Aaron Lewis
Aaron Lewis |
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Aaron Lewis, (born April 13 1972 in Rutland, Vermont), is the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the alternative metal group Staind as well as a Grammy nominated songwriter.
Background
Lewis grew up, largely, in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Lewis was, before Staind, in a band known as J-CAT with Tori Sands, Chris Ballini, and Staind bandmate Jon Wysocki. An album surfaced on the internet with nine of J-CAT's performances at Club Infinity in Springfield, Massachusetts. The performances were recorded while Dysfunction was being recorded. Two of Staind's popular singles—"Outside" and "It's Been Awhile"—were both originally performed by J-CAT with somewhat different lyrics.
Lewis is renowned for his songwriting skills and has been nominated for three Grammys. His hobbies include fishing, golf and riding his mini dirt bike. He has worked in landscaping, cleaned hotel rooms, and played solo acoustic sets in bars around Atlanta. He is married to Vanessa Lewis and has three daughters, Zoe Jane, Nyla Rae and Indie Shay. Aaron has two sisters Evyette and Rachel. He was featured on the song No Sex by Limp Bizkit on their sophomore album Significant Other. He was also featured on a remix for the song "Crawling" on Linkin Park's album Reanimation (the remix is titled "Krwlng" on the album), as well as Sevendust's album Animosity, in which he contributed vocals to the song "Follow" and on the songs "Bleed" and "Send In the Clowns" by the band Cold. He's also featured on Jimmie's Chicken Shack's song "Falling Out," the only single off their 2004 album re.present.
On November 4, 2006, Aaron performed at his old high school in Longmeadow and gave all the proceeds to the music department to fund the department's expenses to buy new equipment and supplies.[citation needed]
Miscellaneous
The band's lead singer Aaron Lewis is married to Vanessa Lewis, and is a father of three girls: Zoey Jane (b. 2002), Nyla Rae (b. 2005), and Indie Shay (b. 2007).
During the break between releases, Aaron Lewis performed backing vocals for good friends Jimmie's Chicken Shack for their single "Fallin' Out", taken from that band's LP Re. Present (released in 2004). He also worked with the popular nu metal group Linkin Park in making a remix of their song "Crawling" (spelled as "Krwling") for the band's 2002 album Reanimation. Lewis also performed background vocals on Sevendust's song "Follow" off the 2001 album Animosity and on the tracks "Bleed" and "Send in the Clowns" from Cold's 2000 release 13 Ways to Bleed Onstage. Lewis also performed vocals for Fred Durst' band Limp Bizkit's 1999 release "Significant Other" song: "No Sex".
There is speculation that the band's title could be a reference to this line from Paradise Lost by John Milton, directly after Adam's recognition of the error of his and Eve's eating from the Tree of Knowledge (9.1076-9.1080): "Our wonted Ornaments now solid and staind,/ And in our Faces evident the signes/ Of foul concupiscence; whence evil store;/ Evil shame, the last of evils; of the first/ Be sure then."
Solo Album
Aaron Lewis is currently working on a solo CD, that is expected to be much like his acoustic tour.
Possible songs for this cd are:
- Something Like Me (will be released on iTunes as a Pre-Ordered track for The Illusion Of Progress)
- Angel
- Massachusetts
- Anywhere But Here
- Sleeping at the wheel
References
- The Darkness Within by Jenny Eliscu, Rolling Stone, July 19, 2001 (In depth interview, includes birthplace)