STAIND's MIKE MUSHOK Says His Working Relationship With AARON LEWIS Hasn't Changed In Nearly 30 Years

In a new interview with Troy Culpan of May The Rock Be With You, STAIND guitarist Mike Mushok was asked to name the one thing that has remained consistent throughout the band's nearly three-decade existence. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Probably the working relationship I feel like that Aaron [Lewis, STAIND frontman] and I have in that kind of that chemistry. When we get together, I feel like he takes what I have and helps me make it better and really completes what it is and really nails what I'm looking for and having a song. He just does such a great job with the melody and the lyrics."

He continued: "When we got together for the first time trying to work on [STAIND's first album in 12 years, the recently released 'Confessions Of The Fallen'], and you're just, like, 'Oh, what's this gonna be like? We haven't done this in a long time.' It was like we just picked up where we left off."

In an April 2023 interview Jason Bailey of Audacy Check In podcast, Mushok was asked if he has ever had discussions with Lewis about not being so vocal about his political views during STAIND shows. He responded: "There's not really a conversation [about that]. I mean, I do feel like — and even Aaron said, he goes, 'My country career is really where I deal with that. STAIND, not so much.' That's something that he's kind of said. So I mean, listen… People in the audience know who Aaron is and what he says. So sometimes that comes up — certain chants will happen during our shows from time to time. And, you know, whatever."

Last December, Mushok was asked by Loaded Radio podcast how he feels about Lewis publicly voicing his political views. He responded: "Listen, [Aaron is] a very opinionated person. He feels he needs to go out there and say what his opinion is. And listen, he's got the right to do that, right?"

"Confessions Of The Fallen" arrived on September 15 via Alchemy Recordings/BMG. STAIND's first new LP album since 2011 was produced by Erik Ron (GODSMACK, PANIC! AT THE DISCO, BLACK VEIL BRIDES).

STAIND has released eight albums since 1995, including 2011's self-titled effort. The band has had a number of hit songs during its first two decades, including the Top 10 smash "It's Been Awhile" from the No. 1 album "Break The Cycle". Follow-up LPs "14 Shades Of Grey" and "Chapter V" also topped the Billboard chart.

STAIND released its first album in nine years, "Live: It's Been Awhile", in May 2021 via Yap'em/Alchemy Recordings. The "Live: It's Been Awhile" album was accompanied by "The Return Of Staind", a two-part global streaming series in partnership with Danny Wimmer Presents.

STAIND and GODSMACK recently completed a 25-city co-headlining 2023 tour, produced by Live Nation. The trek launched on July 18 at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in St. Louis, Missouri, with stops across the U.S. before wrapping up in Austin, Texas at Germania Insurance Amphitheatre on August 31.