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01 Infected
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01 Infected
Album:
Released: May 22, 2012
Label:

General Info

  • Genre: Alternative / Indie / Rock

    Location Mandeville, Un

    Profile Views: 4477349

    Last Login: 9/20/2012

    Member Since 9/21/2004

    Website www.12Stones.com

    Record Label Executive Music Group

    Type of Label Indie

  • Bio

    On the eve of the release of Beneath The Scars, there is a sense of optimism amongst the members of 12 Stones. The band has worked hard for the past decade, spending months and years away from family while on the road in search of the stability a successful career brings. The missing links of their line-up have been solidified, and there is a new partner in independent record label Executive Music Group. All together, fate has caught up with the band in a positive way. Since 2007, the trio of vocalist Paul McCoy, lead guitarist Eric Weaver, and rhythm guitarist Justin Rimer has been the core of 12 Stones. Mike McManus joined in 2010, with Brad Reynolds becoming the band's bassist recently, continuing the build the legacy that began in Mandeville, Louisiana over a decade ago in 2000. When asked about what each brings to the table when it comes to influences, singer McCoy reveals, "each and every member of this band has a personality that is unique. We all grew up in different areas and love different types of music. I grew up listening to nothing but country when I was young. I then fell in love with the 90's grunge phase. Eric grew up listening to blues and classic rock and was highly influenced by his father, who is an amazing guitar player as well. Justin grew up in the world of metal, and had success prior to joining 12 Stones as both a recording artist and writer. Mikey has a more eclectic taste in music citing, everything from Dream Theatre to Michael Jackson, while Brad has been in the more pop driven world, so together we bring a ton of different ideas to the table that end up as 12 Stones music." Weaver and McCoy emerged from anonymity via the self-titled debut 12 Stones (2002), and had a significant rise through two years of steady touring alongside McCoy's appearance on the debut hit from Evanescence "Bring Me To Life." It did not take long for the public to take notice of the young band, as the debut went on to sell hundreds of thousands of copies. Potter's Field (2004), Anthem for the Underdog (2007), and an EP titled The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday (2010) followed, delivering a significant following that stretches across the U.S. and The World today. To date, cumulative sales of 12 Stones recorded music exceeds two million units. A new partnership with independent label the Executive Music Group (EMG, via Fontana / Universal), and a recording that is the realized vision of a decade of finding their voice in Beneath The Scars, has delivered a renewed passion for the future of the band. Singer McCoy stated, "we recently signed to EMG records. Thanks to them we have found a new love for this industry. I think that people forget how hard it is to succeed when you don't have the right people in place. We think that we are finally poised to break through the mold. I have never felt stronger about what we are doing and I think that this is only the beginning for this band." Guitarist Weaver added, "EMG, and their partners in Fontana / Universal, are all supporting the vision that we have for the band. We've always wanted to reach out to our fans that are all over the world, and finally we are getting to do that. Our first tour in support of Beneath The Scars will be in the US, and the opportunity to tour globally is something we have been waiting years for." Beneath The Scars defines many of the qualities that transparently represent who these individuals are mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Rimer offers, "We all have inner struggles as humans and temptations in life. While we don't always choose the right path the first time, we learn from our experiences and become stronger. We all make mistakes and fall short sometimes, but it is the art of learning from these experiences that makes all the difference." McCoy adds, "The album title comes from knowing that we all eventually fall short of our expectations regardless of financial, emotional, physical well being. But in the same breath, we all strive to find a way to better ourselves. That's human nature. There are always two sides to people. It's all about realizing that we all bleed the same. we are ALL human. " Lyrically, the songs capture the essence of life's challenges. The track "I'm With You" documents the impact a friend's suicide had on the band members. It is a song of hope for those that are going through the trials we all face and the hardships that are a part of life. Weaver reflects, "'I'm With You' is a song of comfort that you are not alone and nothing is worth the ultimate capitulation of taking your own life." According to Rimer, "'Bulletproof' is a missive to stand up for whatever it is that you fight for and believe in. No matter how many times you may get knocked down you have to keep fighting and allow nothing