Since Ben Moody’s departure from Evanescence in October, many have wondered about the guitarist’s whereabouts. Three months after he quit the band without so much as a “Dear John” letter, Moody has resurfaced as a part of Avril Lavigne’s
Moody, who co-wrote all of Evanescence’s Fallen, including the hits “Bring Me to Life” and “Going Under,” is among the songwriters working with the 19-year-old pop star on her second album, the follow-up to her 2002 debut,Let Go. The collaboration was hatched when Moody contacted Lavigne’s A&R rep and volunteered his talents, according to Lavigne’s spokesperson.
Lavigne’s guitarist Evan Taubenfeld and Canadian singer/pianist Chantal Kreviazuk are also lending their pens to the project, which is being recorded in a Los Angeles studio.
Song and album titles have not yet been confirmed, but the album is expected to drop in late spring.
A host of new producers have also signed on to help Avril. Don Gilmore, who engineered Pearl Jam’s Ten and helmed both studio albums for Linkin Park, is on board, as are Our Lady Peace singer Raine Maida and former Marvelous 3 frontman Butch Walker, who’s been producing since his band broke up in 1998.
Evanescence are still without a permanent guitarist since Moody vacated the slot. Although not an official member of the band, former Limp Bizkit axeman Wes Borland has been working with singer Amy Lee on new material.
Let Go has sold nearly 6 million copies since its release in June 2002, according to SoundScan, and has afforded Lavigne three nominations at this year’s Grammy Awards.
