotten?

Aaron Lewis: That’s a comment that I get all the time. People say to me that they don’t think I realize the magnitude of how big we actually are. And I don’t think we are. I’m just as scared right now as to what the outcome is going to be when this record comes out as I was for our very first record. I feel that that’s the kiss of death in this business, is to sit back on your laurels. If you dwell on your accomplishments and act like that entitles you to something, you’re going to disappear in this business really fucking quick.

Fly: For someone as private as you are, you end up putting a lot of personal substance into your lyrics. Is it especially hard for you to put yourself out there like that?

Aaron Lewis: I never really thought about it enough for it to become an uncomfortable thing. The words that I’m able to get out in the process of writing songs – I’m not really good at saying those things in conversation. I tend to internalize everything. I stuff everything down. Without the vent of being able to write lyrics and to get stuff out that bothers me, I would explode.

Fly: You said in the past you used to be more closed off. What happened that has helped you to change?

Aaron Lewis: I met my wife and then I had kids. Having some success in life doesn’t hurt at all either. You try to grow. You try to realize your shortcomings and do something about it.

Fly: So, what sort of goals do you have for yourself from here?

Aaron Lewis: I’m just holding on, brother, seeing where the ride’s gonna take me. I try not to dwell on the past, I try not to formulate the future. I just try to be. You can’t control what happened five minutes ago, you can’t control what’s going to happen five minutes from now. The only thing you can do is be.