12 STONES – AN UP-FRONT CONVERSATION WITH PAUL McCOY
By Ralph Beauchamp
Paul McCoy is the dynamic frontman of the prominent hard rocking ensemble,12 Stones. The band just released their new single “Golden Child” via a joint venture between SV Records and Judge & Jury Record. Besides McCoy, 12 Stones is comprised of Jon Rodriquez (Lead Guitar), Richard LaBranche (Rhythm Guitar), Ty Del Rose (Drums) and Chris LeTard (Bass).
12 Stones have long carved out a space in the post-grunge and alternative metal scene with a sound that blends brooding atmosphere and explosive hooks. Emerging in the early 2000s alongside bands like Creed and Three Days Grace, they built their identity on thick, down-tuned guitar riffs, cinematic string accents, and Paul McCoy’s gritty yet melodic vocal delivery. Their music balances emotional vulnerability with anthemic intensity, often moving from restrained, reflective verses into towering, radio-ready choruses. Over the years, the band has refined their production style, leaning into polished dynamics without losing the raw edge that first defined their breakout tracks.
Their new single, “Golden Child,” continues that evolution while tapping into the band’s signature dramatic weight. The track opens with a tense, atmospheric build before erupting into a punchy, riff-driven chorus that feels both modern and nostalgically early-2000s. Lyrically, “Golden Child” explores themes of pressure, identity, and resilience, pairing introspective lines with a defiant undercurrent. The production feels crisp and contemporary, with layered guitars and subtle electronic textures adding depth. Yet it never strays far from the band’s core hard-rock foundation. It’s a confident release that suggests 12 Stones are not merely revisiting their roots, but sharpening them for a new era.
Paul McCoy was kind enough to sit for this up-front conversation.
AMP: 12 Stones formed when you were really young. What do you remember most about those early years?
PAUL: That we were at the right place at the right time around the right people. We were very lucky and very blessed to have gotten those opportunities. The band only played 13 live shows before our record deal which was pretty unheard of at that time. I was only 19. I’m 44 now. So, we’ve been doing it for a little bit of a minute.
AMP: What’s something fans might not realize about the ups and downs of being a long-running rock band?
PAUL: That most of us have other jobs in order to support the dream we love. Most people don’t understand how much sacrifice it takes. Our music isn’t something we take lightly. That is why we are so appreciative of being in our position. We are so fortunate to still be able to write music and play shows. You never know when it all is going to end.
AMP: Are there any 12 Stones songs that mean more to you now than when you first wrote them?
PAUL: For me, I think “Anthem for the Underdog” fits the bill. I’ve always loved the song. It’s the kind of song that simply wrote itself. I’ve always felt myself as a little bit of a vigilante, kind of a Robin Hood figure. 12 Stones has always stuck up for the marginalized and that song embodies where we want to be as a band.
AMP: Do you write differently today than you did in your twenties?
PAUL: No, I don’t think so. I’ve always started with music first. We don’ force it. We have songs that I wrote 15 years ago that are just now getting another look. Sometimes, I might write a riff I think is really cool but I can’t find a melody to go with it and it sits on the back burner for awhile. Then that riff resurfaces with a new meaning. To me, the writing is still the same. I still handwrite everything in a notebook. All my lyrics look like chicken scratch.
AMP: Your new single is “Golden Child”. Can you give us some insight into the track?
PAUL: It’s about a part of my life that I’ve just recently come to understand. You never know people as you should. A lot of times our relationships in life are based on our expectations and memories. Sometimes, they truly aren’t as we remember them. Sometimes you lose sight of the “right now’ part of a human exchange. You want people to be what you want them to be and it’s a hard realization when you find out that their not.
AMP: Staying on the same track, “Golden Child” is a joint collaboration with Judge & Jury. How did that partnership come about?
PAUL: Bobby Amaru from Saliva, whom I’ve known for a million years, has a record label called SV Records with his buddy Sean. He reached out to me asking if we could write some songs together. His label partners with Judge & Jury which is owned by legendary producer Howard Benson and Neil Sanderson from Three Days Grace. We all worked together to produce our next two songs and we are stoked how they came out.
AMP: What’s one tour memory that makes you laugh or cringe?
PAUL: Honestly, what I can remember of our early tours, before I got sober, was the fact that we were always laughing about everything. I am very fortunate to have toured the world with my best friends. The memories are amazing. I’ve always said that ” I have forgotten more good times than most people have in a lifetime”. There was a lot of stupid that happened. You can’t expect to give kids money and the ability to be unsupervised for months at a time without expecting some fireworks.
AMP: If you could give advise to your younger self just starting out, what would it be?
PAUL: Keep going and don’t do it for any other reason than your love of the music. Don’t expect that you are going to get rich or popular. Do you because you believe in the songs. When frustrations sets in, just put your head down and keep moving forward. That’s the only way good things will come.
AMP: What do you hope fans feel when they see you play live?
PAUL: Energized! We take a lot of pride in the energy we bring to the stage. I can take a song I wrote 25 years ago and still feel excited when we play it live. I can easily reconnect to our older material and I want our audiences to feel that dynamic flow we always throw out.
AMP: One word to describe 12 Stones right now?
PAUL: Ready! We’re ready to get back out there.
What excites you most about where 12 Stones is heading next?
PAUL: All of it. I’m happy we are in such a creative spot. We spend a lot of time in the studio working on our new material and feeling that creative surge. The new songs are pure 12 Stones but they are a bit more evolved and matured. Yet, they still carry a angry and poignant tinge. Just the fact that we are getting this music out is amazing.
Since guitarist Jon Rodriquez was in the room, I felt obliged to throw a question his way.
AMP: What’s it like playing in 12 Stones?
JON: It’s great. I’ve been in the band for ten years now. It’s a wonderful opportunity. I really enjoy playing out and working in the studio. These recent sessions have been really rewarding. “Golden Child” and all the new material has given us a huge spark. The future is bright for 12 Stones.
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