With Nu-metal pretty much over, many bands are trying to soften up their sound and crossover to Adult AC—not Staind. They are ready to rock again no matter what, breaking the stereotype of the late 90s rap-metal wave. The band returns with their self-titled seventh studio album, which is a representation of their Dysfunction days.
The band recorded “On the Brink of Disaster”, a documentary of not only the recording process of their seventh effort, but a story about turmoil among the band members and their split with long time drummer, Jon Wysocki. Through it all though, Aaron Lewis and co. rise above it all to record one of their heaviest records yet!
Examiner.com sat down with the boys of Staind to discuss the new album, the documentary, and the departure of Jon Wysocki.
Examiner.com: What made you decide to go back to your roots on this particular album?
Aaron Lewis of Staind: I think as a band, we decided that our musical journey over the past 13 years has taken us far away from where we started, and that it was time to come back around.
Mike Mushok: Well basically after finishing the last record, which was a more experimental album, we wanted to make something heavier and find out where we originally came from.
You guys are playing a benefit for 9/11. What does this mean to you and where were you that day?
AL: We put together a benefit for the families of the first responders who dropped everything they were doing and selflessly ran into the belly of the beast. To do something for that cause is very meaningful.
MM: The record coming out coincides with the 9/11-anniversary and it it’s a great way of giving something back. We were in NYC that day. It was close to the day of the VMAs that year. I was thinking what is going on and when is this going to end? Here we are 10 years later…
When did the split occur between you and John Wysocki during the album process?
Johnny April: His drumming is on the whole album.
MM: It was a really long drawn out process trying to make it work. I think everyone’s motivation was a little different and we had to make a decision.
When you guys first started out, did you believe that you’d be here now?
AL: We are lucky that we could still make music at this point and our fans quietly made us sell 15 million records!
With the entire rap-metal scene pretty much over, do you feel disillusioned by the music industry a bit and where do you feel like you fit in the industry today?
AL:I don’t think we ever fit into nu-metal because we never rapped.
JA: I just don’t know how longer the music industry will last with technology nowadays. How much longer will you go to the store to buy a piece of plastic?
AL: People are now not going to even buy music because concerts are so expensive now—tickets are up to $100. And I still don’t have an ipod!!
Do you think rock music is dead?
JA: I think it’s in a lull right now.
MM: Rock stations don’t even exist anymore.
AL: I think tried and true music, like classic rock, is taking the place of new modern rock. There’s no room for modern rock anymore. It’s up to the music programmers.
