About
Formed by two like-minded nu metal buds in Springfield, Mass., in 1995,
Staind grabbed the attention of Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst and the rest -- as
they say -- is history. Prior to signing to a major label, the band was
ignored by the Boston scene. They ended up playing lower-profile but
frequent gigs in Western Mass, their dark sound benefiting from edgy,
melodic vocals (somewhat like Alice In Chains) that ride over heavy,
groove-oriented metal. Their frequent touring strategy paid off: after
seeing the Staind open up a show for him, Durst took them under his wing.
They released Dysfunction on Elektra in 1999, but their big
breakthrough was Break the Cycle, which came out in 2002 and yielded
the mega-mega seller "It's Been Awhile." In 2005, the band set its sights
on the commercial alternative charts with Chapter V.
- Jessy Terry
