Candlebox

Candlebox took shape in Seattle precisely as the first wave of grunge began to recede in the early 1990s. Rather than retain the punk and indie characteristics that originally marked the style, the band favored a blues-driven, classic hard-rock approach that grunge had appeared to supplant. Commercial breakthrough followed in 1993 with the self-titled debut album, certified quadruple platinum and propelled by the hit singles “You” and “Far Behind.” Two further albums appeared before the group disbanded in 2000, yet the original members reunited six years later. Since the reformation Candlebox has stayed consistently active, issuing the well-received Into the Sun (2008), Disappearing in Airports (2016), and Wolves (2021), each demonstrating how grunge’s sharper edges could be refined into a sound readily embraced by mainstream rock radio. The band concluded its run with the 2023 album The Long Goodbye.

The Seattle quartet formed in 1990 when singer-guitarist Kevin Martin, raised partly in Elgin, Illinois, and San Antonio, joined forces with drummer Scott Mercado. Initially operating under the name Uncle Duke, the lineup expanded with lead guitarist Peter Klett and bassist Bardi Martin (unrelated to Kevin) and adopted the name Candlebox, taken from a lyric in a Midnight Oil song. A demo reached Madonna’s Maverick label, securing a 1992 recording contract. The self-titled debut arrived in 1993; although the opening single “Change” helped generate early interest, it was the 1994 follow-up “You” that ignited widespread mainstream-rock-radio support and paved the way for the power-ballad “Far Behind.” That track crossed over to both mainstream and alternative formats, reached the pop Top 20, and drove the album into the Billboard Top Ten on its way to more than three million copies sold.

When the band returned with the 1995 album Lucy, critical backlash had already intensified. Despite some rock-radio airplay for the lead single “Simple Lessons” and gold certification for the album itself, which nearly entered the Top Ten, much of the mainstream press overlooked or rejected the record, citing a shortage of standout material. Founding drummer Scott Mercado exited in 1997 and was succeeded by former Pearl Jam drummer Dave Krusen. The third album, Happy Pills, emerged in 1998 and returned to the direct approach of the debut; “It’s Alright,” “10,000 Horses,” and the title track each received airplay, yet sales remained modest amid a crowded field of similar acts and the erosion of the band’s earlier momentum. Krusen and Bardi Martin both departed in 1999, replaced by Shannon Larkin (formerly of Ugly Kid Joe) and Rob Redick, but Candlebox dissolved the next year.

The original configuration of Martin, Klett, and Mercado reconvened for several 2006 performances supporting Rhino’s Best of Candlebox compilation. Positive audience response prompted plans for new material, resulting in Into the Sun in 2008. A 2012 deal with AudiNext/Fontana yielded the fifth studio album, Love Stories and Other Musings. In 2015 Peter Klett and Scott Mercado announced their departure to focus on Lotus Crush. Shortly afterward Kevin Martin and Dave Krusen introduced a new lineup featuring guitarists Mike Leslie and Brian Quinn plus bassist Adam Kury. The revamped group’s first release for Pavement Music, Disappearing in Airports, appeared in 2016. The original members reunited again in 2018 for two concerts marking the 25th anniversary of the debut album, and in 2021 Candlebox delivered its seventh studio effort, Wolves.

Following the 2022 single “This Time Tomorrow,” the band issued Live at the Neptune Theatre early in 2023, leading directly to the final album, The Long Goodbye.