In the vast tapestry of the music industry, certain bands manage to weave stories that are as poignant as the melodies they create. One such band is Grey Daze, a group that emerged from the shadows of the underground music scene to leave an indelible mark on the alternative rock landscape. Inked would like to take you on a journey through the evolution—and significance—of Grey Daze, exploring how their beginnings in the early ’90s to the present day embody the entropy of humanity, transformation and the enduring power of artistic expression.
Grey Daze’s narrative begins in 1993, hailing from Phoenix, Arizona. The band, initially comprised of vocalist Chester Bennington, drummer Sean Dowdell, guitarist Jason Barnes and bassist Jonathan Krause, embarked on a musical journey that would ultimately transcend time. What set Grey Daze apart was their ability to blend grunge, alternative rock and introspective lyrics into a sound that resonated with the fragility and complexities of human emotion.
Grey Daze released two albums, “Wake Me” (1994) and “. . .no sun today” (1997), showcasing their raw talent and the burgeoning vocal prowess of Chester Bennington. The albums garnered local attention, offering a glimpse into the band’s potential. However, external forces led to Grey Daze disbanding in 1998.
The subsequent chapters in the band’s story are defined by a tragic yet transformative event—the untimely death of Bennington in 2017. Bennington, who had risen to global fame as the frontman of Linkin Park, had always held a deep connection to Grey Daze. His tragic death came on the heels of his proposition to Sean Dowdell for a Grey Daze reunion. In 2019, Dowdell, along with the other surviving members, embarked on a mission to honor Bennington’s legacy by resurrecting Grey Daze. The idea for a Grey Daze reunion was a surprise. According to Dowdell, “Initially it was discussed when Chester brought it up on a phone call. It was his idea, and I was somewhat in shock when he threw it out there.” With original Grey Daze bassist Mace Beyers and guitarist Cristin Davis who joined the band in 2019, Dowdell would begin the process of finishing what they had started in 2017.
The pivotal moment in this resurrection came with the release of “Amends” in 2020, an album that breathed new life into Grey Daze’s catalog, and latterly, “The Phoenix” released in 2022. Using Bennington’s original vocal recordings from the ’90s, the band reimagined and rerecorded the music around his powerful voice. “Amends” not only paid tribute to the late singer. Dowdell explains that making the album was grounded in finishing something important to their departed friend. “When Chester passed away, we were already in the middle of working on the music with Producer Sylvia Massey and had five new songs he had written for the band. It took me several months to figure out how to try and complete the music. Initially, it was just something we wanted to finish. We weren’t thinking about record deals or playing live, etc. We simply wanted to finish the music we had that had been wiped off the planet by Warner Brothers so many years prior.”
The album, featuring tracks like “Sickness” and “What’s in the Eye,” demonstrated the timeless relevance of Grey Daze’s music. The lyrics, often introspective and emotionally charged, offered a window into the band’s collective psyche, touching on themes of pain, self-discovery and the human condition. Grey Daze’s journey embodies the concept of artistic resurrection, a theme mirrored in their music. The fusion of Chester’s haunting vocals with the revitalized instrumentation showcased the band’s commitment to preserving their legacy while simultaneously propelling it into the future. Dowdell says of the making of the album, “It was meaningful for us and for what we felt like was an opportunity to connect some of Chester’s friends musically that hadn’t really had the opportunity to record original music with him. All the people that we were involved with loved Chester and really resonated with, not only his musical ability, but his incredible personality and compassion as a human.” The album not only takes risks with its experimental nature, but also takes risks when the band takes to the stage for live performances. Cris Hodges was brought in as the touring vocalist for Grey Daze to capture the emotional delivery of the band’s music. The band, with Hodges on vocals, Davis, Beyers, and Dowdell, has already put the new music to the test with a well-received performance at Phoenix, Arizona’s 2023 U-Fest, and subsequent shows in California.
Grey Daze’s journey is one of tragedy, resilience and musical innovation. “Amends” and latterly “The Phoenix,” serve as a testament to the enduring power of Grey Daze’s music. In an industry often driven by trends, the band’s ability to transcend temporal boundaries stands as a reminder that true artistry possesses a timeless quality that can resonate across generations. Grey Daze is a musical testament to friendship, the enduring spirit of creativity and inner strength that refuses to be silenced by the tragedy that is human frailty. With new music to be released in 2024 and a European tour slated for summer, the reimagined band will continue to convince the people that a Grey Daze rebirth is a very good idea.
