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Staind

From Alfawiki
Staind
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1995
Headquarters
Springfield, Massachusetts
,
United States
ProductsMusic albums, singles

Staind () is a rock group originating from Springfield, Massachusetts, established in 1995. The founding members consisted of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Aaron Lewis, lead guitarist Mike Mushok, bassist and backing vocalist Johnny April, along with drummer Jon Wysocki. This lineup stayed consistent until Wysocki left in 2011, at which point Sal Giancarelli took over on drums. Over the years, Staind has produced eight studio records: Tormented (1996), Dysfunction (1999), Break the Cycle (2001), 14 Shades of Grey (2003), Chapter V (2005), The Illusion of Progress (2008), Staind (2011), and most recently, Confessions of the Fallen (2023).

The band's highest commercial achievements were during the early 2000s, particularly with the release of Break the Cycle, which earned five times platinum certification in the United States and featured the Billboard Hot 100 top-five hit "It's Been Awhile". This album, along with the following two releases, reached number one on the Billboard 200, while later albums consistently charted within the top five. Other significant singles include "Fade", "For You", "Price to Play", "So Far Away", and "Right Here". The band's activity slowed during the 2010s as Lewis focused on his solo country music career and Mushok became involved with Saint Asonia.

Formation and Tormented era (1995–1998)

In 1993, vocalist Aaron Lewis met guitarist Mike Mushok at a Christmas gathering in Springfield, Massachusetts. Mushok introduced drummer Jon Wysocki to the group, while Lewis recruited bassist Johnny April; together they officially formed Staind in 1995. Their debut live show took place in February 1995, showcasing a heavy and introspective metal sound. Through extensive touring across the Northeast, Staind cultivated a dedicated local fan base.

During their early phase, the band performed covers of artists such as Korn, Rage Against the Machine, Pearl Jam, Tool, and Alice in Chains, frequently playing at venues like Springfield's Infinity club for approximately eighteen months. In November 1996, Staind independently released their first album, Tormented, drawing inspiration from bands including Tool, Faith No More, and Pantera. In October 1997, thanks to Aaron’s cousin Justin Cantor, they landed a support slot for Limp Bizkit. Initially, frontman Fred Durst opposed Staind’s graphic album artwork and sought to remove them from the lineup due to suspicions about their beliefs. After being convinced otherwise, Durst permitted their performance and was sufficiently impressed to sign them to Flip Records by February 1998.

Dysfunction period (1999–2000)

Staind's first major label release, Dysfunction, came out on April 13, 1999 via Flip Records. The record was co-produced by Fred Durst and Terry Date, who had previously worked with bands such as Soundgarden, Deftones, and Pantera. Critics often compared the album’s style to alternative metal groups like Tool and Korn. Aaron Lewis’s vocal delivery drew frequent comparisons to Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam.

Although its rise was gradual, Dysfunction eventually topped Billboard's Heatseeker Charts nearly six months after release and peaked at number 74 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. The nine-track record included a hidden piece titled "Excess Baggage" and generated three singles: "Just Go", "Mudshovel", and "Home". Both "Mudshovel" and "Home" reached the Top 20 on Billboard’s Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts. To support this album, Staind embarked on extensive tours including participation in the Family Values Tour alongside acts like Limp Bizkit and The Crystal Method, as well as opening for Sevendust.

Break the Cycle (2001–2002)

After gaining further recognition on the Family Values Tour alongside Limp Bizkit in late 1999, Staind unveiled their third studio album, Break the Cycle, on May 22, 2001. Anchored by the successful single "It's Been Awhile", the record entered Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart at No. 1, moving 716,000 units during its first week—ranking as the second highest debut sales figure of 2001, just behind Creed's Weathered.

While retaining elements of their nu metal origins, Break the Cycle incorporated a more pronounced post-grunge influence, particularly evident in "It's Been Awhile", which critics often compared to other post-grunge acts of the era. The album yielded multiple singles such as "Fade", "Outside", "For You", and the acoustic track "Epiphany". Notably, "It's Been Awhile" dominated both modern and mainstream rock charts for over twelve weeks each, standing as one of the longest-lasting hits on those platforms.

