# 12 Stones
**12 Stones** is an American post-grunge and hard rock band formed in 2000 in Mandeville, Louisiana, a New Orleans suburb, known for a faith-tinged message within mainstream rock and for vocalist Paul McCoy's guest appearance on Evanescence's 2003 hit "Bring Me to Life".[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000501537)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2000 in Mandeville, Louisiana, by vocalist Paul McCoy, bassist Kevin Dorr, guitarist Eric Weaver, and drummer Aaron Gainer, mostly still in their teens[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000501537) |
| First break | After no more than 12 live performances, the band took its demo to a New York industry showcase and signed to Wind-Up Records[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000501537) |
| Debut album | *12 Stones* (2002), recorded with producer Jay Baumgardner; sold over 300,000 copies, reached number 147 on the Billboard 200, and made the top ten of Billboard's Christian Albums chart[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000501537) • [2](https://christianmusic.com/12_stones/12_stones.htm) • [3](https://musicexistence.com/2026/04/08/interview-paul-mccoy-12-stones-world-so-cold-band-legacy/) |
| Signature guest spot | McCoy duetted with Evanescence on "Bring Me to Life" (2003), included on the *Daredevil* soundtrack and Evanescence's album *Fallen*[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000501537) |
| Career sales | Over 2 million singles and albums collectively by 2010, plus a Grammy Award won by Evanescence featuring Paul McCoy for "Bring Me to Life" and GMA Dove nominations for "Broken" and "Lie to Me"[4](https://hmmagazine.com/12-stones-parts-ways-with-wind-up-records/) • [10](https://www.grammy.com/awards/categories/best-hard-rock-performance/2004/) |
| Output | Five full-length albums over two decades, touring with Creed, 3 Doors Down, and Sevendust[5](https://12-stones.bandcamp.com/music) |
## Formation and debut
The original lineup consisted of Paul McCoy on vocals, Eric Weaver on guitar, Aaron Gainer on drums, and Kevin Dorr on bass.[5](https://12-stones.bandcamp.com/music) After performing no more than 12 live shows, the band took its demo to New York City, played an industry showcase, and signed to Wind-Up Records, the label behind Creed, to record its debut with producer Jay Baumgardner.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000501537) The self-titled album appeared in 2002, less than two years after the group formed.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000501537) It sold over 300,000 copies and, while grazing the [Billboard](https://www.edgepedia.org/billboard-magazine) 200 at number 147, reached the top ten of Billboard's Christian Albums chart.[2](https://christianmusic.com/12_stones/12_stones.htm) • [3](https://musicexistence.com/2026/04/08/interview-paul-mccoy-12-stones-world-so-cold-band-legacy/) Reviewers placed the band's sound between Creed and [Nickelback](https://www.edgepedia.org/nickelback), with "Broken" and "The Way I Feel" as standout songs.[6](https://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/12_Stones/12_Stones/5312/)
## The Evanescence connection
In 2003 McCoy duetted with [Evanescence](https://www.edgepedia.org/evanescence) on "Bring Me to Life", which became a smash hit and appeared on the *Daredevil* soundtrack as well as Evanescence's debut album *[Fallen](https://www.edgepedia.org/fallen-evanescence-album)*.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000501537) HM Magazine reported that the single sold a million copies and 7 million albums in the US, and that Evanescence featuring Paul McCoy won the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance for McCoy's contribution.[4](https://hmmagazine.com/12-stones-parts-ways-with-wind-up-records/) • [10](https://www.grammy.com/awards/categories/best-hard-rock-performance/2004/) For many listeners the guest spot was the first place they encountered the band.[3](https://musicexistence.com/2026/04/08/interview-paul-mccoy-12-stones-world-so-cold-band-legacy/)
