(drums) who was later replaced by Aaron Gainer.
After performing no more than 12 live shows, the band recorded a demo and went to New York City where they performed at an industry showcase, where the band encountered some minor difficulties,:"Here we are, our first few hours in New York City," McCoy recalls, "and Kevin is puking in the bathroom and I'm chasing some guy who stole my wallet just a few hours before we play the showcase. It was crazy."After that, the band was signed up by Wind-Up Records. The situation improved once 12 Stones signed with Wind-up and began recording with producer Jay Baumgardner (Papa Roach, Alien Ant Farm), who helped pump up Eric Weaver’s searing guitar solos in the belief that a new guitar hero might be born. Combined with the propulsive rhythm section of Dorr and drummer Aaron Gainer and McCoy’s distinctive lyrics, the 12 Stones sound conveys real emotion with a visceral punch.
The band's eponymous debut album was released in 2002, produced by Jay Baumgardner. They gained more fame when vocalist McCoy performed in Evanescence's song "Bring Me to Life" opposite Amy Lee. The song was included in both Evanescence's album, Fallen and in the Daredevil film soundtrack. McCoy quotes:"Our songs are about some of the really tough times I went through growing up as a kid," McCoy says. "I really wanted to target subjects in our songs that kids going through tough times can relate to and help them get through tough times. It doesn't mean you can’t be angry and the songs powerful. We just want to stream negative energy in a positive way."
In 2004, Kevin Dorr quit the band and touring guitarist Greg Trammell later became an official member.
Their second album, Potter's Field came out in 2004. Both albums were supported with heavy touring. Clint Amereno and then Aaron Hill were brought in to play bass for the shows. After the tour, the band decided to take a break from the band to be with their respective families.
Trammell left prior to the recording of the next album, leaving the band without a second guitarist. After completion of the CD, one of its collaborators, ex-Breaking Point guitarist Justin Rimer, took over this position. The new lineup was later completed with the addition of former Presence bassist DJ Stange.
Their third album, Anthem For The Underdog, was released in 2007. The album is said to be inspired by the effects of Hurricane Katrina on their hometown.
Shortly after the album's release, Stange quit and was replaced by Shawn Wade, formerly of the band Silence Is Broken.
12 Stones released an EP entitled "The Only Easy Day was Yesterday in the summer of 2010. Shortly after its release, the band left Wind-up Records.
After a lengthy search, they found a new home with EMI. EMG's Jacob Capricciuolo said of the latest expansion move of the company, "signing 12 Stones marks a pivotal turn for Executive Music Group to not only continue its established rock success, but to now elevate its presence in Rock to a much broader audience. Myself and VP Jimmy Swan believe 12 Stones has been underrated within the music industry for far to long. We live for radical movements and artists ready to make radical changes within those movements such as 12 Stones. The excitement to work with their amazing talent is more than exhilarating to say the least! It's an honor to have on our roster a group of hard working guys stopping at nothing for global success!"
They entered the studio in the spring of 2011 to record their 4th full length LP. The first single "Bulletproof" from the new album entitled "Only Human" was released on July 11, 2011 to much fanfare.
Broken
12 Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Patiently waiting by the phone
Hoping that you will call me home
The pain inside my love denied
Hopes and dreams swallowed by pride
Everything I need it lies in you
'Cause I'm broken
I know I need you now
'Cause deep inside I'm broken
You see the way I live
I know I know your heart is broken
When I turn away
I need to be broken
Take the pain away
I question why you chose to die
When you knew your truth I would deny
You look at me
The tears begin to fall
And all in all faith is blind
But I fail time after time
Daily in my sin I take your life
All the hate deep inside
Slowly covering my eyes
All these things I hide
Away from you again
All this fear holding me
My heart is cold and I believe
Nothings gonna change
Until I'm whole again
The lyrics of Broken by 12 Stones speaks of the pain of a failed relationship and the realization that the singer needs the other person to survive. The first and second stanzas explicitly explain the feelings of loneliness and abandonment that the singer is going through, with no hope in the horizon until the person they love calls them back. The pain that they are feeling to have their love denied is something that they cannot bear alone, and all they want is for it to go away as the person they're waiting for is everything they need.
The chorus lyrics of the song, "I'm broken, I know I need you now" displays the vulnerability that the singer is experiencing and acknowledges that the love they thought they were strong enough to have is broken. The singer then pleads for the other person to see their frailty and come to their aid to take the pain away. In the third Stanza, the singer blames himself for the broken relationship, lamenting that he failed time after time, leading to his sin taking everything from the person he loves.
The singer realizes that all the hate and fear he felt inside, which he was unwilling to share, is gradually leading to him losing his identity. He acknowledges that until he is whole again, nothing will change. The overall lyrics speak of the pain of a broken relationship, the fragility of the human heart, and the need for human connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Alone again again alone
Feeling lonely and isolated
Patiently waiting by the phone
Anticipating a call from a loved one
Hoping that you will call me home
Desperately wanting to be with the one you love
The pain inside my love denied
Suffering because of rejected love
Hopes and dreams swallowed by pride
Pride getting in the way of one's aspirations
Everything I need it lies in you
Realizing that the one they love is their everything
'Cause I'm broken
Acknowledging one's emotional state
I know I need you now
Recognizing the importance of one's partner
'Cause deep inside I'm broken
Admitting to feeling emotionally damaged
You see the way I live
Feeling exposed and judged by one's partner
I know I know your heart is broken
Feeling guilty for causing heartbreak to a loved one
When I turn away
Shutting out one's partner
I need to be broken
Feeling the need to face emotional pain head on
Take the pain away
Wanting to be free of emotional suffering
I question why you chose to die
Feeling angry and confused about a loved one's death
When you knew your truth I would deny
Feeling guilty for not accepting a loved one's truth
You look at me
Feeling exposed and vulnerable in front of a loved one
The tears begin to fall
Overwhelmed with emotion
And all in all faith is blind
Questioning one's beliefs
But I fail time after time
Feeling like a failure
Daily in my sin I take your life
Feeling responsible for a loved one's suffering
All the hate deep inside
Bottled up anger and resentment
Slowly covering my eyes
Blinding oneself to the truth
All these things I hide
Keeping one's true feelings a secret
Away from you again
Putting emotional distance between oneself and a loved one
All this fear holding me
Being paralyzed by fear
My heart is cold and I believe
Feeling emotionally numb and hopeless
Nothings gonna change
Feeling stuck and hopeless
Until I'm whole again
Believing that emotional healing is necessary to move forward
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: ERIC WEAVER, ANTHONY MCCOY, KEVIN W DORR, PATRICK QUAVE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind