Vintage Spotlight on Candlebox

When you think of 80’s and early 90s metal it is easy to see the line of demarcation between metal and grunge. Nirvana killed the hair band. While many of the emerging grunge bands might have had long hair there was a definite change in the look, attitude and music itself about that time. Once Nirvana put Seattle and grunge on the map it seemed as if every new band was dressed in flannel and buried in their depression. While I’m personally not a fan of grunge music there were a few bands or at least a few songs from a few bands that I liked. Candlebox is one of the few that I just flat out loved the entire first album. So, because the songs of Candlebox still resonate today and still stand out from all the other grunge music at the time we’ve chosen them as our vintage spotlight band for the week.

Candlebox, like so many other grunge bands began in Seattle, Washington in 1990. Original members Kevin Martin, Peter Klett, Bardi Martin and Scott Mercado were signed to Madonna’s Maverick records and produced their self titled debut album in 1993. That album featured the iconic "Far Behind" track which was written for and Mother Love Bone vocalist Andrew Wood. Wood  passed away from a heroin overdose. Along with this amazing song, the Candlebox album also included hits ​"Change", "You", and "Cover Me".
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​Highlights of this time period for the band include: 
Main stage at Woodstock ‘94
Metal Edge Readers Choice Award for Best New Band of 1994
#7 Billboard Charts Album rank

The band released their sophomore effort Lucy in 1995, and their third full length album Happy Pills in 1998. The grunge movement was pretty much past at that point and the band officially broke up in 2000. There had been a few lineup changes during their time together and over the years there had been some performances and recording with some of the original members included. The various members of Candlebox had individual projects in the musical world including other bands.However in 2018, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first Candlebox album the original lineup reunited for 2 live shows in Seattle.

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