## Albums and label changes
**Potter's Field and Anthem for the Underdog.** The second album, *Potter's Field* (2004), featured a heavier, more guitar-driven sound than the debut; it moved fewer units but charted better, reaching number 2 on the Christian Albums chart and number 29 on the Billboard 200.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000501537) • [3](https://musicexistence.com/2026/04/08/interview-paul-mccoy-12-stones-world-so-cold-band-legacy/) After a break to spend time with their families, the members reconvened for a third album. Affected by [Hurricane Katrina](https://www.edgepedia.org/hurricane-katrina)'s impact on their hometown, they recorded *Anthem for the Underdog* in [Memphis, Tennessee](https://www.edgepedia.org/memphis-tennessee), with Justin Rimer and Skidd Mills during the better part of 2006, releasing it in 2007.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000501537)
**Leaving Wind-Up.** During pre-production for a fourth album, Dorr returned after five years away (he had left in 2004), and the band added drummer Mike McManus. The new lineup's first release was the summer 2010 EP *The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday*, which debuted at number 2 on the iTunes Rock Album chart and number 6 overall on iTunes.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000501537) • [4](https://hmmagazine.com/12-stones-parts-ways-with-wind-up-records/) In August 2010 the band announced it had parted ways with Wind-Up Records after 9 years, stating it had a vision best pursued elsewhere, and signed with Executive Music Group for its next effort.[4](https://hmmagazine.com/12-stones-parts-ways-with-wind-up-records/) • [1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000501537)
**Beneath the Scars and Picture Perfect.** In 2012 the band reunited with *Underdog* producer Skidd Mills for its fourth album, *Beneath the Scars*, featuring the singles "Bulletproof" and "Infected"; the album had been delayed about a year and had changed its working title from *Only Human*.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000501537) • [7](https://hmmagazine.com/12-stones-beneath-the-scars/) Work on a fifth album began after the band signed with Cleopatra Records in 2016, and *Picture Perfect* arrived in the summer of 2017.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000501537)
## Faith label and reception
AllMusic describes the band as "stadium-ready, Louisiana Bayou-bred post-grunge rockers with a faith-based message".[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000501537) The band's lyrics drew on spiritual themes without always naming them explicitly; a contemporary review noted that the debut's lyricism was vague enough that listeners could read it either way, a common approach for Christian artists reaching a mainstream audience.[8](https://www.allmusic.com/album/r581748) The band received multiple GMA Dove Award nominations for its singles "Broken" and "Lie to Me".[4](https://hmmagazine.com/12-stones-parts-ways-with-wind-up-records/)
## Recent activity
The band has continued independently: in January 2026 it joined Judge & Jury Records, and in late March it released its first new material since 2019, a single pairing a re-recording of "World So Cold", originally an album cut on 2007's *Anthem for the Underdog*, with the original B-side "Golden Child".[3](https://musicexistence.com/2026/04/08/interview-paul-mccoy-12-stones-world-so-cold-band-legacy/) The band continues to tour, with 2026 dates at clubs and bars across the United States.[9](https://www.livenation.com/artist/K8vZ917fHI0/12-stones-events)
## References
1. [12 Stones – Biography, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000501537)
2. [12 Stones Bio, ChristianMusic.com](https://christianmusic.com/12_stones/12_stones.htm)
3. [Interview: Paul McCoy (12 Stones) discusses newfound poignancy of "World So Cold," band legacy, Music Existence (2026)](https://musicexistence.com/2026/04/08/interview-paul-mccoy-12-stones-world-so-cold-band-legacy/)
4. [12 Stones Parts Ways with Wind-Up Records, HM Magazine (2010)](https://hmmagazine.com/12-stones-parts-ways-with-wind-up-records/)
5. [12 Stones – Music, Bandcamp](https://12-stones.bandcamp.com/music)
6. [Review: 12 Stones – 12 Stones, Cross Rhythms (2002)](https://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/12_Stones/12_Stones/5312/)
7. [12 Stones – Beneath the Scars, HM Magazine (2012)](https://hmmagazine.com/12-stones-beneath-the-scars/)
8. [12 Stones: 12 Stones Tracks & Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/album/r581748)
9. [12 Stones – 2026 Tour Dates & Concert Schedule, Live Nation](https://www.livenation.com/artist/K8vZ917fHI0/12-stones-events)
10. [Best Hard Rock Performance 2004 Winners & Nominees](https://www.grammy.com/awards/categories/best-hard-rock-performance/2004/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Ensembles and groups › Rock, pop, and metal bands › Rock, indie, and pop groups › Rock bands › Hard rock bands*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license