Formation of Evanescence:
The roots of Evanescence lie in the first meeting of singer/pianist Amy Lee and songwriter/guitarist Ben Moody as teenagers at a youth camp in Arkansas. The pair discovered they shared a strong musical affinity and began writing songs together. Among the earliest songs written together was the later Evanescence hit "My Immortal." Initially the duo recorded a pair of EP's and a limited release album Origin, but they did not perform live.
Evanescence Band Members:
- Amy Lee - Vocals and piano
- Terry Balsamo - Guitar
- Rocky Gray - Drums
- John LeCompt - Guitar
- Tim McCord - Bass
Fallen:
Evanescence were working on demos in Memphis, Tennessee when they were discovered by producer Pete Matthews. He played their songs for a number of record companies and ultimately the fleshed out 5-piece band were signed to Wind-Up Entertainment, home of multi-platinum band Creed. Two of the band's songs, "Bring Me to Life" and "My Immortal," were included on the soundtrack to the Ben Affleck movie Daredevil. Their release was soon followed by the album Fallen in March, 2003.
Evanescence a Christian Rock Band?:
With its initial release, Fallen was promoted in both secular and Christian music stores. However, shortly after the release of the album, Lee and Moody gave an interview to Entertainment Weekly that was strewn with obscenities. Wind-Up decided to pull the album from Christian retail stores, and the band were accused of changing their rhetoric about their own music to have the album pulled from Christian stores.
Awards and Achievements:
Fallen reached #1 on the Contemporary Christian album chart and #3 on the pop albums chart. The singles "Bring Me to Life" and "My Immortal" both reached the pop top 10. The album eventually sold over 6 million copies in the US and 14 million worldwide.
Evanescence received 2 Grammy Awards in February, 2004 including Best New Artist and Best Hard Rock Performance for "Bring Me to Life."
Personnel Changes for Evanescence:
The first major personnel change for Evanescence occurred in December, 2002, before the release of Fallen, when keyboardist David Hodges left. Co-founder Ben Moody left in October, 2003 in the middle of a tour. He later revealed personal problems that led to the departure. Terry Balsamo, former member of the band Cold, replaced Moody. Bassist Will Boyd left in July, 2006, citing family concerns. As a result, Tim McCord switched from guitar to take bass duties.
The Open Door:
The long-awaited second major studio album from Evanescence is titled The Open Door. The album's release date has been set as October 3, 2006. It was preceded by the single "Call Me When You're Sober." The band also announced a fall tour to promote the album.
