Seether has been around for about a decade now, and in that time they have reached rock stardom – millions of records sold, a MTV Africa Music Award, and touring with Nickelback, to name some of their accomplishments. Jeremy spoke with Shaun just before a Toronto date to here what’s next for the guys from Johannesburg.

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Seether is teaming up with Canadian rockers Three Days Grace for a cross-country tour starting early next year.

The 13-show run kicks off Jan. 14, 2008 in Montreal, and wraps up Feb. 8 in Regina.

Seether released their third studio album, “Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces,” on Oct. 23.

The record, which was produced by Howard Benson (All American Rejects, My Chemical Romance), debuted at #10 in Canada.

Their first single “Fake It” has already climbed to the top of the Rock Radio Charts in Canada and the U.S.

The national tour dates are:

Mon Jan 14 – Montreal – The Metropolis
Fri Jan 18 – Toronto – Kool Haus
Sat Jan 19 – Oshawa – The GM Centre
Mon Jan 21 – Kitchener – Elements
Thu Jan 24 – Sault Ste Marie – The Steelback Centre
Sun Jan 27 – Winnipeg – The MTS Centre
Tue Jan 29 – Calgary – The Corral
Wed Jan 30 – Edmonton – The Shaw Conference Center
Fri Feb 1 – Vancouver – The Commodore Ballroom
Sat Feb 2 – Vancouver – The Commodore Ballroom
Mon Feb 4 – Prince George – CN Centre
Thu Feb 7 – Lethbridge – ENMAX Centre
Fri Feb 8 – Regina – Brant Centre

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Watch the new video from Seether, “Fake It”:

Windows Media

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Tonight, like many nights this month, John Humphrey will sit down behind his drum set before a crowd of fist-pumping, foot-stomping, Seether-loving rock and roll fans. The charismatic performer – along with Seether frontman Shaun Morgan and bandmate Dale Stewart – will entertain an audience in Raleigh, North Carolina, with new songs and old favourites.

Seether, the band that produced two gold albums and four top 10 singles, is on tour again, hitting all corners of the United States to promote their latest album, “Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces,” set for release on Oct. 23.

“Not to sound cheesy, but I’m really excited about this album,” Humphrey tells andPOP, just hours before Seether hit the stage with Three Days Grace and Breaking Benjamin. “As an artist, I am always critical about my own work. I’ve never been one to sit and listen to my own stuff – but I have been listening to this one. I’m quite proud of it.”

Seether’s first single on the new album, “Fake It,” has been steadily climbing the charts and has been quite well received by the online community. On their last days off, the band shot the video for the new single in Los Angeles.

“It’s shot with a hip hop video vibe; we’re in the jet and we’re partying, and then there is this big epic scenic set where we’re jamming, and it’s snowing on us for no reason, and there are lots of girls, and then the backdrop falls and shows how it’s just a set. It’s hilarious,” Humphrey laughs. “The point is to show how fake and pretentious it all is. How shallow [the industry] can be.”

And he certainly is no stranger to the industry.

Humphrey’s drumming repertoire is not limited to his time with Seether, having previously played in a popular ’90′s band called The Nixon’s. In fact, Humphrey has only played with the band for four years.

“A soundman that used to work with [The Nixon's] had let me know that he knew a band that had been through a few drummers and needed something permanent,” Humphrey says.

He was the fourth and final audition of the evening and didn’t get to hit the drums until midnight.

“I had gone out and got their CD [Disclaimer II] that week, and learned all the music, and then pretty much nailed the set and was hired on the spot,” says Humphrey with a quiet, comfortable confidence.

Since then, Humphrey has toured with the band all over the world, including the band’s home front South Africa, where they played with Metallica.

“Playing with Metallica was a dream come true. They are real heroes of ours,” Humphrey says of the experience.

Humphrey likes to spend time with his two little boys, Jaxon and Jett, whenever he gets the chance. “They’re my barometers,” he says of his boys’ keen ear for music. Often Humphrey will bring home a recording of Seether’s latest single, and watch how the boys respond. “If they move and dance to it, I can usually tell if it’s going to be a good song or not.”

In November, Seether will start playing shows through Texas, a state the band always loves to play. “The Midwest areas are always really great for rock music. The people just love going out to see live shows and supporting the bands.”

The band has circulated through the United States, parts of Europe, Canada and beyond many times before, but Humphrey assures fans that it never gets boring. “It’s actually refreshing to go places we haven’t been in two years. It’s like starting over again.”

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Popular alternative metal band Seether has kicked off their highly anticipated American tour – but for those who can’t make it out to a show, there is always the Internet.

Loyal fans across the globe have been double-clicking their way to online Seether arcadia, the official band website entitled “Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces.” The website, or online community, is updated regularly, and features sound bites, video clips, photographs of the band, tour dates and diaries.

Fans can create member profiles within the website, and log on to discuss the music, the members, and anything “Seether” that tickles their fancy.

Their latest single, entitled “Fake It,” has been steadily scaling the charts since it’s recent release and can be heard on the site. With the album set to be released on October 23, impatient fans can get their fix of the South African born ensemble at www.seether.com.

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In an age dominated with bubble gum pop music, it is hard to find a band that is creating music for the experience and the desire to touch the souls of their fans in a way only music can. However, that is the case for Shaun Morgan, Dale Stewart, Pat Callahan and John Humphrey, the four bandmates hailing from South Africa that make up the rock band Seether.

For those drawing blanks, Seether is the band that released “Broken,” featuring Amy Lee of Evanescence on the soundtrack for the movie Punisher in 2003. After the song’s success, they re-released their debut album, “Disclaimer,” with the now famed track added on.

Already achieving a gold record in the U.S. with the previously mentioned album, “Disclaimer II” went gold in Canada with impressive speed. Now they’re out with “Karma and Effect,” released on Tuesday.

Stewart, Seether’s bassist, says the intention of the breakout song was never to make an impact in the pop market; it just happened that way.

“The ‘Broken thing’ was really good,” he says before performing at the El Mocambo in Toronto last week. “It got us released all over the world and gave us really great exposure. We originally recorded it to be a soundtrack song. We never intended it to be a pop single.”

The song threw the band into the spotlight of the pop scene, and they quickly found themselves standing next to complete opposites, like Ashlee Simpson and Christina Aguilera. “We felt a little bit out of place. It was like that double edge sword.”

On one side, they were getting fame and attention. On the other, they were being branded as a pop band. Listen to any of their songs besides “Broken” or see them in concert and you would know that they are not pop at all, and are one of the few bands in the current rock scene that stay true to themselves and their music.

To paraphrase a quote from the band, the point of their music is not to get their face shown on TV, but as mentioned, to touch people in ways only music can. Their sound, style, and lyrics naturally make the band stand out, and their music has been identified by many, encompassing a wide range of fans from insurgent teens to motorcycle-dads.

Seether’s first hit single, “Fine Again,” off “Disclaimer,” influenced a drug addicted teen to seek rehab, and also gave her the will to live.

“It was a really good feeling,” Stewart says about how their lyrics have had the power to affect someone in such a positive way. “She was like 16 or 17 and was already in the hospital. It gave her hope.

“You write music and you hope it will have a positive effect on people, but it’s almost like you never really expect it because it’s so bizarre, especially when you are starting out. It blew my mind. It makes you want to do it even more.”

During their concert later that night, Seether played tracks off their new album, including the first single, “Remedy.” They also rocked some of their past tracks including “Fine Again,” and an acoustic version of “Broken.”

Seether will be touring all summer long across the U.S.

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