Complete List Of Staind Songs From A to Z

Feature Photo: Craig Noce, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The rock group Staind began in Springfield, Massachusetts when Aaron Lewis connected with Mike Mushok at a 1993 Christmas gathering. They completed their lineup with Jon Wysocki handling drums and Johnny April on bass by 1995. February of that year marked their initial public show, showcasing a sound that blended heaviness with emotional depth. Through consistent performances at local venues like Infinity and regional tours, they established a dedicated fanbase in the Northeast.

November 1996 saw Staind independently releasing “Tormented,” citing musical influences including Tool, Faith No More, and Pantera. Their big break came unexpectedly in 1997 when they secured a slot with Limp Bizkit. Despite Fred Durst’s initial reluctance based on their album artwork, which he misinterpreted as satanic, their performance impressed him enough to offer them a contract with Flip Records.

“Dysfunction,” their first major release, dropped in April 1999 with production from both Fred Durst and Terry Date. The album gained momentum gradually, eventually claiming Billboard’s Heatseeker Charts’ top position and generating successful singles “Mudshovel” and “Home.” They supported this release through tours with acts including Limp Bizkit, The Crystal Method, and Sevendust.

May 2001 brought their commercial breakthrough with “Break the Cycle.” The album’s first-week sales reached 716,000 units, landing at number one on Billboard’s charts. Their signature track “It’s Been Awhile” dominated rock radio, maintaining unprecedented runs of 16 and 14 weeks at number one on modern and mainstream charts respectively. Additional singles “Fade,” “Outside,” “For You,” and “Epiphany” cemented their mainstream success. The album eventually moved seven million copies globally.

Their musical evolution continued with “14 Shades of Grey” (2003), which again topped Billboard charts and achieved double-platinum status. It showcased a more melodic approach while delivering hits including “So Far Away” and “Price to Play.” August 2005 saw “Chapter V” becoming their third consecutive chart-topper with 185,000 first-week sales. Notable tracks included “Right Here,” “Falling,” and “Everything Changes.”

November 2006 brought “The Singles: 1996-2006” collection. Their sixth studio project “The Illusion of Progress” arrived in August 2008, reaching third position on Billboard’s main chart while topping alternative, digital, and internet rankings. Singles “Believe,” “All I Want,” and “This Is It” maintained their radio presence while they supported Nickelback internationally and toured with Creed.

The band underwent its first significant lineup change during production of their eponymous seventh album when Wysocki departed in 2011, with Sal Giancarelli taking over drumming duties. July 2012 marked the beginning of an extended hiatus, with Lewis developing his country solo career while Mushok collaborated with other musical projects including Saint Asonia.

Sporadic reunions followed, including performances at festivals in 2014 and a noteworthy acoustic set during Aaron Lewis’ 2017 charity event. Their formal return announcement came in 2019, followed by “Live: It’s Been Awhile” in May 2021. September 2023 marked their complete comeback with “Confessions of the Fallen,” featuring lead single “Lowest in Me.” Sadly, founding drummer Jon Wysocki passed away in May 2024 at 53.

Throughout eight studio releases spanning nearly three decades, Staind has demonstrated remarkable chart success and stylistic development while maintaining thematic consistency. Their lyrical content explores psychological struggles, personal relationships, mortality, substance dependency, and self-discovery, resonating with audiences across the alternative metal, nu metal, post-grunge, and hard rock landscapes.