- Hard rock band formed in 1995 from Springfield Massachusetts. The early lineup was Aaron Lewis (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Mike Mushok (lead guitar), Johnny April (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Jon Wysocki (drums). Current drummer Giancarelli replaced Wysocki in 2011. Lewis wrote lyrics to their songs, while all of the band members contributed to writing the music.
- Lewis and Mushok met at a Christmas party in 1993. They both had an interest in dark metal music, and they discussed a collaboration. Lewis brought in a bass player, Mushok brought in Wysocki, and by February 1995, they were performing local shows, calling themselves Stain. April replaced their first bass player in November, and they changed their name to Staind after discovering another band using the Stain name.
- They performed throughout the northeast for several years, self-releasing a debut album, titled Tormented, in late 1996. The album was reflective of Lewis’ difficult upbringing as well as his breakup of a long-term relationship – the concept album is full of depression and ends with a suicide. Within a year, they had sold 2,000 copies. In October 1997, Lewis’ cousin arranged for the band to open for Limp Bizkit in Connecticut. Just before the show, Fred Durst from Bizkit saw the album art for Tormented, which he thought was Satanic, and he tried to cancel Staind’s performance. It was too late, and Staind went on. Durst was so impressed with what he heard and saw, he invited the band to his home to work on new music. Within a few months, Staind signed to Bizkit’s record label.
- Staind released their debut major studio album, Dysfunction, in 1999, with Durst as co-producer. It slowly gained popularity, and sales increased as the band became popular in the 00s, leading to a 2x platinum certification. The single Mudshovel peaked at #10 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
- Their standing in the metal band world grew with continued touring with more established bands. Their breakout came with their 2001 album Break the Cycle. Prior to its release, the single It’s Been Awhile was released to rock radio. It had a post grunge sound that appealed to radio play. It’s Been Awhile reached #5 on the Hot 100 and it topped both the Alternative Airplay and Mainstream Rock charts. Thanks to the success of the single, the album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart and ultimately was certified 5x platinum. The album also was an international success, topping the album chart in the UK, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand. Two other singles landed in the top 5 of the Alternative and Mainstream Rock charts – Fade and For You.
- Their next two albums – 14 Shades of Grey in 2003 and Chapter V in 2005 – were successful, topping the Billboard album chart and receiving platinum certifications. These albums had two #1 singles on the Mainstream Rock chart – So Far Away (#1 for 14 consecutive weeks) and Right Here. Another single, Price to Pay, peaked at #2 on the Mainstream Rock chart. They became popular as an “unplugged” band, with a performance on MTV Unplugged, an acoustic performance on The Howard Stern Show, and an acoustic performance in New York City that was recorded for a compilation album released in 2006.
- Their final album of the 00s was 2008’s The Illusion of Progress. It was less successful, but still peaked at #3 on the Billboard album chart. Believe reached #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, and All I Want became their thirteenth single to chart in the top 20 of the Mainstream Rock chart.
- Determined to release new music, the group began recording their seventh studio album in 2010. They wanted a return to their earlier aggressive metal sound. Stress was high and relationships were strained, compounded by Lewis’ parallel focus on a solo country music career (Lewis released his debut country EP in March 2011). After recording was complete, but before the album was released, Wysocki left the band, replaced by Giancarelli, his drum tech. In September, the self-titled Staind album was released. The single Not Again reached the top of the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Three other songs charted on various rock charts. After a tour during the first half of 2012, Staind announced that they were on hiatus.
- Lewis continued his country music career, releasing four studio albums from 2012 and 2022. Mushok joined metal band Newsted and then formed the hard rock band Saint Asonia. But Staind never officially broke up. They performed three shows at festivals in 2014 and an acoustic show in 2017. Five performance dates happened in 2019 and 2020, but further dates in 2020 were scrapped by the pandemic. By May 2021, they were performing again with a limited concert series in 2021 and 2022.
- If you are talking Nu Metal, Post Grunge music of the 2000’s, Staind certainly should be part of that conversion. Here’s the video for their excellent hit, It’s Been Awhile.