Staind is an American rock band from Springfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. The original lineup consisted of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Aaron Lewis, lead guitarist Mike Mushok, bassist and backing vocalist Johnny April, and drummer Jon Wysocki. The lineup remained largely stable until Wysocki’s departure in 2011, after which he was replaced by Sal Giancarelli. The band has released eight studio albums: "Tormented" (1996), "Dysfunction" (1999), "Break the Cycle" (2001), "14 Shades of Grey" (2003), "Chapter V" (2005), "The Illusion of Progress" (2008), "Staind" (2011), and "Confessions of the Fallen" (2023). Staind achieved their greatest commercial success in the early 2000s. "Break the Cycle" was certified five times platinum in the United States and produced the Billboard Hot 100 top-five single "It's Been Awhile". That album and its two successors topped the Billboard 200, while the following two releases reached the top five. Other successful singles include "Fade", "For You", "Price to Play", "So Far Away", and "Right Here". The band’s activity became less consistent during the 2010s, as Aaron Lewis pursued a solo career in country music and Mike Mushok joined the band Saint Asonia. Staind are often described as part of the post-grunge movement. Aaron Lewis and Mike Mushok met in 1993 at a Christmas party in Springfield, Massachusetts. Mushok introduced drummer Jon Wysocki, while Lewis brought in bassist Johnny April, forming the band in 1995. Their first performance took place in February 1995, and they developed a regional following through extensive touring in the northeastern United States. During this period, they performed covers of songs by bands such as Korn, Rage Against the Machine, Pearl Jam, Tool, and Alice in Chains. They self-released their debut album "Tormented" in November 1996. In 1997, Staind secured a concert slot with Limp Bizkit. Although frontman Fred Durst initially objected to the band’s imagery, he later signed them to Flip Records in early 1998 after seeing them perform. That same year, the band participated in several dates of the Vans Warped Tour. Staind released their major-label debut "Dysfunction" in April 1999. The album was co-produced by Fred Durst and Terry Date and drew comparisons to alternative metal acts such as Tool and Korn. It gained gradual commercial success, reaching the top of the Billboard Heatseekers chart and producing the singles "Just Go", "Mudshovel", and "Home". The band supported the album with extensive touring, including appearances on the Family Values Tour. Their third album, "Break the Cycle", was released in May 2001 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of over 700,000 copies. The album combined elements of nu metal with a more melodic post-grunge style. It produced several successful singles, including "It's Been Awhile", "Fade", "Outside", "For You", and "Epiphany". The album became the band’s best-selling release, with approximately seven million copies sold worldwide. In 2003, Staind released "14 Shades of Grey", which also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The album marked a shift toward a more melodic post-grunge sound. It produced the singles "Price to Play", "So Far Away", "How About You", and "Zoe Jane". Around this time, the band was involved in a legal dispute over the rights to their logo. "Chapter V", released in 2005, became the band’s third consecutive number-one album in the United States. It included the single "Right Here", which topped the mainstream rock chart. Additional singles included "Falling", "Everything Changes", and "King of All Excuses". The band toured extensively in support of the album. In 2006, they released the compilation "The Singles: 1996–2006", which included previously released singles and cover songs. The band’s sixth studio album, "The Illusion of Progress", was released in 2008 and debuted at number three on the Billboard 200. Its lead single, "Believe", performed well on rock charts. Other singles included "All I Want", "The Way I Am", and "This Is It", the latter of which was featured on the soundtrack to "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen". In 2011, Staind released their self-titled seventh album, "Staind". During its production, internal tensions led to the departure of drummer Jon Wysocki. The album included the singles "Not Again" and "Eyes Wide Open". Following Wysocki’s exit, Sal Giancarelli became the band’s official drummer. The band continued touring through 2012, after which they announced a hiatus. During the hiatus, Aaron Lewis focused on his solo career, while Mike Mushok joined other musical projects, including Saint Asonia. Staind reunited intermittently for live performances beginning in 2014 and resumed more regular activity in 2019. Plans for further performances in 2020 were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, they released the live album "Live: It's Been Awhile". In 2023, Staind released their eighth studio album, "Confessions of the Fallen", preceded by the single "Lowest in Me". The band continued touring in support of the album. Former drummer Jon Wysocki died on May 18, 2024, at the age of 53 due to liver-related health issues. As of 2026, Staind remain active and are scheduled to perform at the Welcome to Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida. Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staind Studio albums Tormented (1996) Dysfunction (1999) Break the Cycle (2001) 14 Shades of Grey (2003) Chapter V (2005) The Illusion of Progress (2008) Staind (2011) Confessions of the Fallen (2023)