EVANESCENCE

TRIVIA CLUES

The two founding members had their first meeting aged 13 and 14 during a youth camp, he heard her playing Meat Loaf's 'I'd Do Anything for Love' at the piano. So he went over to meet her, and she started singing for him. They decided to start a band right then and there!

Their first EP had only 100 copies, their second only 50. Their second album however has sold over 10 million in the US.

They started out as a Christian band, but certain members have since disassociated themselves with the christian faith.

The Band was nominated for 5 Grammy awards this year, and took out 2 of them.

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Amy Lee (vocals), Terry Balsamo (guitar), John LeCompt (guitar), Will Boyd (bass), Rocky Gray (drums)

BIOGRAPHY

Amy Lee and guitarist/songwriter Ben Moody formed the band at the end of the '90s after meeting in their early teens during a "youth camp," Moody was 14 and amy was 13.

Moody later reflected, "I heard Amy playing Meat Loaf's 'I'd Do Anything for Love' at the piano. So I went over to meet her, and she started singing for me. I was pretty much blown away, so I suckered her into joining a band with me."

The fledgling band immediately scored local radio play with the tracks 'Give Unto Me' and 'Understanding'.

With Lee as lead vocalist and Moody as everything else, the band started playing at small cafes and places of such. Lee's father (whom at the time was a Local D.J. for a more "sophisticated" audience)

Moody remembers. "The second song we ever wrote was this seven-minute, ridiculous Goth anthem called 'Understanding.' And for some reason, the local rock station decided to play it a lot.”

The reason? Lee’s father was a DJ at the local radio station!

1998/99

EVANESCENCE debuted live in December of 1998 at Vino's Bar in Little Rock, a promotion night for an EP 'Evanescence', which rapidly sold out of its 100 CDR pressings. Featured musicians on this recording included THE VISITORS bass player Will Boyd along with drummer Rocky Gray and Matt Outlaw. A second EP, 'The Whisper', gained further ground for the band despite being restricted to just 50 copies.

2000

Full-length album Origin released in December 2000. It was only released in Little Rock and had such great response that they went to New York to work on a debut album for the entire country.

Lee told the BBC that Evanescence was mastering demos in Memphis, TN, when she and the band were discovered by producer Pete Matthews. He shopped the songs to record companies in New York, and Evanescence eventually landed a contract with Wind-Up Entertainment, the home of Creed.

2003

Made it to the top of the charts in 2003 with its Wind-Up Entertainment debut album, Fallen.

The soundtrack to the 2003 Ben Affleck action movie Daredevil brought success to Evanescence. The begging "Bring Me to Life," which appeared on the soundtrack along with the ballad "My Immortal," became a hit.

Originally, it was released in the Christian and secular markets but was withdrawn when the band became embroiled in controversy in April of 2003 when both Lee and Moody apparently renounced any Christian beliefs.

This setback would bear little impact upon European sales though as the album rapidly made headway on all the major charts. In three weeks 'Fallen' sold over 100,000 copies in the UK bringing in a gold sales status award and soon topping the charts. The band debuted live in the UK on June 19th, performing at the London Astoria.

Fallen sold more than 2.5 million copies in the U.S. in just seven months

Fallen surpassed double platinum, making the Top Ten in the United States, including the Top Contemporary Christian Albums chart, the Top Five in Canada, and number one in the United Kingdom.

October 22 Two days before a show in Berlin, Evanescence's manager informed her that her guitarist, co-songwriter and friend for the past eight years would be a no-show at the gig.

It is ironic that Evanescence means a disappearance like vapor!

"It was like, one in the morning," Lee recalled, "and our manager called and just said, 'What are we going to do? Ben's gone.' "

Shortly after Moody split, Lee told the British magazine Rock Sound, "You don't do that to your band. You wouldn't do that to your friends or your family. You don't do that to anyone."

his replacement, former Cold guitarist Terry Balsamo.

2004

Terry Balsamo's position the band would also be confirmed as a permanent fixture in mid January.

The band won two Grammy Awards - Best New Artist and Best Hard Rock Performance. The had a total of five Grammy nominations - also including Album of the Year, Best Rock Album, and Best Rock Song - ("Bring Me to Life").

Currently:

FALLEN is in the Billboard Top 10 for its 37th week overall, and has sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Click here to see some of the band's other highlights.

Discography:

2000 Origin

2003 Fallen

Singles:

Bring Me to Life (B-sides: Father Away, Missing)

Going Under (B-Sides: Heart Shaped Box - Nirvana cover)

My Immortal (B-Sides: Haunted)

EP’s:

Whisper

1999, (Limited edition of 50)

TRACK LISTING

1. Give Unto Me (Sound Asleep)

2. Whisper

3. Understanding (Sound Asleep version)

4. Forgive Me

5. Understanding (Original version)

6. Ascension Of The Spirit

Evanescence

January 1999, Bigwig Enterprises

TRACK LISTING

1. Where Will You Go

2. Solitude

3. Imaginary

4. Exodus

5. So Close

6. Understanding

7. The End

Official Web Page

http://www.evanescence.com