Staind News December 2006

12/22/06

Staind's Lewis gets crafty for charity Artists honor Dimebag Darrell Abbot. Aaron Lewis of Staind will soon be taking part in an art exhibit called "Six-String Masterpieces: The Dimebag Darrell Abbot Art Tribute." Roots and other musicians will be sculpting and painting instruments which will then be auctioned off to benefit a charity organization that was instituted in Dimebag's memory.

12/21/06

According to Mapquest, it is 2,916 miles from Longmeadow High School to Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. The distance from that point to success in the entertainment industry is incalculable. Seth Shomes has made both of those journeys. "I am still a kid from Western Mass.," said Shomes, who finds himself in a successful niche as a music agent as the chief executive officer of Day After Day Productions. "We still wear our Red Sox hats out here, and I am very proud of where I am from. I still go to Rinaldi's and the White Hut when I am home." Shomes is a product of the renowned Longmeadow High School music program, the same program that has turned out another famous alum in Staind lead singer Aaron Lewis. Shomes represents Lewis, along with a client list of A-list talent that includes Kevin Costner, Gina Gershon, Bruce Willis, and Dennis Quaid. Shomes has helped all of them with their respective music projects. He specializes in unique music events, like booking Aaron Lewis' solo acoustic shows on the casino circuit. "The casino world is my strength," he said. "I have been doing it for nine years. I've never done it for the money. I do it to create something. I want every gig to be a classic moment, a great moment. Not only for the artist, but the audience as well." Most recently, he promoted Kevin Costner's music debut at the "Field of Dreams" site and brought him to Mohegan Sun for the casino's 10th anniversary gala. He hooked up with Costner through another famous client. "I worked with Bruce Willis and The Accelerators for five years," Shomes said. "When Kevin Costner wanted to do something with his band, he got to me through Bruce." How does a kid from Western Massachusetts handle a major Hollywood star? "There is no posturing with Seth," said Costner. "Someone mentioned him to me and I called him. He lived nearby and I asked him to come over to talk. Out here people stand on ceremony a lot and they want to set up meetings and go through protocol. Seth just said, 'Yeah ... I'll come over now.' I liked that. It was a little thing but it impressed me." Costner said Shomes proved to be the right guy for a very unique situation. "I am not a conventional guy and I can't be handled in a conventional way," he said. "Seth understands that. He is a good listener." While some might assume that the Shomes/Lewis connection was an obvious one, given they both came out of Longmeadow High, the two did not reconnect until both were already established in their careers: Seth as a top-notch producer and promoter, Lewis as the lead singer in one of the most successful rock bands in the world. "I've known him since the seventh grade," said Lewis. "When we were done with high school, I didn't see him for years, and then we crossed paths again." Lewis doesn't mince words when discussing the significance of hooking up with Shomes. "It was the best thing that ever happened to me in regards to my solo work," he said. "In this industry you are surrounded by hyenas. It's hard to find someone like him." Asked what made Shomes different from other agents, Lewis was quick to reply. "He believes in me," he said. "I can't say enough about that. It's such an unselfish thing. It's not about him and how it betters Seth. It's about what's good for me. He represents me the best way that he can." It's not a leap to suggest that Shomes understands the plight of musicians better than most, given that his first foray out to L.A. was an attempt to make it as a performer. In fact, when he returns home for the holidays each year, he headlines a concert at Mohegan Sun with his band, most of whom are friends from high school. According to his former teacher, Shomes belongs on the stage. "It's interesting because I think Seth would really prefer to perform," said Longmeadow High music teacher Pete Thomsen. "He is a performer and it's a passion for him." Shomes' version of the Longmeadow High School All-Stars has in the past included Henri O'Connor on guitar, Ryan Morgan on drums, Steve Dress on bass, and Thomsen on percussion, organ and backing vocals. "When the band is getting together, it is all he thinks about," said Thomsen. "He has been sending us all set lists. He is still writing new material. It's really important to him, and I think he could make a go of it. But he has been so successful with his business that it would be hard to imagine sacrificing all that to go on the road."

