Candlebox

Candlebox, an American rock band originating from Seattle, Washington, was formed in November 1990. The initial lineup included lead singer Kevin Martin, guitarist Peter Klett, bassist Bardi Martin, and drummer Scott Mercado. The band quickly gained recognition, performing in Seattle’s prominent clubs like RKCNDY and Farside to growing audiences in the early 1990s. Their rise to prominence began with an eight-song EP that captured the attention of Maverick Records, leading to their signing. Candlebox became the first successful act for Maverick Records, a label that later signed other notable artists such as Alanis Morissette and Deftones.

Candlebox released their self-titled debut album on July 20, 1993, which achieved substantial commercial success, selling over four million copies and peaking at No. 7 on Billboard’s album charts. This album featured four singles: “Change,” “You,” “Far Behind,” and “Cover Me,” with “Far Behind” reaching No. 18 on Billboard’s top 20 and remaining on the charts for an extended period. The band’s success led to opening slots for major acts like Rush on their Counterparts tour and Metallica on their Shit Hits the Sheds Tour, as well as a main-stage performance at Woodstock ’94. They also toured with other prominent bands including Living Colour, The Offspring, and Aerosmith, eventually headlining their own tours by the end of 1994. In 1994, Candlebox was recognized with Metal Edge magazine’s Readers’ Choice Award for Best New Band.

The band’s second album, Lucy, released on October 3, 1995, achieved gold certification with singles like “Simple Lessons” and “Understanding.” Following this, after touring through 1995 and 1996, Scott Mercado departed in 1997 and was replaced by Dave Krusen. Their third album, Happy Pills, was released on July 21, 1998, and included the song “Glowing Soul” for The Waterboy soundtrack. The band disbanded in 2000 due to issues with their record contract, but reunited in 2006. Since their reunion, Candlebox has released five additional studio albums: Into the Sun (2008), Love Stories & Other Musings (2012), Disappearing in Airports (2016), Wolves (2021), and their final album, The Long Goodbye, released on August 25, 2023. The band announced an extension of The Long Goodbye Tour into 2024, including their first Australian tour, and will open for Bush’s summer 2024 Loaded: The Greatest Hits tour alongside Jerry Cantrell. In February 2025, original guitarist Peter Klett rejoined the band.