Rolling Stones
Almost overnight, rockers 12 Stones went from unknowns to opening for Creed in huge arenas—and with their new album, they're still on a roll.
by Andy Argyrakis | posted 9/13/2004
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The relatively young career of hard rock band 12 Stones has been moving at lightning speed. After briefly meeting one another at a Louisiana music store, they scheduled practice sessions and formed a group. Just 13 concerts later, they were auditioning for record labels, and eventually signed with Wind-Up Entertainment. Almost overnight, 12 Stones jumped from a relatively anonymous club tour to a marquee arena tour with Creed. Then frontman Paul McCoy sang on Evanescence's smash hit "Bring Me to Life," bringing the group even more exposure. And their star keeps rising. As their sophomore album Potter's Field released, we caught up with McCoy, 22, to talk about the band's rapid rise and their faith-based message.
From left: Greg Trammell (guitar), Paul McCoy(vocals), Eric Weaver (guitar), Aaron Gainer(drums)
You barely knew each other when you got started. What was that like?
Paul McCoy We all kind of met strangely in a music store, started jamming together and then practiced from time to time. One practice led to the next practice and soon we were up to three days a week. Thirteen concerts later we got signed, and then the first record was only made within three months of knowing each other, which is a pretty bizarre freshman debut. We've since learned how to work with one another and write together as our friendships with one another have developed.
A lot of labels checked you out. What did you like so much about Wind-Up?
McCoy They sign who they love and love who they sign. They'll push [promote] a band till they die and it's a family environment. The first time after we showcased for them, they got our names, asked where we were from and wanted to know us as people. When it came time to talk business in a separate setting, we did that, but in just meeting them, it was like they said, "Look, I don't care if you sign or if you hate us. We just want to get to know you and have good time." The initial step was getting to know us on a personal level and not trying to win us over. They're genuine people who'll admit they're not the biggest or strongest label you'll meet, but they'll believe and back the bands they sign.
It sounds like they proved that by getting you on the road with Creed right away. What was that like compared to the club circuit?
McCoy For us it was really different. We were playing clubs for 50 people one night and then opening for Creed in arenas. It was insane to go from wondering if anyone would show up to barely being able to get our ears to stop ringing at end of night from the sound of 10,000 people screaming. Everybody needs to experience that and to see how all the press, interviews, production, pyro and behind the scenes workings are of a tour that huge. That was right in the pinnacle of their Weathered album and tour and that, more than radio, earned us enough word of mouth support to get off the ground.
What's your take on Creed's recent break-up?
McCoy It's hard seeing some of that first hand because we feel a little closer to the situation. But it needed to be done for both individual groups and them going their separate ways. I'm psyched for what's in store for the guys next—they've got great abilities. [Creed frontman Scott Stapp launched a solo career, while guitarist Mark Tremonti started his own band, Alter Bridge.]
How did the Evanescence pairing come about?
McCoy It's funny because every single thing's happened so freakishly fast to us. At that point, we were accustomed to our band not going as planned, and that was one of those things [I was asked] to do in the middle of it all. Being on the song helped raise awareness for our band—after all, their album had 14 million sales! But I guess once again, that was us sort of watching vicariously. We're always seeing a lot of things to look forward to, like headlining a big tour—or actually being the band entirely behind a smash as huge as "Bring Me To Life."
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