12/08/06

Hitting decade of music Surviving 10 years in the music business is an accomplishment any band would like to celebrate. And that's just what rock band Staind is doing. The band, which flows between dark, heavy and melodic, is scheduled to perform Sunday at the House of Blues in support of its first-ever "hits" collection, "The Singles: 1996-2006," released via Flip/Atlantic Records in November. The 16-track album features Staind singles "It's Been Awhile," "For You," "So Far Away" and "Right Here." The disc also features never-before released live acoustic covers of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb," Alice in Chains' "Nutshell" and Tool's "Sober" plus a live acoustic version of "Everything Changes." Staind frontman Aaron Lewis chatted with Kicks! via a phone interview last week from Mobile, Ala. Here's what he had to share about 10 years as Staind and more: (Q) Tell me what your fans should expect from your show. (A) I have no idea. I really have no idea. We haven't rehearsed yet for any of these shows. I don't know what we're doing. I don't know what songs we're doing, I don't know whether we're going to do an acoustic thing - I don't know. How do you like them apples? (Q) You're into improvisation? (A) I am. I assure you that the rest of the band has a plan - I just don't know about it yet. (Q) How do you feel about your latest release, "The Singles: 1996-2006," being out? Did you ever think your band would get to this point in its career to release a "hits collection"? (A) That's kind of crazy. I think the craziest thing is the full title of the CD is 1996-2006 - I think that's the craziest thing right there. That after 10 years we're still doing this, we're still making records, we're still getting played on the radio and we're still moving forward. Q) What do you think contributed to your being able to survive those 10 years? (A) The most amazing fans a band could ever ask for. Really, that's the only reason we're still able to do it is because we have fans that want us to be around doing it. As soon as those fans are done with us, we're done. It really comes down to that. I don't care how good a band is - a band is nothing without its fans. (Q) What do you feel was the turning point in your career? Was there one, or was it a continual journey? (A) It's been a pretty continual journey. The first big turning point came when we met Fred [Durst], the lead singer for Limp Bizkit. Then the next really big turning point was when we went from "Outside" to "It's Been Awhile" and those two songs did as well as they did back to back. I think that was turning point number two. (Q) Are you still friends with Fred? (A) Yeah. I don't see him very often - we don't see him very often. He lives in Los Angeles and I live out in the woods. (Q) Out in the woods, huh? (A) Yeah, totally. I live in a town of 1,200 people. There are more cows and farmland in my town than there is people. I'm a country boy. (Q) You said that Staind will be around as long as your fans want you here. Hopefully that will be a very long time. If for some reason you aren't, what is one thing you hope Staind has represented in music and to your fans? (A) A band that just never really tried to fit into any fad or to be a flavor of the week. We always have set out to try and write good songs that we like, first and foremost. We're our own worst critics. And just to be remembered for writing good songs. I certainly don't want to be remembered for the freakin' kind of jeans I was wearing or my haircut. It seems that that seems to be what the bands are being judged by these days. It doesn't have anything to do with whether the music is good or not - it depends on what your style is. It's like, when did what you wear and your whole style and image really completely replace whether you were a good musician or not? There are so many musicians out there who are so amazing that will never get the opportunity because there's a hundred bands out there that are taking up space that are mediocre at best - musicians that just look really good. I mean, it's kind of a shame.

12/04/06

Staind taking a break to recapture heaviness It will be a while before Staind returns to the scene. Following the release of the new compilation "The Singles: 1996-2006," frontman Aaron Lewis tells Billboard.com that the Massachusetts quartet is "gonna take some time off. Everybody needs some time off. I like to try to make sure the surface is clean. You've got to let all the build-up from being on tour and playing the same songs over and over again go away and have a clean slate to start over with so we don't repeat ourselves." Consequently, Lewis says, there isn't even a loose plan to reconvene and record a follow-up to 2005's "Chapter V." "We've kept a pretty rigorous schedule from the word go in our career," he notes. "We've been around for 10 years and made five records; that's a pretty serious work schedule. I don't think there's anything wrong with slowing that down just a little bit and giving people a little bit of an opportunity to miss what we have to offer." Domestic affairs will certainly occupy some of the Staind members' lives in the near future. Guitarist Mike Mushok's wife recently gave birth to twins, while drummer Jon Wysocki got married. Staind is playing a handful of shows this month to promote the "Singles" set, and Lewis kicks off a solo tour on Dec. 27 that will stretch well into 2007. Though he says reports of an imminent solo album are overstated -- "It's there in concept and thought, but there's a lot of things that have to fall into place for me to bring it to the table." -- Lewis hopes that recording on his own will give Staind a chance to recapture the headbanging reputation that's been obscured by mellower hits such as "Outside" and "It's Been Awhile." "I think that there's gonna be kind of a separation of the two styles," explains Lewis, who's also developing a reality show about rock'n'roll roadies called "The Crew." "My (solo) thing will go more in the direction of the songs that I've always written -- 'Outside,' 'It's Been Awhile,' 'So Far Away,' 'Everything Changes.' That's more in the line of what the solo project will be, and let Staind go back to being the heavy band that you get to see if you come and see us live."

Staind News November 2006

11/27/06

Staind singer lets it ride with casino gigs Staind has penciled in a couple of additional dates for its brief December outing, and frontman Aaron Lewis who previously announced plans to follow that jaunt with a headlining run of his own, has tacked several new dates onto his itinerary, as well. Since last check, Staind's schedule has grown to encompass a Dec. 8 stop in Louisville, KY, and a Dec. 9 stop in Greenville, SC. Lewis, meanwhile, has extended his previously announced five-night stand at Connecticut's Mohegan Sun Casino to a seven-night stretch; after closing out 2006 with a Dec. 27-31 stint, he'll start '07 with back-to-back shows on Jan. 3-4. Also new to Lewis' schedule is a lone February show in Atlantic City, NJ. In October, Lewis told MTV that he's working on a solo album, but no release date for the set has been announced. On Nov. 14, Staind issued "The Singles: 1996-2006," a 16-track album that includes previously released hits such as "It's Been Awhile," "For You," "So Far Away" and "Right Here," as well as previously unreleased live acoustic covers of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb," Alice in Chains' "Nutshell" and Tool's "Sober." Also included is a version of the Staind cut "Outside" that originally appeared on the "Family Values Tour 1999" album, and features vocals from Lewis and Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst. To coincide with the release of "The Singles: 1996-2006," Staind has also offered up "Staind: The Videos," a DVD that houses 14 music videos, as well as live, acoustic versions of "Everything Changes" and "Sober." Complete tracklistings for the album and DVD are posted at Staind's MySpace page, and streaming audio from the disc--including the aforementioned "Sober" cover--is available at Staind's official website. Staind's most recent studio set is last year's "Chapter V," which debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 album chart.

11/14/06

The Singles 1996 - 2006 review Sound: The year 2006 marks Staind’s tenth year of major label studio releases, and the band’s latest release commemorates the event. The majority of The Singles: 1996-2006 is pretty much what you’d expect if you’ve heard any of the band’s radio hits over the years, but it also contains a few acoustical surprises tacked on to the end of it. Dedicated fans of Staind (vocalist/guitarist Aaron Lewis, guitarist Mike Mushok, bassist Johnny April, and drummer Jon Wysocki) will likely the find that there is everything you’d want to be featured on a best-of Staind album. “It’s Been Awhile,” “Outside,” and “Price To Play” are just a few titles on the well-rounded track list. The recording of “Outside” was actually done on the Family Values Tour, a smart move that gives the CD a little bit of freshness when you’re already familiar with the songs. The newer acoustic take is pretty dead-on the original, but it still manages to have a bare bones, raw feel that was missing from the Break The Cycle version. The band actually makes a really gutsy move on The Singles by performing 3 beloved classic tunes acoustically: “Nutshell” (Alice In Chains), “Sober” (Tool), and “Comfortably Numb” (Pink Floyd). While some of you might cringe at the prospect of taking on songs that were pretty much done perfectly the first time around, the band deserves credit for taking a chance. The results are mixed, however. “Nutshell” sounds very similar to Unplugged Alice In Chains’ performance, but without the haunting vocals by Layne Staley. “Sober” just does not compare with Tool’s powerful rendition and Lewis strains to tackle Maynard James Keenan’s flawless wail. While “Comfortably Numb” is nothing like the original, Staind does a nice job of combining both acoustic and electric elements into it. The Staind compilation is a must for the band’s fanbase, but it does lack the edge that a lot of other bands have these days. The songs do tend to get a bit repetitive at times, and it may not be enough to keep everyone’s interest. But there is a reason why the band continues has lasted a decade, and the latest CD is a testament to that. Lyrics: You can tell there is a lot of honest emotion in Staind’s lyrics, and that is probably one of the best aspects of the band. Lewis lays his thoughts out there in the open, even when it puts him in a vulnerable spot. A good example of this honesty comes in “Epiphany,” where Lewis talks candidly about his emotions. He sings, “I am nothing more than a little boy inside; That cries out for attention; yet I always try to hide; 'Cause I talk to you like children; Though I don't know how I feel.” These are words you might hear at a therapy session, so it’s to Lewis’ credit that he has the courage to put it all out there. The biggest problem with the lyrics is that they repeat themselves too much at times. “It’s Been Awhile” is the prime offender, but the monotony actually might have been a blessing for the band given that single’s big success. He sings, “And it's been awhile since I could hold my head up high; And it's been awhile since I first saw you; And it's been awhile since I could stand on my own two feet again.” There is still an honesty there, and that makes up for the format in a big way. Impression: If you’re a fan of harder, more riff-oriented rock, Staind will likely leave you a bit cold. Most of the band’s rock songs are more chord-driven, and there are definitely a large amount of ballads. There won’t be a lot that you haven’t heard on the radio for that matter. The band has covered a lot of ground over the years with its straightforward rock, and radio has eaten it up. Whether that’s a good or bad thing, The Singles is thorough look at the band’s work and there aren’t a lot of holes in it. The addition of some rare unplugged covers gives fans all the more reason to purchase the best-of CD.

