Staind

Staind is a multi-platinum New England nu-metal group with hip-hop, modern rock, and post-grunge influences led by the angst-fueled lyrics and powerful vocals of Aaron Lewis. Formed in 1995, the band found mainstream success in 2001 upon releasing their third album, Break the Cycle, which produced the Top Five hit “It’s Been Awhile” and set the table for a pair of follow-up albums, 14 Shades of Gray and Chapter V, that topped the billboard 200. Staind went on hiatus after the release of their eponymous 2011 effort, with Lewis embarking on a solo country career and lead guitarist Mike Mushok joining Canadian-American rock supergroup Saint Asonia. They re-formed in 2019 as a live entity and eventually returned to the studio, releasing Confessions of the Fallen in 2023.
Staind’s story began in Springfield, Massachusetts, when vocalist Aaron Lewis and guitarist Mike Mushok met at a Christmas party in 1993. Mushok brought drummer Jon Wysocki into the fold, and Lewis’ connection with a bass player (who later left) completed the early lineup. Establishing themselves took time, and extensive touring of the Northeast with other metal acts helped them sell over 2,000 copies of their self-released debut, Tormented, in just over a year.
At a Hartford, Connecticut show, Staind opened for Limp Bizkit, and Bizkit singer Fred Durst derided the cover art for Staind’s LP. After a heated conversation over whether or not the band were Satan worshipers, Durst forcefully returned the offending LP and walked away. But 45 minutes later, Durst was back, not to further the argument but to ensure he kept in contact with Staind. Blown away by their live show, Durst exchanged phone numbers and convinced them to travel to Jacksonville, Florida, to work on the new songs.
After reworking the new material, Durst contacted the head of Flip Records and arranged a meeting for Staind with the label. While in Los Angeles, a three-song sampler was recorded, and by the time February rolled around in 1998, the band had a record deal. After playing the Vans Warped Tour, they began work on their label debut, Dysfunction. The LP was produced by Terry Date (Deftones, Pantera, Soundgarden) and was released on April 13, 1999. A tour with Kid Rock followed, and later, the band reunited with Limp Bizkit for a Summer tour.
Their follow-up, Break the Cycle, enjoyed a prolonged visit at the number one spot on U.S. charts in 2001 and was eventually certified five times platinum. Smash hits like “It’s Been a While,” “Fade,” “For You,” and “Epiphany” catapulted Staind into the mainstream, leaving their 2002 MTV Unplugged release to go gold. Staind issued 14 Billboard 200-topping 14 Shades of Grey in 2003 and, after a two-year break, returned with the chart-topping Chapter V. A Singles and Videos compilation arrived in 2006, followed by the all-new studio album Illusion of Progress in 2008, the latter of which debuted at number three on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. Early 2011 saw the release of Town Line, the country-leaning debut solo EP from Aaron Lewis. Staind’s eponymous seventh studio album, which saw the departure of longtime drummer Jon Wysocki, arrived later that September. Later that year, the band recruited drummer Sal Giancarelli and hit the road, documenting the tour with 2012′s Live from Mohegan Sun, which captured the tour’s first show.
In 2012, the band announced that they would be going on hiatus, with Lewis focusing on his solo career and Mike Mushok joining Three Days Grace singer Adam Gontier, former Finger Eleven drummer Rich Beddoe, and Eye Empire bassist Corey Lowery to form Saint Asonia. Apart from a handful of live performances, Staind remained largely inactive over the next several years. They reformed in an official capacity in 2019 and were scheduled to make a festival appearance the following year, but the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic put a stop to the group’s momentum. 2022 saw the band embark on their first full tour in over a decade, followed by the announcement that a new studio album was in the works. Produced by Erik Ron (Godsmack, Panic! at the Disco, Black Veil Brides) and released in 2023, the resulting Confessions of the Fallen saw the band adding electronic elements to their signature brand of heavy rock. ~ Chris True & James Christopher Monger