Evanescence
is:
Amy Lee
John Lecompt
William Boyd
Rocky Gray
Terry Balsamo
(formerly) Ben Moody and David
Hodges
Folks new to Evanescence
fandom may be surprised to
learn that Ben Moody and Amy
Lee, the founding members
of Evanescence, met at church
camp. I interviewed Ben in
1998 and here's how he characterized
the meeting:
Several years ago Amy and
myself were attending a youth
camp. I was playing with the
praise and worship group and
Amy was a camper. During some
kind of break/recreation time
I was sitting in the gym watching
a basketball game. On the
other side of the court was
a stage for plays and a piano.
I was just sitting there bored
to tears when all of the sudden
I was given a quick jolt as
my ears were filled with the
sound of the piano intro to
Meatloaf's "I Would Do
Anything For Love."
I looked over at the piano
and there was this girl effortlessly
displaying emmence amounts
of talent. After my initial
envious rage subsided I hopped
to my feet and ran right through
the basketball game straight
to the piano and introduced
myself.
She then impressed me further
with songs that she had written.
I thought I was in heaven.
But then she sang. I nearly
died. coming from this tiny
little youth camp reject was
one of the most powerful,
beautiful voicies I'd ever
heard. So I somehow convinced
her to never play with anyone
else again and she's been
mine ever since.
Ben and Amy soon began recording
songs like "Give Unto
Me" and "Understanding"
under the name Evanescence.
With such influences as Type
O Negative, Living Sacrifice
(who, rumor has it, once asked
Ben to join as guitarist,
but he turned them down to
continue focusing on Evanescence),
Portishead and Sarah McLachlan
they began to craft a unique
sound that took in elements
of metal, electronic music
and (probably without intending
it) goth rock.
Brad Caviness started to
play "Understanding"
and "Give Unto Me"
on the radio show he co-hosted
on KABF in Little Rock, giving
Evanescence their first exposure
to the world at large.
Their debut EP was released
in December of 1998 at their
first show (to my knowledge)
at Vino's in Little Rock.
The run of 100 CDRs sold out
quickly that night.
At some point David Hodges
joined the band on keys ,
but I can't give you any details
on that because I don't know
how that transpired. I can
say that those close to the
band were in shock, as Ben
Moody is a notorious perfectionist
who has a hard time finding
anyone who he feels comfortable
playing music with.
The Whisper EP was released
around this time by the band
with help from BigWig Enterprises
on CDR (limited to 50 copies).
In time the Evanescence live
show was rounded out with
such members as Will Boyd
(the Visitors) John Lecompt
(formerly of Mindrage, currently
of Kill System) and Rocky
Gray (of Soul Embraced, Kill
System and Living Sacrifice).
Recently David Hodges has
parted ways with the band,
hoping to return to his musical
roots and start a new band
in the Christian market. Rumor
has it he and Matt Outlaw
are currently writing songs
for this project. John Lecompt
and Rocky Gray are now considered
full-fledged members of the
band.
This band, once only know
to us lucky few, has taken
the world by storm. Their
major-label debut Fallen on
Wind-Up Records, home to bands
such as 12 Stones and Drowning
Pool has gone 5x Platinum
in the US alone. The overpowering
sounds of Evanescence have
definently set them apart
from any other band in 2003,
and have won them many awards
to include two grammys! However
with all their success, also
came lots of disappointments.
With the loss of Ben Moody
the question on everyone's
mind is with 2/3'rds of the
original band now gone will
Evanescence be able to pump
out an even better sophmore
album? I guess only time will
tell! |