Grey Daze
American rock band co-founded by Chester Bennington.
Sean Dowdell (the one who unearthed the original photo, the original photographer is unknown) · via Wikipedia: Grey Daze · Fair use
Grey Daze is an American rock band from Phoenix, Arizona, formed in 1993. The group is primarily known as an early musical home for Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington, who co-founded it with drummer Sean Dowdell—the only original member still in the band.
The band was put together in 1993 by Dowdell and Bennington, who had previously played together in Sean Dowdell and His Friends?, along with guitarist Steve Mitchell and bassist Jonathan Krause. Over five years, the lineup shifted several times, and the band released two full-length albums: *Wake Me* (1994) and *...No Sun Today* (1997). Internal conflicts led Bennington and bassist Mace Beyers to leave in 1998. Grey Daze continued for three more years without releasing new recordings before disbanding. Bennington joined the band Xero in 1999, which later became Linkin Park. Former guitarist Bobby Benish died on September 28, 2004, at age 36.
After years of inactivity, Bennington proposed a reunion in 2017, but his death soon after prevented it. Work then began on the album *Amends*, which was finished and released in June 2020. It used Bennington’s original vocals with newly recorded instrumentation from original members Beyers and Dowdell, plus guitarist Cristin Davis, and featured collaborations with Bennington’s friends and family. The album was well received and reached number 75 on the Billboard 200.
In January 2021, the band released a five-track EP, *Amends...Stripped*, with acoustic versions of songs from *Amends*. In June 2022, they put out a second post-reunion full-length album, *The Phoenix*, again using Bennington’s original vocals. The ten-track album included the singles “Saturation (Strange Love)” and “Starting to Fly,” with guest appearances from Bennington’s daughters Lily and Lila, Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction, and Richard Patrick of Filter. Critical reception was generally positive to mixed.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
- Genre
- Grunge / post-grunge / alternative rock / alternative metal
- Years Active
- 1993–2001 / 2017 / 2019–present
- Label
- Artemis / Loma Vista
- Current Members
- Sean Dowdell / Cristin Davis / Cris Hodges / Kenny Bulka / Evan Nichols
- Past Members
- Mace Beyers / Jason Barnes / Bobby Benish / Chester Bennington / Jonathan Krause / Steve Mitchell / Dave Sardegna / Jodi Wendt
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Grey Daze was formed in 1993 by drummer Sean Dowdell and Chester Bennington, both previously members of Sean Dowdell and His Friends?, along with guitarist Steve Mitchell and bassist Jonathan Krause. The band released two full-length albums: Wake Me in 1994 and ...No Sun Today in 1997. In 1998, Bennington and bassist Mace Beyers left due to internal conflicts; the band continued for three more years but disbanded without further recordings. The band remained inactive until a proposed reunion by Bennington in 2017. After his death later that year, work began on the album Amends, released in June 2020, using Bennington's original vocals with re-recorded instrumentation by original members Mace Beyers and Sean Dowdell, joined by Cristin Davis on guitar. The album peaked at number 75 on the Billboard 200. In January 2021, the EP Amends...Stripped was released, containing acoustic versions. In June 2022, the band released The Phoenix, also using Bennington's original vocals, featuring guest appearances from his daughters Lily and Lila, Dave Navarro, and Richard Patrick.
Reader's Guide
Grey Daze holds significance primarily as the early musical vehicle for Chester Bennington before his rise to fame with Linkin Park. The band's posthumous releases, Amends and The Phoenix, allowed Bennington's original vocal performances to reach new audiences, recontextualized by modern instrumentation and collaborations. Their legacy is tied to Bennington's enduring influence in rock music, as well as the band's role in the Phoenix music scene of the 1990s. The reunion efforts, though cut short by Bennington's death, resulted in commercially and critically received albums that kept his voice active in the public sphere. The band continues with new members, including lead vocalist Cris Hodges since 2023.
Did You Know?
- Grey Daze was co-founded by Chester Bennington and drummer Sean Dowdell, the band's only remaining original member.
- The band's former guitarist Bobby Benish died on September 28, 2004 at the age of 36.
- The Phoenix album features guest appearances from Bennington's daughters Lily and Lila, as well as Dave Navarro and Richard Patrick.
More in Band Members & Collaborators
Elsewhere in Linkin Park
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced