Staind at home
Sunday, August 17, 2008

The video for Staind's new single "Believe" from the upcoming "Illusion of Progress" CD, shows a kid with his guitar making his way from Springfield to the West Coast.


The scenes could collectively serve as a metaphor for the band that launched out of Springfield and has toured the world on the strength of 12 million records sold, numerous charting singles and sold-out headlining tours.


Still, with all the miles, all the success, and the trappings that come with rock star status, you are most likely to find the guys in the band close to home.


"My desire is to be where I grew up, be with my family and friends," said guitarist Mike Mushok, explaining why the paparazzi aren't chasing band members into Paris Hilton's Range Rover or out of Lindsey Lohan's apartment.


"I don't know how they do it," Mushok said. "There is nothing appealing about that to me. There is some truth to the fact that if I lived in L.A., there would be a lot more opportunity to do other things. But being where my family and friends are is more important to me than those opportunities.
"

So it is not unusual to see these world renowned rock stars pumping gas in Ludlow, playing a local golf course, at a charity event in Longmeadow, or catching a show at a Springfield club. This is where they live.


It is also where they decided to record "Illusion of Progress," a CD that may in fact be the best recording the team of Mushok, Aaron Lewis, Johnny April and Jon Wysocki have ever released. It arrives in stores on Tuesday.


"Again, we wanted to be home," said Mushok. "It was like having a job that went from noon to midnight. I was able to make the kids breakfast and had the bonus of not living out of a suitcase.
"

The band recorded in a studio Aaron Lewis constructed in the barn on his property.


"It really gave us the freedom to experiment," Mushok said. "We would spend all day on getting the right guitar and amplifier combination for 15 seconds of a song. With that kind of freedom we also had the opportunity to stumble on to some things that made the record what it is.
"

Some of those "things" include a six person choir, a pedal steel guitar, and a Hammond organ; all for one song "The Corner" which has a blues feel.


This is a Staind record.
Right?

"Nothing was off the table," Mushok said. "With Johnny (producer Johnny K) it was the idea of trying different things. The way I look at it, the way I've always looked at it, is you try it. The worse case scenario is you hit the mute button and you don't use it.
"

In the case of "The Corner," the band came up with a brilliant song that Mushok admits "gives him goose bumps" when he hears it, a satisfying reaction to a project he approached with some trepidation.


"When we started the album we hadn't written a song together as a band in three years," he said. "Going into Aaron's studio felt like standing at the base of Mount Everest and having someone tell you that you have to climb it.
"

With a history that includes being one of only five bands to have three consecutive albums debut at Number One on the Billboard charts, the band has quite a legacy. Mushok insists he wasn't feeling the pressure of past success.


"It was more self pressure," he said. "We want to grow, push the envelope, and never repeat ourselves.
"

Staind has certainly broken new ground with "Illusion of Progress," a record they had initially intended to be their heaviest yet but turned out to be their most musical. Lewis has referenced Pink Floyd and the blues when talking about the CD.


Is it their best?

"Here's the deal," offers Mushok. "I can say that after every record or the record is not done. There have been times when we've gone back and recorded more because we didn't feel it was our best. So yes, it is our best. It is certainly our most mature record, our most listenable.
"

The record seems at once a logical and inspired step on this journey that began in 1996 when the band was working on their local debut "Tormented," and trying to transition from covers to originals on the local rock circuit.


"Whoever thought?" laughs Mushok. "We have been fortunate to stay relevant. To be here 12 years later is pretty crazy.
"

Championed by Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit, the band was signed by Flip/Elektra and released "dysfunction" in 1999. The record went double platinum and the band continued to put up staggering numbers. "Break The Cycle" went five-times platinum, followed by platinum releases in 2003 ("14 Shades of Grey") and 2005 ("Chapter V").


Looking back, Mushok admits he never thought he would be in this position.


"I always looked at it like little tests," he said. "One goal at a time. Let's try and get a record deal. Let's try and get the songs right on the demo so we can get that deal. I never actually stopped to try and envision what it would be like if it actually happened.
"

The band has also dealt with the ever-changing landscape of the music business from label consolidation (they are now on Flip/Atlantic) to the dismantling of the modern rock radio format, and the evolution of the download.


Staind has adapted to change, offering the single "Believe" to radio and for download on iTunes back in June.
They also have video blogs of the recording process and their current tour on staind. com.


"It is constantly changing," said Mushok. "The downloading of songs? Didn't expect that when we started out.
"

What Mushok did envision when he closed his eyes and dared to dream, was playing with his band in front of huge crowds. It is something the band has been able to do and still does as well as any band on the road.


"It is a great gig, my day job," said Mushok. "But it takes me away from home.
"

Cool article.

very noice

That's a great one! Thans, Lis.