to stop you from attaining your desires." The energy of "World's Collide" is a prime example of this theme as the lyrics explore the battle of good and evil, and the personal, inner battle to find your way in search of the better cause. As Rimer points out, "Whatever may drag or down or pull you under can be overcome. The choice is up to you." For McCoy, he shares, "I find the strongest emotional attachment to 'That Changes Everything'. It is a song about giving in and giving up on something that has been a part of your life in a big way. But right before we succumb to the pain, we realize that the person that has been hurting you has been hurting just as bad the whole time. That's what gives us a new chance to make everything better. The whole time, we feel like no one can understand OUR pain but we couldn't see that they were going through the same thing." From the beginning of the band's career, 12 Stones has straddled the worlds of spiritual and secular music. All the while, they have retained their integrity to be true to who they are individually and collectively. There are no messages, and inevitably like all writers they look towards offering a lyrical experience where the listener experiences a personal connection. In many ways this album title truly defines who they are and what they have been through, and the reality that there is nothing evangelistic about them. The live show of 12 Stones has always been an engaging experience, rocking with intensity one moment, and tuning it down to a slow, emotional experience the next. With Beneath The Scars, the repertoire is as diverse an array of compositions as they have ever delivered on one album. It truly captures the full gamut of human emotions. Rimer offers, "You're not always energized and ready to throw down. Sometimes moments in life are more heartfelt than others and it shows in these songs. We write how we feel and out of that you get a very diverse record. There is something for everyone on Beneath The Scars. 'Bury Me' is special, and we all really hope a lot of people discover, hear and feel this song. Amongst the five tracks we brought in string players for, this one really stands out for me personally. I think it will touch an awful lot of people." Weaver adds, "I hope those that listen can find comfort, healing, and all the other emotions that move us and make music such a special vehicle. People should walk away feeling inspired when they hear this album. The connection to the human spirit is paramount to inspired songwriting, and there is no question we all aimed to capture something real and meaningful here." In summing it up, McCoy shares, "we hope that they get excited when listening to or being around us. We are very passionate about our music. We love hearing stories about how we have brought something good to someone's life with our music." A decade plus in, the band has survived in a large part due to the strong connection they have with their fans. The track "Psycho" was written specifically about the experience they share together within the setting of a live event. The message is simply, forget all your troubles and allow for the music to take over. Let loose, forget your cares, alleviate your worries, and let it all go. When entranced in the setting, the goal is inevitably to simply get lost. Weaver shared, "Without our fans there would be no 12 Stones. We thrive every night off our fans, and as we give it to them, they give it back. McCoy adds simply, "want to thank everyone for keeping us alive after 10 years." Many bands digress and the years go on, running out of inspiration, and falling victim to clichés and formulas. For 12 Stones, the antithesis is the case as they continue to progress and mature. The stage show is stronger than it has ever been; their writing is finding its own unique voice. As Rimer shares, "I see really big things coming for the band. Our passion and determination are still here, and that really separates us from many of our contemporaries. We've been through some tough times, stuck it out, and now we are here to conquer bigger and better things." McCoy states in summation, "The most important part of this career to all of us is that we are still here wanting to be in this band. It is not because we have to, but it is because we truly love what we do. After more than a decade of touring, you either love what you do or hate it. Each of us remains passionate about this music, our live shows, and I believe our fans feel it. You can tell if someone's heart is not in their craft. Our fans, families and friends are the ones that give us strength to step out and do what we love every day. We strive to make our fans understand how much they mean to us, and without all of them we are nothing but a bunch of tattooed loudmouths." .. .. .... .. After selling 500,000 copies of their first two albums (their self-titled debut and Potter's Field) and touring relentlessly, 12 Stones decided it was time for a break from the road. The band packed up their gear and headed back to Mississippi and Louisiana. And what did these guys do on their time off? Well, as singer Paul McCoy put it, they "grew up a lot."