11/14/06

Staind Hits about real connection and talent Staind and its record company Atlantic Records are celebrating the bands career with the release Staind: The Singles 1996 to 2006, which hits stores on Tuesday, November 14. The band has sold an impressive 15 million albums worldwide in their history, and they did it with no false pretense. Some have praised their sometimes melancholy lyrical content and some have bashed them for sharing their emotions. Singer/songwriter Aaron Lewis told us in an interview a while back that he's always honest with the band's songwriting. "All I've ever been able to do in the lyrics that I write is be honest. That's when the most brutal honesty that I have comes out. My lyrics usually reflect how I feel about life. That's all I've ever been able to do. I've never really been able to make things up and write songs like that. It's always real." Atlantic is still looking for the next big rock band to break loose like Staind did with their monster hit "Break The Cycle," which was released in 2001 by the now defunct Elektra Records. With rock being in a proverbial slump, Lewis was asked what could fix said slump. "It's talent, you know? People that have the ability to write their own songs, and that have the ability to write another record after their first record. And on their first record there's gotta be more than one song that might be a radio song. Hence, the one hit wonder that so many people have heard and seen, and what's insane is the amount of money that was dumped into that one hit wonder that never really amounted to anything. You can't run a business that way." For the remainder of the year Lewis will spend his time divided between solo tour dates and shows with Staind. To find out where Lewis or Staind will be playing in a town near you, check out staind.com.

11/12/06

Staind "The Singles 1996 - 2006" (Atlantic/Flip) Their devastating blend of sludge rock, metal, darkness, melody and soft acoustic textures has paved the way for Staind to sell more than 15 million albums during the past decade and the Springfield-based band's most memorable work is captured on this new 16-track compilation. Singer Aaron Lewis, guitarist Mike Mushok, bassist Johnny April and drummer Jon Wysocki pound it out on cuts like the guitar-swirling "Mudshovel," the breakthrough hit "Outside" (presented here in its "Family Values" 1999 tour version), the crushing ultra-smash "It's Been Awhile" and latter-day gems, like the hook-filled radio fave "Right Here." Several previously unreleased live acoustic cover versions are also featured on the disc, most notably impressive versions of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" and Tool's "Sober." The disc is being released simultaneously with the companion piece DVD "Staind: The Videos."

