Staind frontman talks 'Progress'

lead singer Aaron Lewis, the recording of his band's forthcoming album, "The Illusion of Progress," was an exercise in time management. The Massachusetts-based band recorded the album, due to hit stores Aug. 19, in Lewis' barn, in between his stints as Mr. Mom.

"It was full of distractions, definitely," Lewis said during an interview with LiveDaily. "I would work until 2 o'clock in the morning and I would get up at 6:30 with the baby. Then take my daughter Zoe to school, and then be Mr. Mom all morning so my wife, Vanessa, could get some stuff done during the morning.

"At noon I would go up to the studio and start working. At 3 o'clock I would stop what I was doing in the studio and I would go and I would pick my daughter up from school and then go back up to the studio and work until 2 o'clock in the morning. And then get up at 6:30 in the morning with the baby again."

Lewis and his bandmates worked around that schedule for seven months. The goal was to make the band's heaviest record. Instead it turned out to be the group's most musical, thanks to producer Johnny K (Disturbed, 3 Doors Down).

"We took a lot of time trying to come up with the perfect tone, taking all the different guitars I have and comparing every guitar to every amp," Lewis said. "Sometimes we'd spend eight to 10 hours in a day trying to find the right sound. I think that's probably what was different than other things on the last album," "Chapter Five."

The band--which also includes guitarist Mike Mushok, bassist Johnny April and drummer Jon Wysocki--was able to take its time because it wasn't in a fancy, expensive studio. As for the title of the album, Lewis said it came about during a conversation he had with his band.

"The illusion of progress applies to so many things in this world today," Lewis said. "I felt like it was a good title for the record. It came about when we were all standing around while we were supposed to be writing songs and just shooting the s--- and not really doing what we were supposed to be doing. Somebody said something and I said, 'It's like the illusion of progress.'

"Me and Johnny K looked at each other and we were like, 'That should be the name of the record.' Then, without any sort of conscious decision in doing it, it seems like every song on the record in one way or another could be applied to the illusion of progress."

Staind is on the road, playing a mix of co-headlining shows with 3 Doors Down, festival dates, and solo headlining dates. The itinerary is below.

July 2008
22 - Mansfield, MA - Comcast Center
23 - Portland, ME - Cumberland Co.

Civic Center
25 - Darien Center, NY - Darien Lake Theme Park Resort
26 - Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center
27 - Hershey, PA - Hersheypark Stadium
29 - Evansville, IN - Roberts Stadium
30 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre

August 2008
1 - Kearney, NE - FirsTier Event Center
2 - Council Bluffs, IA - Westfair Amphitheatre
5 - Casper, WY - Casper Events Center (Staind only)
7 - Sioux Falls, SD - Sioux Empire Fair (Staind only)
8 - Sturgis, SD - The Legendary Buffalo Chip (Staind only)
10 - Lubbock, TX - Amphitheatre @ Lonestar Events Ctr.

(Staind only)
12 - Corpus Christi, TX - Concrete Street Amphitheater (Staind only)
13 - Belton, TX - Bell County Expo Center (Staind only)
15 - New Orleans, LA - Lakefront Arena (Staind only)
16 - Tupelo, MS - Bandcorp South Arena (Staind only)
17 - Nashville, TN - Riverfront Park (Staind only)
21 - St.

Paul, MN - Minnesota State Fair Grandstand
23 - Calgary, Alberta - Pengrowth Saddledome
24 - Edmonton, Alberta - Rexall Place
26 - Vancouver, British Columbia - GM Place
27 - Seattle, WA - WaMu Theater
29 - Las Vegas, NV - Mandalay Bay Events Center
30 - Kelseyville, CA - Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa - Amphitheatre

September 2008
4 - Valley Center, KS - Kansas Coliseum

nice article. I guess that schedule could of taken its toll on the band but family does come first, kudos to you aaron

Playing Mr. Mom, ha ha! Now that's classic.