|
Ask any 20-year old in the world what would be their
ultimate dream job and guaranteed they'll say "Rock
Star." Yes, being a "Rock Star" is the epitome of dream
jobs for your average 20-year old, it's fun, wild, exciting
and super cool. But, as cool as the job may be most
20-year olds could only dream of their dream job, and
couldn't even fathom the idea as a reality, but for
Paul McCoy and his band 12 Stones, the dream actually
came true. "This is great man, I am so happy right now,"
says vocalist Paul McCoy, "We're gonna drop our new
single, we have the Creed tour coming up and after that
we're gonna go and kick it in the West Coast. Man, I'm
20-years old and I'm living my dream."
Paul McCoy, guitarist Eric Weaver, drummer Aaron Gainer
and Bassist Kevin Dorr all hooked up about 2 years ago
as complete strangers hoping only to jam and kick back
with some grooves and song ideas. "We didn't really
know each other when the band started," Explains McCoy,
"we all met up in a music shop and started jamming one
day and it all kinda took off from there." The group
quickly discovered a musical chemistry and began writing.
"We hit it off really well and just clicked," McCoy
said. "After our first week of practicing we knew we
had something, in fact, our first single was written
in the first four practices." The band knew they had
something special and after a few months of jamming
together they decided it was time to shop themselves
to the record labels. While most cynics would tell them
that it was way too early to even think about labels
never the less actually showcase, they were determined
to get noticed and destine to land a deal.
It was with that determination along with a trip to
New York that would change their lives forever. It was
in New York City where 12 Stones met with several major
record labels, including Wind-Up Records. Their tight
performance and commercially viable looks and sound
impressed Wind-Up and McCoy and 12 Stones, who had only
been playing with together for seven months, would be
signed shortly after. "We only played like 15 shows
live before we got signed. It all happened extremely
fast for us and all blew up really quickly." I know,
I know, you hate them.. But, as the saying goes, don't
hate the player, hate the game. "People get mad at us
because we never went through tough times, but we were
fortunate enough not to have to.. We realized that things
happened so fast and that things went extremely well
for us, but in all honesty it's not our fault. It doesn't
make us any better of a band of better of guys, we were
just extremely fortunate. When people meet us they see
that we're not cocky and we're not rock stars or anything
like that. We really understand how fortunate we are
to be in this position and we don't take it for granted."
12 Stones, (named after a biblical reference that stems
from the Old Testament book of Joshua and represents
the 12 tribes of Israel and their protection) released
their self -entitled debut in April and it received
raves from critics and fans alike. It's been riding
in the top 20 of the Heatseekers chart since release
and blowing up all across the states. It debuted at
#7 on Billboard's Top New Artists chart and #164 on
the Top 200 Albums chart and their first single "Broken"
has been added into heavy rotation by MTV2 and rock
radio marking it as a hot single.
This record is a melodic and clean rock and roll trip
and much like label-mates Creed, they spin positivity
and Christian like morality into their lyrical content.
"We're all Christian guys in this band, but we're also
human and we're also a rock band so, we're not alter
boys or anything." Says the Mississippi native, "We're
very positive with life and we try to be optimistic.
All of our lyrics always point to better days and are
filled with hope and awareness. We want to bring back
a positive light to the youth and the next generation."
Their positive vibe combined with a pop rock flavor
and young, boyish good looks should earn them quite
a following among the TRL genre transforming McCoy and
12 Stones into bona fide rock stars. Their Self-titled
debut is loaded with radio-friendly rock tunes in the
spirit of Nickelback, 3 Doors Down, Creed and Default.
Songs such as "Broken," "Running Out of Pain," "The
Way I Feel" and nearly every tune on this record have
"Hit Single" written all over them. "I think this album
itself is very melodic and not too overbearing; not
too much of any one thing. I just want people to take
it away and like the sound of it."
Now, the 20-year old McCoy and the rest of the crew
are getting set for a national arena tour with Creed.
To prep for such a huge tour this unseasoned band has
been playing large clubs and working on their stage
show and ironing out the kinks. So, what should fans
expect to see at a 12 Stones gig? "Fans can expect to
see our honesty and pure passion that we put into it.
We put 150% of ourselves into each note and into each
lyric and we perform the song, make it come alive. I
think it will be a personal experience for the fans.
They'll come away thinking they had a connection and
we try to connect with everyone we play for."
So yes, dreams can come true, all you need is some talent,
a hungry manager and little bit of luck and you can
be a 20-year old rock star too. Catch 12 Stones when
they open for Creed this summer .
For more info log to: www.12stones.com
Don Sill for Crud Magazine 2002©
 |
|
| 04/02 1 Giant Leap - My Culture
04/02 Elfpower Interview - Andrew Rieger - Creatures
04/02 Frou Frou Interview - Guy Sigsworth/Imogen Heap
04/02 Gomez Interview - Ian Ball
04/02 Idlewild - Live - London Astoria
04/02 K's Choice Interview
04/02 Leaves - Live - Camden Dingwall
04/02 Longwave Interview - Exit
04/02 Lucy Mongrel Interview
04/02 Oasis - The Hindu Times
04/02 Phantom Planet - Interview
04/02 Unwritten Law - Interview
04/02 VUE - Coordinates Interview
05/02 BRMC - LIve - Kentish Town, London
05/02 Breeders - Title K
05/02 FC Kahuna - Machine Says Yes
05/02 Moco - Live - London Monarch
05/02 Need New Body - Interview
05/02 The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Live - Soundhause, Northampton
05/02 The Bellrays - Meet The Bellrays
06/02 Fleadh Festival - Finsbury Park
06/02 Frou Frou Coordinates Interview
06/02 Incubus - Interview - Mark Einziger
06/02 North Mississippi Allstars - Interview
06/02 Papa Roach - She Loves Me Not
06/02 Proud Mary - Live - Northampton, Soundhaus
06/02 Pulp - Live - Sherwood Pines, Edwinstowe
06/02 Reindeer section - You Are My Joy
06/02 Silverchair - Diorama
|  | 06/02 Something Corporate - Leaving Through The Window
06/02 Soinc Youth - Interview
06/02 The Burn - The Smiling Face
06/02 The Coral - Live - Roadmender, Northampton
06/02 The LIbertines - Live - The Social, Nottingham
06/02 The Vines, Sheffield Leadmill
06/02 Trik Turner - Interview
06/02 Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Live, Soundhaus, Northampton
07/02 12 Stones Interview
07/02 Arolo -Interview
07/02 Buy To Let Doncaster - Anti Social Behaviour
07/02 Cassius - Interview
07/02 Farrah - Interview
07/02 Glassjaw - Interview
07/02 Neil Michael Haggerty - Interview
07/02 Hoobastank - Running Away
07/02 Leaves - Interview
07/02 LL Cool Jay Interview
07/02 Oasis - Live - Finsbury Park, London
07/02 Polyphonic Spree - Live - Camden Monarch
07/02 Queens of the Stone Age - Songs For The Deaf
07/02 Super Furry Animals - Interview
07/02 The Beatings - Live - Metro Club London
07/02 The Bellrays + The D4 - Virgin Megastore, Oxford Street London
January 2001
July - August 2001
September - October 2001
November - December 2001
January - March 2002
April - July 2002
August - December 2002 | |
| |