By the end of 2001, Break the Cycle had sold four million copies worldwide and eventually reached a global total of seven million units sold, solidifying its status as Staind’s highest-selling album to date.

14 Shades of Grey (2003–2004)

In early 2003, Staind embarked on an international tour to promote their follow-up album, 14 Shades of Grey. This release debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and achieved sales of two million copies. It represented a stylistic transition from their earlier nu metal sound toward a softer, more melodic post-grunge approach. The album generated two prominent singles—"Price to Play" and "So Far Away"—both of which held the top position on rock charts for fourteen weeks. Additional singles included "How About You" and "Zoe Jane". During their 2003 tour, an equipment malfunction prompted an unplanned acoustic performance at the Reading Festival. The singles "So Far Away" and "Price to Play" were accompanied by previously unreleased tracks "Novocaine" and "Let It Out," which were later featured in the special edition of Chapter V released in 2005. In 2003, Staind initiated legal proceedings against logo designer Jon Stainbrook over trademark disputes, a matter that was revisited in 2005.

Chapter V and The Singles (2005–2007)

On August 9, 2005, Staind released Chapter V, marking their third consecutive album to debut atop the Billboard 200. The album opened with first-week sales of 185,000 copies and later earned platinum certification in the United States. Its lead single, "Right Here", achieved notable success on mainstream radio by reaching number one on the mainstream rock chart. Following singles included "Falling," "Everything Changes", and "King of All Excuses". To support the release, Staind engaged in extensive touring activities such as participating in the Fall Brawl tour alongside P.O.D., Taproot, and Flyleaf, in addition to headlining tours across Europe and Australia. Their live performances featured a tribute cover of Pantera's "This Love" dedicated to Dimebag Darrell. On August 10, 2005, they promoted Chapter V with acoustic sets on The Howard Stern Show. November 2005 saw the release of a limited edition two-CD/DVD package of the album. A September 6, 2006 acoustic concert recorded in New York City was included in their singles compilation and showcased covers of Tool's "Sober", Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb", and Alice in Chains's "Nutshell".

The Singles: 1996–2006, issued on November 14, 2006, gathered all their singles together with these cover songs and a remastered track from their initial independent release Tormented.

The Illusion of Progress (2008–2009)

Staind's sixth studio album, The Illusion of Progress, was released on August 19, 2008. Ahead of the album launch, the song "This Is It" was made available through the iTunes Store and as downloadable content for Rock Band. Upon release, the album entered the U.S. Billboard 200 chart at No. 3 and secured the top position on the Top Modern Rock/Alternative Albums, Top Digital Albums, and Top Internet Albums rankings, selling 91,800 copies in its first week. The album's lead single, "Believe", reached No. 1 on Billboard's Top 10 Modern Rock Tracks by September 5, 2008. Staind joined Nickelback as a supporting act during their European tour in 2008. The second single from the album, "All I Want", released on November 24, became the band's 13th song to enter the top 20 rock chart. In contrast, European audiences received "The Way I Am" as the second single on January 26, 2009. The final single, "This Is It", was distributed to radio stations on May 4, 2009, and was included in the soundtrack for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – The Album, which debuted in June. Later that year, Staind toured alongside the reunited Creed.

Staind and Jon Wysocki's Exit (2010–2012)

In March 2010, Aaron Lewis revealed intentions to commence work on Staind’s seventh album before the end of that year. By then, Lewis had completed a country solo EP and founded a nonprofit organization aimed at reopening his daughter's school in Worthington, Massachusetts.<ref> Guitarist Mike Mushok noted that the band was targeting a heavier sound while experimenting with new musical directions. By late 2010, they had composed eight tracks characterized by a heavier tone compared to earlier releases. Although initially planning to collaborate with producer Nick Raskulinecz, Staind ultimately reunited with Johnny K—the producer behind The Illusion of Progress—a decision that caused frustration for drummer Jon Wysocki.

Throughout December 2010, Staind released studio webisodes showcasing their recording sessions and announced plans to finalize the album by April 20, 2011. Wysocki later disclosed that the production process felt rushed due to contractual deadlines and voiced dissatisfaction with both the final product and internal distractions within the band. As a result, he departed from Staind in May 2011 to join Soil.<ref> Drummer Will Hunt temporarily assumed percussion duties before Sal Giancarelli—Wysocki’s drum technician—was officially named drummer in November 2011.