11/06/06

Staind's Lewis wows hometown Aaron Lewis choked trying to conjure up lyrics to Led Zeppelin's "Going to California" during the Longmeadow High School variety show in 1990. But 16 years and 30 million record sales later, Lewis brought the house down with a flawless performance of the same song at his alma mater on Saturday night. "Last time me and Henri did this song it was right there," Lewis, 34, lead singer of the multiplatinum rock band Staind, told the audience. He pointed to a spot on the auditorium stage where he and classmate Henri O'Connor performed Lewis' senior year. O'Connor, now a Los Angeles-based musician, also accompanied Lewis on guitar for that tune over the weekend. "I forgot the words. It's all on tape. ... It's awesome," Lewis said. That low point far behind him, Lewis took the stage Saturday for a benefit concert, drawing hundreds of fans who purchased tickets at $60 to $100 each. Proceeds will go to launch a music endowment at the school. The singer hopes to promote longevity for the program where his vocal talent was fostered. "It's usually creativity that gets taken away," Lewis said in a post-concert interview, referring to educational programs often slashed following budget cuts. "We've got it totally ... backwards." The self-admitted ex-angry youth with curly, black hair staring from a 1990 photo array on the school's choral room wall has changed. He emerged Saturday a heavily tattooed, world-renowned front man with signature shaved head - witty, self-possessed and gracious. Veteran Longmeadow High School music teacher Peter Thomsen, one of Lewis' early mentors, said the witty and gracious part is classic Lewis. "He's really the same as he always was. He's just happier now," Thomsen said Saturday night as fans flooded the choral room to get autographs and pictures with his former pupil. The teacher said Lewis suggested the free concert about a year ago, while on an 18-month world tour with Staind. Most of the songs on Staind's five albums since 1996, chiefly written by Lewis, are riddled with self-loathing. He has disclosed a complicated childhood marked by his parents' divorce and a general melancholy. He has since married wife Vanessa and has two daughters. In recent interviews, Lewis has said family life has provided solace. For its part, the audience Saturday hung on every note, chord, sigh and self-deprecating joke during Lewis' two-hour acoustic set that included Staind songs old and new, plus covers of Black Sabbath, Pearl Jam, Billy Joel tunes and more. Calls for "Waste," "So Far Away" and other Staind songs filled the auditorium after Lewis confessed after the first song that he had planned no musical agenda. Later in the evening, one wise-cracked: "Piano Man!" "I'm continuing to do that song - act-u-ally!' Lewis said, pointing at the audience and grinning. He tactfully ignored calls for Lynyrd Skynyrd's clichéd classic "Free Bird." After vowing to play a "clean" show, he performed Staind's "Bong Hits 4 Breakfast" to the delight of fans and no doubt the chagrin of most school officials in attendance. "It was my way of thumbing my nose at authority," he said afterward with a laugh. Fans said they admired Lewis, angst-ridden, rebellious or otherwise. "As a parent, you always try to teach kids that actions speak louder than words. Longmeadow should be proud of him. ... It's easy to write a check," Longmeadow parent Kevin Knight said. His son Brendan, 13, recently made the jazz band as a drummer at Williams Middle School and received congratulatory tickets to Saturday's concert. "It was really exciting. It was awesome," Brendan said after the concert. No one traveled farther than fan Kelly Duluoz, 33, of Seattle, who last year purchased an acoustic electric guitar owned by Lewis at a charity auction for $4,800. Those proceeds also went to benefit the school. Duluoz, a T-shirt designer, this weekend said Lewis' lyrics yanked her from the brink in 2000. "Aaron's lyrics just spoke to me. ... I credit him with saving my life," she said. Lewis says he plans to do similar benefit concerts at high schools around the country. As for returning to the school where he got his start, Lewis said: "It's really cool to be able to come back and do something for the good of the program I was so lucky to be a part of."

11/02/06

Lewis to give benefit at Longmeadow high Aaron Lewis, lead singer for Staind. Aaron Lewis doesn't want some kid having to knock on doors and hawk oranges just so he can sing in the school chorus. "That's what I had to do," laughs Lewis, lead singer for Staind, world-renowned rock star, and newly minted philanthropist. "That is how we raised money for the school music program. Florida's Best. Go figure. If I can prevent that from happening by doing a show, then it'll be worth it." Lewis plays a solo acoustic gig at Longmeadow High School on Saturday night, a benefit show for the Longmeadow High School Music Fund. The proceeds will go to- ward a curriculum that serves more than 500 students. "Why is it always the creative things that get slashed when it comes to budget cuts," he asks rhetorically. "The people that decide on those things seem to think that math is more important than the creative arts. I think it is wrong to make that assumption." Lewis, who with his longtime friends and bandmates in Staind has reached millions across the globe, needs to look no further than his young daughter to realize the power of music. "She'll melt down and I will start to sing to her," he said. "No more than four notes and she will stop completely." He has said before that the music program at LHS saved his life, giving him an identity in a culture that lauded students and athletes to a much greater degree than artists. He hasn't committed to making this concert an annual event, but he hasn't ruled it out. "I'd like to do it as long as there is a need," he said. "But wouldn't it be great if there was no longer a need to raise money for these things and they were funded on an equal basis? " No more selling oranges, for one thing. "Ya know, I think I skated on that whole orange-selling thing," he suddenly remembers. "I can't say I sold a whole lot of them. Maybe I'm just doing this because I feel guilty for skating on the orange selling." Aaron Lewis plays in the auditorium at Longmeadow High School on Saturday night. Tickets for the show are $60 in advance and $75 at the door. There are also a limited number of $100 VIP tickets that include a VIP reception and meet-and-greet. Tickets are available at the high school between 11 a.m. and noon, and 6 to 7 p.m. Staind is currently on a little break from the tour that is supporting their "Chapter V" release. The band will eventually wrap up the tour and Lewis will play some solo shows before taking some time off and then heading into the studio to record the next album. "It's been a crazy ride," said Lewis. "And it isn't over yet."

