It has been said that first impressions last a lifetime. Luckily for
Staind, some only last for about 45 minutes. After a volatile disagreement with
Limp Bizkit's
Fred Durst over some of
Staind's early cover art, it seemed their big break had walked out the door. Fortunately, by the time
Durst had witnessed
Staind's intense live show, he was ready to exchange phone numbers.
Staind's story began in the New England area when vocalist
Aaron Lewis and guitarist
Mike Mushok met at a Christmas party in 1993.
Mushok was able to bring drummer
Jon Wysocki into the fold, and
Lewis' connection with a bass player (who later left) completed the early lineup. Establishing themselves took time, and extensive touring of the Northeast with other established metal acts helped them sell over 2,000 copies of their self-released debut in just over a year. They were primed for their big break, and on October 23, 1997, the hard work paid off.
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