The Underoath frontman Spencer Chamberlain recently sat down with Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz to discuss his journey into the world of heavy music. Chamberlain delved into his personal history with rock, from his first exposure to grunge bands like Nirvana to the profound impact Deftones had on his life.
In the early days, Chamberlain and his older brother found solace in the grunge era, with bands like Soundgarden, Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, and Alice In Chains becoming their ‘bread and butter.’ He admits to missing out on the ’80s hair metal era, including bands like Van Halen and Mötley Crüe. It wasn’t until his two stepbrothers helped expand his musical horizons.
As his older brother delved into the punk rock scene with bands like Dead Kennedys, Subhumans, the Queers, and the Misfits, Spencer Chamberlain and his stepbrothers discovered Deftones. This pivotal moment marked a significant shift in his musical tastes, distancing him from Nirvana’s sound. Hair metal, however, never resonated with him.
Reflecting on his musical journey, Chamberlain explained:
“For me and my older brother, we discovered the grunge era, which is like Soundgarden, Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, and Alice In Chains. That was our bread and butter. I missed the ’80s hair metal stuff.”
When asked whether he hadn’t started with Van Halen and Mötley Crüe, the singer said:
“No, that was like – I went from Zeppelin, my parent’s music, to grunge. And then, from grunge – I got two stepbrothers. My older brother got to like the punk rock era, like Dead Kennedys, Subhumans, the Queers, and the Misfits, all that. At the same time, we discovered Deftones. So, that was like the big jump for me from grunge to, I guess, Deftones, Linkin Park era. But yeah, the hair metal thing, that wasn’t anything I lived through, I guess.”
Spencer Chamberlain’s musical journey is a testament to the power of personal connections and the ever-changing landscape of rock music. By tracing his path from grunge to the heavier sound of Deftones, we gain insight into the forces that shaped not only his personal tastes but also the music he would go on to create with Underoath.