11/02/06

As the purveyor of some of this generation’s most poignant lyrics—not to mention the possessor of one of its powerful voices—Staind’s Aaron Lewis is certainly no stranger to fan adoration. In the years following his band’s breakout circa 1999, there have been entire websites devoted to Lewis devotees, with fans showing off everything from Lewis-inspired works of art and tattoos to poems, collections—even the proverbial shrine or two. This Saturday, Nov. 4, however, the often-reclusive frontman may very well meet his “flightiest” admirer to date in Kelly Dulouz, a woman who will fly 3,000-plus miles to see Lewis perform an acoustic show at the Longmeadow High School he once attended. “Last year, Aaron gave one of his Alvarez guitars to LEEF, an education assistance foundation here in Longmeadow,” explains Pete Thomsen, a school faculty member who is helping to organize the fundraising event. “They ended up auctioning that guitar off on eBay for $5,000, and the woman who won the bid is flying in for this show. Aaron will use the guitar during the concert, then present it to her personally.” While Thomsen can’t promise that Lewis will have any other schwag to dish out that evening, he does add that as of press time, tickets to attend the special one-night only performance in the cozy 600-seat hall were still available for $60 in advance or $75 at the door. For more information pay a visit to: www.billupsworldentertainment.com or call (413) 733-1169. If that’s not enough, it appears that altruistic Aaron and the boys have also signed on for another benefit occurring Dec. 2 in Mobile, Ala. One with their good multi-platinum friends Three Doors Down, no less. It’s Three Doors Down & Friends, a one-night only, special show with guests Hinder rounding out the bill. Didn’t take a think tank to come up with the show’s name, but all proceeds from the event are earmarked for a great cause—aiding Katrina victims along the Gulf Coast that Three Doors calls home. Those wondering what it’s like to have Three Doors Down—and friends—in high places assisting a cause like this need only refer to last year’s receipts. The 2005 concert brought in more than $300,000 for Katrina relief. Lest anyone think that Lewis and company have bowed out of the commercial market, think again. In what is shaping up to be a recurring trend, the Staind vocalist will hold court at Mohegan Sun’s Cabaret Theater for a series of solo acoustic shows beginning Dec. 27 and continuing until New Year’s eve. On Nov. 14, the band proper will release a multimedia assault of a CD, The Singles: 1996-2006 , and a companion DVD (three guesses on that title)—just in time for the holidays, too.

Staind News October 2006

10/31/06

She recalls Taco Villa busboy who succeeded Laura Lasorsa was an Aaron Lewis fan before she ever heard him sing. She was Laura Enos then, the assistant manager at the Springfield Taco Villa, a former Mexican restaurant on Sumner Avenue. Aaron Lewis, the kid with the long, thick, curly black hair, was the busboy, sometimes the dishwasher. "He was a wicked cool kid," she recalls. "He was just nice. You know what I mean? One of those guys who got along with everybody. I remember he had one of those wallets on a chain. He wasn't a big talker, but sometimes he would talk about his music, but I never heard him sing. He was really serious about it, though. He'd invite people over to his house. I'm pretty sure he lived on Orlando Street off Sumner. He'd play after we'd close the restaurant. My ex-husband, who was my boyfriend then, would walk me home, and he'd go over and listen to Aaron play. He always said Aaron was great." Laura left Taco Villa in 1989. "I was five and a half months pregnant," she says. "That was the last time I saw Aaron. How long ago was that? My daughter Sam is a senior in high school. Older than Aaron was then. I didn't see him again until one day six or seven years ago my ex-husband turned on MTV - and there was Aaron, unplugged. He made it! I felt pride when I saw him. And, of course, I love his voice. His vocals are incredible. Anytime I hear Staind on the radio, I turn it up. My favorite songs? 'Right Here' and 'It's Been Awhile.'" She starts to sing "It's Been Awhile." Staind, the Springfield-based band with the worldwide following, has topped Billboard charts for weeks on end, sold more than 30 million compact discs, been on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, and played "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." Aaron Lewis is the band's lead singer, with a distinctive voice and a shaved head. He is a 1990 graduate of Longmeadow High. Laura is 36, within weeks of turning 37. She is remarried. She also has a 3½-year-old daughter, Brianna. While she still loves music, the last concert she saw was The Who, "Maybe eight years ago," she says. J. Geils was the first band she went to see, "way back when" at the Civic Center. Bon Jovi is still probably her favorite band. For the past 14 years, Laura has worked as a bookkeeper for the accounting department of The Republican. Part of her job is measuring all the ads in the paper. Two weeks ago, she noticed the ad promoting Aaron Lewis' Nov. 4 solo concert at Longmeadow High to benefit the school's music program. "I knew I had to go," she says. "I've never seen him play live. This was too good to pass up. And I just wanted a minute with him. I wanted him to sign something for me that he would get a kick out of." Laura has a drawer at home full of sentimental knick-knacks, including an old Taco Villa menu. At $6.50, a steak and chicken fajita was the most expensive item on the four-page menu. The bean taco went for a buck. "We had great food," she says. "I loved the refried beans. Yum." The ad for the benefit concert noted that a limited number of VIP tickets for $100 were available and that those ticket holders would have access to a reception and a chance to meet Aaron Lewis backstage after the show. "I've never paid $100 for a concert ticket in my life," Laura says. "But I called the number at 10:30 a.m. At 12:15, I received a call from Mr. Peter Thomsen, a music teacher, who told me that he was holding my ticket in his hand." Laura is sure she set some kind of record in her Dodge Durango getting to Longmeadow High from Main Street in Springfield. "A choir was singing when I arrived," she says. "It was wicked cool to hear." She handed Mr. Thomsen a check for $100, he handed Laura a ticket for seat 10 in row C. "I don't know if I am more nervous or excited about Saturday night," she says. "I know everybody will want to talk to him, but I just want a few minutes. I'm bringing the Taco Villa menu. I'd love if he'd sign it."

10/25/06

Aaron Lewis frontman for multi-platinum rockers Staind, will follow his band's handful of December concerts with a headlining run of his own that will visit casinos. Lewis' plans comprise a five-night stand at the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, CT, which he'll cap with a New Year's Eve performance, as well as five mid-to-late January shows, most of which are set in California. The solo shows follow a half-dozen early December Staind concerts that are set in the South. Details are included below. Earlier this month, Lewis told MTV that he's working on a solo album, but no release date for the set has been announced. On Nov. 14, Staind offers up "The Singles: 1996-2006," a 16-track album that will include previously released hits such as "It's Been Awhile," "For You," "So Far Away" and "Right Here," as well as previously unreleased live acoustic covers of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb," Alice in Chains' "Nutshell" and Tool's "Sober." Also included will be the version of the Staind cut "Outside" that originally appeared on the "Family Values Tour 1999" album and features vocals from Lewis and Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst. The same day that "The Singles: 1996-2006" hits stores, Staind will also release "Staind: The Videos," a DVD that will house 14 music videos, as well as live, acoustic versions of "Everything Changes" and "Sober." Complete tracklistings for the album and DVD are posted at Staind's MySpace page. Staind's most recent studio set is last year's "Chapter V," which debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 album chart.

10/17/06

Staind Announces "The Singles 1996-2006" Band's First-Ever Hits Collection Due November 14th DVD Companion, "Staind The Videos," Also on Tap. Flip/Atlantic Records has announced details of Staind's first-ever hits collection, "The Singles: 1996-2006." The album arrives in stores on November 14th. A separate companion DVD, entitled "Staind The Videos," will be released simultaneously. The 16-track album will feature such #1 rock radio smashes as "It's Been Awhile," "For You," "So Far Away," and "Right Here." In addition, it will include never-before released live acoustic cover versions of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb," Alice in Chains' "Nutshell," and Tool's "Sober," plus a live acoustic version of "Everything Changes." The version of "Outside" appearing on the album will be the version that originally appeared on the "Family Values tour 1999" album with Fred Durst. "Staind The Videos" will include two bonus videos recorded live, in addition to a complete collection of the band's music videos. With worldwide sales of over 15 million records, Staind's last three albums have entered the Billboard 200 in the #1 spot. 2005's "Chapter V" has been certified RIAA platinum and features the single "Right Here," which marked Staind's fourth #1 rock radio track. Earlier this year, the band performed for a TV audience of more than 14 million viewers at the Indianapolis 500. "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" was released on Flip/Elektra in 1999, achieving platinum-plus status thanks to songs like "Just Go," "Mudshovel," and "Home." "Outside," which originally appeared on the "Family Values tour 1999," became Staind's first mainstream rock hit and was included on the band's next album, 2001's "Break the Cycle." The latter entered the Billboard 200 album chart at #1 and has sold more than eight million to date. The songs "Fade," "For You," "Epiphany," and "It's Been Awhile" 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," which was praised by the New York Post for its "intense, propulsive melodies" and lauded as a "slow-burn collection" with "staying power." Staind is Aaron Lewis: vocals * Mike Mushok: guitar * Johnny April: bass * Jon Wysocki: drums.

