Staind Singer Hopes To Steer Clear Of Rock 'N' Roll Tragedy

LA (AP) - With a top five album on the Billboard 200 album chart and a monster hit ("It's Been Awhile"), the press onslaught and pressure of fame are knocking at Staind's door. AP asked singer Aaron Lewis if he was concerned about ending up a rock 'n' roll tragedy like the late Kurt Cobain or Alice In Chains missing-in-action singer Layne Staley. "Some of those stories are very tragic," he said. "One of the biggest tragedies in music today is Layne Staley. Absolutely an amazing, amazing singer and songwriter, and is wasting away somewhere hiding out from everybody and just wasting so much unbelievable talent. It's sad."

Lewis told how he's trying to keep everything in perspective. "That's what I'm trying to do by ignoring everything, and just going about my day and remain[ing] reclusive like I am and I always have been...Anyone else in my position would feel quite uncomfortable too, I assure."

Staind is set to perform at the Rolling Rock Town Fair this weekend (August 4), and the band is slated for Family Values later this year.