Staind formed on November 24, 1995 in Springfield, Massachusetts. After meeting through friends and covering KoRn, Rage Against the Machine, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains, among others, in smalltime clubs for a year and a half, Staind self-released their debut album, Tormented, in November 1996, citing influences Pantera and Sepultura.
In 2005, Staind were listed in metal magazine 'Hit Parader's Top 100 Metal Stars of All Time List, in which lead singer Aaron Lewis was placed at number 81, ahead of System of a Down's Daron Malakian, Disturbed's David Draiman and Queen's Freddie Mercury. He also ranked as the 10th most mysterious metal star of all time.
