Amy Lee, the frontperson of Evanescence, will answer reader questions about the band's 90s origins, MTV fame, and her role as a trailblazer in a male-dominated genre. The Guardian's Film & Music reader interview invites fans to submit questions by 10am BST on 17 August, with answers to appear in a future edition.
Celebrating 23 Years of Bring Me to Life
It has been 23 years since Evanescence released "Bring Me to Life," one of the defining debut singles of the 2000s, which Lee has described as her account of escaping an abusive relationship. Since then, the Arkansas band—essentially Lee's project—has become a towering force in rock, selling millions of records, winning Grammy awards, and reshaping the genre's sound by incorporating classical music and piano-led balladry.
Sanctuary: A New Album and Political Statement
In June, the band released their sixth album, Sanctuary, produced by Jordan Fish, former Bring Me the Horizon member and now a metal super-producer. Lee has said the album confronts the political turmoil of her country, standing "against tyranny, against human rights violations, against blowing people up." The record arrives on vinyl for the first time in September, after its digital release in the summer, and heralds an in-demand UK tour.
What to Ask Lee
Fans can ask Lee about anything, including the band's 90s origins—she started the band as a teenager—or what inspired her to fuse classical music with metal. Other topics include her experience of peak-MTV fame, her distaste at her label forcing a rap onto "Bring Me to Life" to keep pace with the nu metal of the period, and being a trailblazer in an extremely male space. She has also supported successors like Nova Twins and Poppy on tour last year, and fans might ask what it takes to keep a band going for three decades.
Questions must be posted in the comments section by the deadline, and Lee's answers will appear in a future reader interview. This is a unique opportunity to gain insight into one of rock's most enduring figures and her creative journey.