10/16/06

Homecoming king If he was running for Longmeadow High School homecoming king, Aaron Lewis, lead singer of the chart-topping band Staind, would be the top vote-getter at his alma mater. Local fans will have a chance to give the three-time Grammy nominee a royal hometown welcome on Nov. 4 when Lewis steps onto the stage at Longmeadow High School's 600-seat auditorium to perform a solo concert to benefit the school's music program. Lewis' desire to give something back to his high school sends a heartwarming signal that music and the arts are critical to a well-rounded education. Longmeadow High School's music program has excelled under the direction of teacher Peter W. Thomsen, who is in his 33rd year as a music teacher at the school. Last year Lewis donated an Alvarez Yairi DY84 acoustic-electric guitar to the Longmeadow Educational Excellence Foundation that fetched $4,850 on eBay. Tickets for this year's concert go on sale at the high school today. Tickets will be $60 in advance and there will be a limited number of VIP seats at $100 each. We expect a sellout crowd to greet this homecoming king.

10/10/06

Over 10 years, Staind have produced 4 platinum albums, had numerous Top 10 and #1 songs at both the Rock and Pop formats and have sold in excess of 12,000,000 units. Now, for the first time, all of these hit videos are being put together on 1 DVD! This will coincide with their Greatest Hits CD. Track List for DVD Just Go Mudshovel Home Outside (Family Values live version) It's Been Awhile Fade For You Epiphany Price to Play How About You So Far Away Right Here Falling Everything Changes Sober (Acoustic Live) Everything Changes (Acoustic Live)

10/08/06

Thank you Auntie Jeanna for sending this to me.

10/05/06

Staind's "The Singles 1996-2006," due Nov. 14 via Flip/Atlantic. A DVD, "Staind: The Videos," will arrive the same day. The "Singles" CD begins with a new remix of the track "Come Again," which previously appeared on the band's 1996 indie debut, "Tormented." In addition to rock radio hits such as "It's Been Awhile," "Everything Changes," "Right Here" and "Outside," the disc sports four tracks recorded last month during an acoustic show at New York's Hiro Ballroom: "Everything Changes" and covers of Tool's "Sober," Alice In Chains' "Nutshell" and Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb." The DVD rounds up 14 clips, including rarely seen videos for "Just Go" and "Epiphany," the latter starring actor Billy Zane. Staind is winding down a fall tour that will visit Beaumont, Texas, tomorrow (Oct. 6). Before year's end, frontman Aaron Lewis will embark on a solo tour, which will dovetail into work on his first solo album. Here is the track list for "The Singles 1996-2006" "Come Again" (remix) "Mudshovel" "Home" "It's Been Awhile" "Epiphany" "For You" "Outside" (Family Values live version) "So Far Away" "Price To Play" "Zoe Jane" "Right Here" "Falling" "Everything Changes" (live acoustic) "Sober" (live acoustic) "Nutshell" (live acoustic) "Comfortably Numb" (live acoustic)

10/05/06

Staind — still touring in support of their fifth album, “Chapter V.” Staind is currently touring across the U.S. with Hinder, Breaking Benjamin, and Black Stone Cherry — a band that Staind vocalist Aaron Lewis is most especially thrilled to have on the show. “Oh, those guys are great,” Lewis said during a recent telephone interview. “Black Stone Cherry rocks! I honestly watch them perform every night. They have this southern rock vibe to them that they combine with heavy riffs, and it’s just great. Their tour in November with Black Label Society should rock.” Staind is due to release an album in November of already released songs, but Lewis is hesitant to call it a greatest hits album. “The album is due out in mid-November,” Lewis said. “It’s not being called a greatest hits album because that is kind of pretentious. It usually takes a band years to come up with enough records to compile a greatest hits record. A couple of the songs on it were big hits for us, and most are just singles, but there will be a surprise or two.” One song expected to be on the November release is a cover of “Sober” by the rock band Tool. “We’re big fans of Tool, so why not include it on the new record,” Lewis said. “We used to do that song as a cover band back in 1996. It will be something new and a little different.” Once the band finishes up its tour in October, and a few shows in December, Staind will take some time off to write new material, and then Lewis will set out on his first full solo tour in early 2007. “It will be me on a stool with a guitar by myself,” he said. “Staind isn’t going anywhere. This is just something that I want to do. I would love to utilize some of the other avenues of my creativity, and this is the way to do it.”

10/04/06

Aaron Lewis Laments 'Staind Aren't What's Cool Now' Brings LP News Lewis has solo tour, album and reality-TV show in works; Staind retrospective due next month. It's been a little over a year since Staind's fifth album, Chapter V, landed in record stores, and now frontman Aaron Lewis has some frustrations to air and the future on his mind. A few months ago, the band shot a video for "Everything Changes," which depicts the last day of school for a bunch of high school seniors, and the graduation bash that follows (see "Staind: Comedy Pros? Band Re-Creates High School Graduation Party For New Video").