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The members of Stage were just 15-years-old when they decided to make music their life. Ryan Stahr (vocals/guitar), Petr Anselmo (bass), and Greg Meyer (guitar) were just messing around with Screaming Trees and Soundgarden covers for a high-school talent show in 1993 when it was discussed that the dynamic between them was too strong to ignore. Gigs at CBGB's arrived soon thereafter, coinciding with their independently released first album Historical Underdosing. Things certainly happened fast: an opening gig for Bon Jovi in front of 15,000 people at the Jones Beach Amphitheater in New York was a brilliant opportunity for Stage. Longtime Stage fan and Stahr's childhood friend Justin Parker was added on drums just in time for another dream come true: opening for Kiss in Prague. Still, such quick praise didn't get the best of the band. It would be awhile before Stage saw mainstream results. br /br /In 2000, they inked a deal with Maverick, but attempts at recording some songs for a debut album didn't get off to a great start. Stage eventually hooked up with producer Gregg Wattenberg (Five for Fighting, Dishwalla) in 2001 and things were on their way. The end result was the heavy rock sound of Stage. Stage, which was also engineered by Brian Scheuble (U2, Fiona Apple, Sheryl Crow) and mixed by Tim Palmer (Mother Love Bone, Catherine Wheel, Tin Machine), was slated for a fall 2002 release. Warner Bros. saved the band and issued the record in the following spring. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide |
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