The self-titled seventh album was launched on September 13, 2011. Its lead single, "Not Again", began receiving airplay on active rock stations starting July 18. Additionally, "The Bottom" was featured on the Transformers: Dark of the Moon soundtrack. On June 30, "Eyes Wide Open" was issued as a second single later that year in November.

Staind continued touring into early 2012 alongside Godsmack and Halestorm, including appearances at the Uproar Festival performing with bands such as Shinedown. In July 2012, Aaron Lewis announced an indefinite hiatus for Staind—not a dissolution—citing over fourteen years of continuous output spanning seven albums. During this break, Lewis focused on his solo project The Road, while Mike Mushok joined former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted’s band Newsted, contributing to their debut record Heavy Metal Music.

Hiatus, Confessions of the Fallen, and the passing of Jon Wysocki (2013–present)

After a two-year pause, Staind made their comeback by performing at the Welcome to Rockville festival on April 27, 2014. This was followed by additional festival appearances, including Carolina Rebellion and Rock on the Range in May of the same year.

Later in 2014, the band entered a period of inactivity. During this break, Aaron Lewis focused on his solo career, indicating that the hiatus would extend "for a while." Meanwhile, Mike Mushok collaborated with former members of Three Days Grace, Finger Eleven, and Eye Empire to create the band Saint Asonia.

On August 4, 2017, Staind reunited for an acoustic performance at Aaron Lewis' charity golf event, featuring Johnny April on bass and Sal Giancarelli on drums. Soon after, Lewis revealed that the band would no longer participate in extensive touring due to personal lifestyle changes and a decreased capacity for long tours.

In April 2019, Staind announced plans to reunite for live concerts beginning in September 2019. They were slated to perform at the Epicenter Festival in May 2020; however, this event was canceled owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst the pandemic, they released Live: It's Been Awhile on May 7, 2021—a live album recorded at Foxwoods Resort Casino.

In April 2022, Staind unveiled the Evening with Staind tour scheduled for September. Mike Mushok also confirmed intentions to release a new studio album in 2023.

The album Confessions of the Fallen was launched in September 2023, featuring "Lowest in Me" as its lead single.

Original drummer Jon Wysocki died on May 18, 2024, at age 53 due to complications related to liver disease.

Musical style, influences, and lyrical themes

Staind’s songwriting explores themes such as depression, interpersonal relationships, mortality, addiction, self-exploration, betrayal, and Aaron Lewis’s own life experiences. Examples include fatherhood depicted in "Zoe Jane" from 14 Shades of Grey and his childhood reflected in "The Corner" from The Illusion of Progress. The song "Layne" from 14 Shades of Grey serves as a tribute to Alice in Chains frontman Layne Staley and his influence on the band’s music. Staind’s sound is generally categorized within alternative metal, nu metal, post-grunge, and hard rock genres.

In 2001, Rolling Stone recognized Staind's connection to nu metal through Fred Durst's Flip Records but noted their unique style by emphasizing Aaron Lewis’s vocal delivery and their anthemic tracks such as "Open Your Eyes" and "Fade."

Their major musical inspirations include Pantera, the Doors, Suicidal Tendencies, Kiss, Van Halen, Slayer, Led Zeppelin, Sepultura, Whitesnake, the Beatles, Alice in Chains, Faith No More, Deftones, Black Sabbath, Pearl Jam, Tool, Rage Against the Machine, Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, James Taylor, Korn, and Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Band members

Current line-up

  • Aaron Lewis – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1995–2012, 2014, 2017, 2019–present)
  • Mike Mushok – lead guitar (1995–2012, 2014, 2017, 2019–present)
  • Johnny April – bass guitar, backing vocals (1995–2012, 2014, 2017, 2019–present)
  • Sal Giancarelli – drums (2011–2012, 2014, 2017, 2019–present)

Former members

  • Pete McEwan – bass guitar, backing vocals (1995; deceased 2022)
  • Jon Wysocki – drums (1995–2011; deceased 2024)

Discography

Studio albums

External links

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