Evanescence facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Evanescence
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Evanescence in 2023
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1994–present |
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Evanescence is an American rock band. It was started in 1994 by singer and keyboardist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody in Little Rock, Arkansas. After releasing some early songs, Evanescence released their first big album, Fallen, in 2003. This album became very popular with hit songs like "Bring Me to Life" and "My Immortal". Fallen sold millions of copies and helped Evanescence win two Grammy Awards.
The band released their second album, The Open Door, in 2006. It also sold millions of copies worldwide. In 2011, they released their self-titled album, Evanescence, which was the first album written by the whole band. It went straight to number one on many music charts. After a break, Evanescence became an independent band in 2014. They released Synthesis in 2017, which featured their songs with orchestral and electronic sounds. Their latest album, The Bitter Truth, came out in 2021.
Evanescence is known for its unique sound. It mixes gothic and alternative metal styles with elements of classical music, hard rock, and electronic music. Amy Lee's powerful voice and songwriting are a big part of their sound. The band has had some member changes over the years. Today, the band includes Amy Lee, guitarist Tim McCord, guitarist Troy McLawhorn, drummer Will Hunt, and bassist Emma Anzai. Evanescence has sold over 31 million albums, making them one of the best-selling hard rock and metal bands ever.
Contents
Band History and Albums
How Evanescence Started (1994–2000)
Singer Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody met in 1994 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Amy was 13 and Ben was 14. They bonded over their love for music and started playing together. Amy said they "didn't fit in that well" at the camp where they met.
They began writing songs at Amy's home. They also performed acoustic shows at local coffee shops. Amy Lee had a clear idea for Evanescence's music. She wanted to mix classical music and film scores with metal, hard rock, and alternative music. She loved the idea of combining different sounds. After trying out other names, they chose "Evanescence," which means "disappearance" or "fading away." They thought it sounded "beautiful" and "elusive."
Lee and Moody recorded two short albums called EPs: Evanescence (1998) and Sound Asleep (1999). They sold these at their early shows. In 2000, they released a demo CD called Origin. This CD helped them get noticed by record labels.
Breaking Through with Fallen (2001–2004)
A producer heard Evanescence's demos and shared them with Wind-up Records. The label was impressed by Amy Lee's voice and the band's gothic sound. They signed Evanescence in 2001. The label moved them to Los Angeles to work on their first album.
However, the record label wanted a male singer on their first single, "Bring Me to Life". Amy Lee wasn't happy about this, but she agreed so the album could be released. "Bring Me to Life" became a huge hit worldwide. It was featured in the movie Daredevil and helped the band gain many fans.
Evanescence's debut album, Fallen, was released on March 4, 2003. Amy Lee wrote most of the songs on Fallen. She said her writing was inspired by difficult experiences. The band did not see their music as "goth" or "nu metal," even though some people called it that.
The band's music was first promoted to Christian radio stations. But Amy Lee and Ben Moody made it clear they were not a Christian band. The label then stopped promoting them in the Christian market.
In October 2003, Ben Moody left the band during a tour. Amy Lee said it was because of creative differences and tension. She felt relieved after he left, as it allowed the band to move forward. Terry Balsamo joined as the new lead guitarist.
At the 46th Grammy Awards in 2004, Evanescence won two Grammy Awards: Best Hard Rock Performance for "Bring Me to Life" and Best New Artist. Fallen was a massive success, selling over 17 million copies worldwide.
In November 2004, Evanescence released their first live album and DVD, Anywhere but Home. It included a concert in Paris and behind-the-scenes footage.
The Open Door and New Members (2004–2007)
Amy Lee worked with Terry Balsamo on Evanescence's second album, The Open Door (2006). Amy said this was a great experience because she had "free rein" to create the music she wanted. The album explored themes of overcoming challenges and growing as a person.
In July 2006, bassist Will Boyd left the band. Tim McCord joined as the new bassist. The album's first single, "Call Me When You're Sober", was released in August 2006. The Open Door debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
In May 2007, guitarist John LeCompt and drummer Rocky Gray left the band. Will Hunt became the new drummer, and Troy McLawhorn joined as guitarist. Amy Lee felt that these new members brought positive energy to the band. The Open Door sold six million copies worldwide.
Evanescence and a Break (2009–2014)
After a break, Amy Lee began writing new music in 2009. The band started recording their third album in 2010. They worked with producer Nick Raskulinecz. The album was titled Evanescence because it was the first album written by all the band members together. Amy Lee said the album was "about the band" and included themes of nature, freedom, and love.
