Seether’s bassist, Dale Stewart, performs with intense focus during their set at RIFF Fest 2024 on September 28, 2024, at Pine Knob Music Theatre. The stage lighting creates a dynamic backdrop of blue and orange hues, highlighting his passion for the music.
In a recent interview, I spoke with Dale Stewart of Seether about the origins of the band’s name and why they changed it from their original name, Saron Gas.
From Saron Gas to Seether: How 9/11 Changed The Band’s Name
The band wasn’t always called Seether, in the early 2000s, the band was about to break out in the US, having just signed with Wind-Up Records in New York City. But then 9-11 struck, and everything changed.
“We flew to New York City in 2001 to meet with Wind-Up Records, and they signed us after we played a showcase,” Stewart recalls. “We went home to tie up loose ends and planned to return to record in January. Then 9/11 happened.”
When they returned to New York in early 2002, the city was still recovering from the terrorist attacks, and the band’s name, Saron Gas, suddenly took on a new and unintended connotation.
“The label told us we had to change our name because sarin gas had been used in a terrorist attack in Japan, and given the sensitivity at the time, it wasn’t a good look,” Stewart explained.
Searching for a New Identity
It was hard to find a new name; everything they wanted was already picked. Stewart said, “Picking a band name is one of the hardest things to do because everything is taken. I even thought of Urethra Franklin, but there was already a band with that name!”
They finally landed on Seether based off of the Veruca Salt song, “Can’t Fight the Seether” by Veruca Salt.
How Seether Got Their Band Name
Stewart said, Saron Gas might have been ok to use but he said it was probably for the best.
“Anthrax didn’t end up changing their name,” Stewart noted with a laugh, “but at the time, we were new to the industry and wanted to make the right call. So, we became Seether.”
From there, Seether became one of the leading bands in the rock scene, with their new name becoming as iconic as their music.
Meltdown started on the mighty WRIF on the evening of Halloween, 1995. Technically, his first on-air shift was the morning of November 1st. Moving to the Motor City from Buffalo, N.Y., he has built a career and family. Over his almost three-decade stint at RIFF, he's had the privilege to work with some of the biggest personalities in Detroit radio history. He boasts of being just the second-afternoon drive jock in the station's illustrious 53-year history.
Along with his love for rock music and attending concerts, he's also an avid Harley-Davidson enthusiast and hockey player. He plays year-round and manages to squeeze in a few charity games throughout the year. Meltdown writes about the Detroit Red Wings, rock music, and Detroit concert venues.
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