....All of the guys are now fathers, and they spent a good deal of their time away from music with their families. However after a few years away from touring, McCoy says, "I really just couldn't wait to get back to making music."....THE INSPIRATION - 12 Stones has always thought of themselves as the "underdog" in the music business. Sure, they have hundreds of thousands of fans but they fought for each and every one of them. The band has yet to have a big, break-out radio hit at pop, but active rock has embraced their sound since the release of the debut. Their fans have stuck by their side and continue to reach out to on a daily basis through their website and MySpace.com page. This support is evidence that hard work truly pays off, and even after a long absence from the scene the faithful are still by their side.....McCoy says the resolution to make the best of what you've got was only intensified during the 2005 hurricane season. All natives of the Gulf region, each member of the band felt the hardships of that fall. Whether it was seeing family and friends pack up and move away from their hometowns or witnessing the region's morale drop in an instant, the band felt the effects Hurricane Katrina. "We know what it's like to be on the losing end but be making the best of the situation at the same time," McCoy says.....THE SONGS - 12 Stones did not set out to write an album for those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Still, the loss felt in their local neighborhoods had its obvious effects on the band members, and they were compelled to write about the recovery taking place around them. "Anthem for the Underdog" spells out 12 Stones' philosophy for those working hard to get back on top. McCoy sings, "We're here now feeling the beat of a thousand hearts coming back to life again, we can make it." The lyrics are a testament to the spirit of those affected by this tragedy.....On the other hand, the weather is not the only thing that is uncontrollable. People prove to be just as unreliable in songs such as "Lie To Me," "World So Cold" and "Arms of a Stranger." McCoy sings about betrayal and loss in "Lie To Me," as he passionately offers, "All the times I shared with you, were you even there at all? Nowhere to run and nowhere to hide, you're scared of the truth; I'm tired of the lies." Yet, through all of the loss and pain in these songs, there is still an underlying feeling of triumph in the end....."There is a real sense of urgency to get back on top throughout the album," McCoy explains. "We know what it's like to be the underdog but that doesn't mean we always will be. It's important to show our fans that things can change, life does get better."....THE RECORDING PROCESS - McCoy, guitar player and co-founding member Eric Weaver and drummer Aaron Gainer spent months meeting with "big time" writers and producers only to be let down over and over. McCoy says, "The big name producers made us feel like the underdogs once again, like we were lucky they agreed to meet with us." All of that changed however when the band traveled to Memphis, TN for a meeting with Justin Rimer (former guitar player for Breaking Point) and Skidd Mills (who has worked with Skillet, Saliva, and Sister Hazel). There was an instant chemistry between 12 Stones, Rimer and Mills, and the band spent the following eight months in Memphis recording Anthem For The Underdog.....Rimer has anxiously waited to team up with 12 Stones for years. They both share the same manager, so they have kept up with each other's work from the beginning. Rimer says, "The first song we did was 'It Was You,' and as soon as we played it for everybody it just clicked. I got the offer to work on the entire album right after that. I didn't want to take them too far from where they had been as a band in the past, but this is a diverse album for them. Paul definitely wanted to kill me by the end because I had him singing in higher ranges than he had ever sung before."....When the album was complete, the guys were not ready to say good-bye to Rimer, and invited him to join the band on the road. "We had never been so open to criticism or trying new things in the studio as we were when working with Justin. It was great to have someone working with us who really knows their way around a studio," McCoy says of their new guitar player.....Weaver also appreciated Rimer's contribution as the second guitarist. He says, "Justin comes from more of a metal background than I do, so it is nice to mix the different flavors of music. He is a great addition to the showmanship of the band." Rimer calls playing with 12 Stones "like home." "I was in Breaking Point for years, but I am just as comfortable playing with this band."....THE FUTURE - 12 Stones has been through a great deal in the past few years, but somehow the band has made the best of what they've got and come out the better for it. They continue to strive for the top, and McCoy says they "are ready to step up and take the lead. This album is the best attempt we've got to grab new fans, and we're ready."...."We are really proud of this collection of songs, and think the fans are going to love it," McCoy continues. "We've been gone for a while but can't wait to get back out there – we've never been in a better place."....Underdog? Not for long…

