Biography
In the early '90s, when grunge reached its commercial height, a Phoenix group shaped by the Seattle style held tryouts for a vocalist. Chester Bennington, still a teenager, caught drummer Sean Dowdell's attention with his rendition of Pearl Jam's "Alive," leading the pair to launch the post-grunge band Grey Daze. Their sound drew from the anguish and darkness of Alice in Chains, Nirvana, and Soundgarden, relying on minor-key progressions, heavy textures, and bleak themes far removed from the hip-hop and electronic elements that would later define Bennington's work in Linkin Park; he would also front Stone Temple Pilots and Dead by Sunrise. Grey Daze issued two albums, one in 1994 and another in 1997, before disbanding. Two decades after their first release, the surviving members planned a reunion, only for Bennington's death in July 2017 to interrupt those efforts. The remaining musicians carried on with assistance from notable collaborators, issuing the re-recorded collection Amends in 2020 and The Phoenix in 2022.
Bennington was fifteen when he secured his father's approval to join after the 1993 audition, and the band soon tracked their debut. Wake Me appeared in 1994 and contained early takes of "Sometimes," "She Shines," and "Morei Sky." The group cultivated a regional audience through Arizona performances, including a 1996 bill alongside Bush and No Doubt. Founding bassist Jonathan Krause and guitarist Jason Barnes departed before the second album, with Mace Beyers and Bobby Benish stepping in; this lineup recorded ...No Sun Today, released in 1997 and featuring the singles "B12" and "Anything, Anything," the latter a cover of Dramarama's 1985 track. Local airplay and further touring followed, yet the band dissolved in 1998. The following year Bennington auditioned successfully for the Los Angeles group Xero, which later became Linkin Park.
Dowdell and Bennington stayed connected over time, living nearby and collaborating on Dowdell's Club Tattoo venture. Marking the twentieth anniversary of their second album, the pair announced plans in 2017 to revive Grey Daze, scheduling an October performance with Beyers and guitarist Cristin Davis, who replaced Benish after his 2004 passing. Bennington was discovered deceased at his residence on July 20, halting the project. Dowdell chose to fulfill the original vision in tribute to his friend's intent, enlisting producer Jay Baumgardner (Helmet, Sevendust, P.O.D.) to oversee re-recordings by Dowdell, Beyers, and Davis. Guests included Page Hamilton (Helmet), Brian Welch and James Shaffer (Korn), Jasen Rauch (Breaking Benjamin), Chris Traynor (Bush), Marcos Curiel (P.O.D.), Ryan Shuck (Bennington's Dead by Sunrise bandmate), and Chester's son Jaime Bennington. Retaining the original vocal tracks, the sessions yielded Amends, whose title references a lyric from "Morei Sky" ("If I had a second chance/I'd make amends"). Early 2021 brought the acoustic EP Amends... Stripped, produced by Billy Bush and featuring reworked material.
The Phoenix arrived in June 2022, gathering the remaining songs not included on Amends. Produced by Esjay Jones, it incorporates Dave Navarro on "Holding You," Filter's Richard Patrick on "Believe Me," and Bennington's daughters Lily and Lila on "Hole."
Bennington was fifteen when he secured his father's approval to join after the 1993 audition, and the band soon tracked their debut. Wake Me appeared in 1994 and contained early takes of "Sometimes," "She Shines," and "Morei Sky." The group cultivated a regional audience through Arizona performances, including a 1996 bill alongside Bush and No Doubt. Founding bassist Jonathan Krause and guitarist Jason Barnes departed before the second album, with Mace Beyers and Bobby Benish stepping in; this lineup recorded ...No Sun Today, released in 1997 and featuring the singles "B12" and "Anything, Anything," the latter a cover of Dramarama's 1985 track. Local airplay and further touring followed, yet the band dissolved in 1998. The following year Bennington auditioned successfully for the Los Angeles group Xero, which later became Linkin Park.
Dowdell and Bennington stayed connected over time, living nearby and collaborating on Dowdell's Club Tattoo venture. Marking the twentieth anniversary of their second album, the pair announced plans in 2017 to revive Grey Daze, scheduling an October performance with Beyers and guitarist Cristin Davis, who replaced Benish after his 2004 passing. Bennington was discovered deceased at his residence on July 20, halting the project. Dowdell chose to fulfill the original vision in tribute to his friend's intent, enlisting producer Jay Baumgardner (Helmet, Sevendust, P.O.D.) to oversee re-recordings by Dowdell, Beyers, and Davis. Guests included Page Hamilton (Helmet), Brian Welch and James Shaffer (Korn), Jasen Rauch (Breaking Benjamin), Chris Traynor (Bush), Marcos Curiel (P.O.D.), Ryan Shuck (Bennington's Dead by Sunrise bandmate), and Chester's son Jaime Bennington. Retaining the original vocal tracks, the sessions yielded Amends, whose title references a lyric from "Morei Sky" ("If I had a second chance/I'd make amends"). Early 2021 brought the acoustic EP Amends... Stripped, produced by Billy Bush and featuring reworked material.
The Phoenix arrived in June 2022, gathering the remaining songs not included on Amends. Produced by Esjay Jones, it incorporates Dave Navarro on "Holding You," Filter's Richard Patrick on "Believe Me," and Bennington's daughters Lily and Lila on "Hole."
Albums
Singles