Evanescence was released on October 11, 2011. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The band then went on a long tour, playing shows in North America, Europe, Japan, Australia, and South America. After the tour, the band decided to take a break.
In 2014, Evanescence left their record label, Wind-up Records. This meant they became an independent band, able to make their own decisions about their music.
Returning with Synthesis (2015–2018)
Evanescence returned to performing in 2015. Guitarist Terry Balsamo left the band, and Jen Majura joined as the new guitarist.
In 2017, the band released Synthesis. This album was different because it featured orchestral and electronic versions of their older songs. It also included two new songs. Amy Lee described it as a "soundtrack" style album. To support Synthesis, Evanescence toured with a full orchestra for the first time.
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The Bitter Truth and Recent Tours (2019–present)
In 2019, Evanescence announced plans for a new studio album. They also released a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" for the video game Gears 5. This cover song became very popular.
The band started recording their fifth album, The Bitter Truth, in early 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused some delays. The album's first single, "Wasted on You", was released in April 2020. The music video for it was filmed by the band members at home during the pandemic.
The Bitter Truth was released on March 26, 2021. It reached the top five on several Billboard charts. In 2022, the band announced that Jen Majura had left. Tim McCord switched from bass to guitar, and Emma Anzai joined as the new bassist.
Evanescence has continued to tour extensively. They have played with bands like Korn and Muse. In 2022, their music video for "Bring Me to Life" reached over 1 billion views on YouTube. In 2023, they played their biggest solo show ever in Brazil.
Band's Music Style
Evanescence mixes many different music styles. These include rock, classical, alternative, heavy metal, and electronic music. Music experts often describe them as alternative metal, gothic rock, and hard rock. Sometimes, they are also called industrial rock or symphonic metal.
Their sound is known for combining beautiful, dramatic melodies with heavy guitars. Amy Lee's strong and emotional voice is a key part of their unique sound. Over time, their music has grown. It started with radio-friendly rock anthems and later added more classical and symphonic elements.
Amy Lee is the main songwriter for Evanescence. In the beginning, she and the lead guitarist wrote most of the music. But since their third album, Evanescence, the whole band works together to create their songs.
What Inspired Their Music
Amy Lee's musical influences are very diverse. She grew up listening to classical music, film scores by Danny Elfman and Hans Zimmer, and alternative bands like Bjork and Portishead. She also liked grunge, hard rock, and heavy metal.
She always wanted to combine these different styles. For example, she noticed how parts of Bach's classical music sounded like heavy metal. She also loves the "Lacrimosa" part of Mozart's Requiem and used it in her song "Lacrymosa".
Evanescence has mentioned many artists as influences. These include Soundgarden, Björk, Mozart, Danny Elfman, Korn, Tori Amos, Nirvana, Pantera, Portishead, Nine Inch Nails, and Depeche Mode.
Their Impact on Music
Evanescence has had a big impact on rock music. Their mix of symphonic gothic rock was new to mainstream music. They helped open doors for female singers in rock and metal. Rolling Stone magazine said they brought "theatrics and a much-needed femininity to the hard-rock boys' club."
Many people believe Amy Lee "broke down the doors" for women in alternative metal. Their success showed that pianos and female vocals could be very popular in rock music. Kerrang! magazine called Evanescence "one of heavy music's most important, influential and relevant bands." They also noted that Amy Lee has inspired many young women in music.
Band Members
Current members
- Amy Lee – lead vocals, piano, keyboards, harp (1994–present)
- Tim McCord – guitar (2022–present); bass (2006–2022)
- Will Hunt – drums (2007–present)
- Troy McLawhorn – guitar (2007–present)
- Emma Anzai – bass, backing vocals (2022–present; touring musician)
Former members
- Ben Moody – guitar, drums (1994–2003)
- David Hodges – keyboards, backing vocals (1999–2002)
- Will Boyd – bass (2005–2006; touring musician 2003–2005)
- Rocky Gray – drums (2005–2007; touring musician 2003–2005)
- John LeCompt – guitar (2005–2007; touring musician 2003–2005)
- Terry Balsamo – guitar (2003–2015)
- Jen Majura – guitar, backing vocals, theremin (2017–2022; touring musician 2015–2017)
Timeline
Albums Released
- Fallen (2003)
- The Open Door (2006)
- Evanescence (2011)
- Synthesis (2017)
- The Bitter Truth (2021)
Awards and Recognition
Evanescence has won many awards for their music. These include two Grammy Awards, three Loudwire Music Awards, and a Kerrang! Award. They have also received nominations for the Brit Award, American Music Award, and MTV Video Music Award.
See also
In Spanish: Evanescence para niños