  • Members

    Paul McCoy- Vocals, Eric Weaver- Guitar, Aaron Gainer - Drums

  • Influences

  • Sounds Like

Stream

  1. 12 Stones

    Hey everyone in the St. Tammany area get out to Columbia St. Rock-N-Blues Cafe tonight and check out Robert Fortune Band and Strange Roux!!

  2. 12 Stones

    RT PLEASE VOTE NOW for @BandITBranding's photo of 12 STONES http://t.co/rxBAQsDS

  3. 12 Stones

    Hey Twitter! What's your favorite 12 Stones MUSIC VIDEO?

  4. 12 Stones

    Where do you want to see us tour this year??

    • Post a comment...
      • DEEP SOUTH AUTO DETAILI…

        Somewhere in clarke county alabama:) Preforably thomasville or grove hill:) I saw you guys live in mobile at the soul kitchen and that was the best concert! I met you paul and eric weaver and got both autographs:)

        3 months ago
      • Phil Jackers

         Belgium! ;)

        4 months ago
  5. 12 Stones

    What are you all up to on this Sunday?

    • Post a comment...
      • Mr. Horse

        layin' back 

        4 months ago
      • Yovette Brooks

        playing online AS THE HUBS WATCHES FOOTBALL, HOW ABOUT YOU? 

        4 months ago

Comments

Post a comment...
  • 12 Stones

    What do you guys think about the new new album?  Love to hear your feedback! 

    11 months ago
  • 12 Stones

    Did you get our new album, "Beneath the Scars" yet?  It's on iTunes & Amazon or on our website (only place for international)......Get it right now....www.12Stones.com

    11 months ago
  • Xit Meh

      12 Stones - Someone Like You.....Super 5 ///

    1 year ago
  • !SHiLOH!

    *AMHERST* 
    Totally wrecking the shit outta the Lowcountry.
    http://www.facebook.com/63AMHERST
    go like them on FB.

    1 year ago
  • Chelsea Podolsky

    Saw you in Mt. Clemens, MI. Love you guys. You are awesome. Need to come back Toledo/Detroit area every tour. 

    1 year ago
  • Cate Bosse

    Just picked up "The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday" & it's AWESOME!

    2 years ago
  • Benn Lee

    A great year of 2011 for you guys, the new album will be a worldwide success...
    You are the best, you have my admiration of a fan in the life and death.
    Signed by the biggest fan of you in south america.

    Benn Lee.

    2 years ago
  • INayara KEwllyn

    hello, I'm from north of Brazil, a state of Amazonia, I overheard the music of you on a local television program, I heard and loved ... I loved the lyrics of the songs .. really enjoy the sound of you. ... I believe even though I'm the first fan of you here ... Shalom

    2 years ago
  • qwerty qwerty

    Have a nice weekend



    2 years ago
  • Bigi

    Wish you a Merry Xmas and a happy new year !
    A very prosperous 2011 and may all your dreams come true !!!

    2 years ago
10 of 15More

BIO

2012 UPDATE COMING SOON!!

DISCOGRAPHY



....
Beneath the Scars
Released: 2012
Get it now:
iTunes | Amazon
12 Stones.com | Executive Music Group

The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday EP
Released: 2010
Get it now:
iTunes | Amazon
Napster | Rhapsody
Shockhound | Walmart
Zune | Official Store

Anthem for the Underdog
Released: 2007
Buy Now On:
iTunes | Napster
Walmart |Amazon | Best Buy | Rhapsody
Verizon V Cast
     
Potter's Field
Released: 2004
Buy Now On:
iTunes | Napster
Walmart | Amazon | Best Buy | Rhapsody
Verizon V Cast
     
12 Stones
Released: 2002
Buy Now On:
iTunes | Napster
Walmart | Amazon | Best Buy | Rhapsody
Verizon V Cast
     
VIDEOS:

Anthem For The Underdog (Live)
Released: 2008
Buy Now On:
iTunes
     
Lie To Me
Released: 2008
Buy Now On:
iTunes

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