Discovering new music in the early 2000s was a bit more organic than it is in 2025. The internet was still in its infancy, and bands relied more on grassroots and word-of-mouth efforts to introduce their music to new fans. Many bands first introduction to new fans was seeing those bands opening for already established artists. Flyleaf’s rise was a slow burn that started in 2002.
After playing over 100 shows in Texas as an unsigned band, Flyleaf released their debut EP in March of 2004, and spent the remainder of the year tour with the likes of Breaking Benjamin, Static-X, Saliva, and crossed the pond to play a handful of shows in the UK. Flyleaf were just as busy in 2005 as they crossed the country again with Staind, Taproot, P.O.D., and COLD, playing club shows and opening the show for sold-out theater tours. Their full-length debut album dropped in October of 2005, and the wildfire that is Flyleaf began to spread even quicker.
In January of 2006, Flyeaf hit the road with Seether, Shinedown, and Halestorm for the Winterfresh Sno-Core tour. Seether was already an established band, and Shinedown’s popularity was growing with each concert, which drew bigger crowds to each show which in turn introduced Flyleaf to more fans. That growing popularity would lead the band to playing almost 200 shows in 2006.
After hearing Flyleaf’s “I’m So Sick”, the band’s lead single from their debut album, in December of 2005, my full introduction to the band was in early February of 2006 for the Sno-core tour stop in Des Moines, Iowa. I had the chance to speak with Flyleaf’s vocalist Lacey (Mosely) Sturm prior to their performance, and did a follow up interview later that same month.
We did things a bit differently twenty years ago, including how interviews were conducted. My interview with Lacey was conducted over email during any downtime the band had while on the road. I wanted to start off by asking her about Flyleaf’s video for “I’m So Sick”.
Something could be seen written on her arm, but I couldn’t make out exactly what.
“My arm said, “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge” from the book of “Hosea.” In the Bible. It means that people are killing themselves because they don’t realize that their lives can be better.”
We then turned to Flyleaf’s cover of Nine Inc Nails’ “Something I Can Never Have”, which was featured on the UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION movie picture soundtrack, and what inspired them to record the song.
“We were asked to cover the song by someone, and we agreed because we could relate to the desperation in the lyrics. It’s an honest song; an honest outcry and it was sung from the heart.”
I followed up with a question that almost predicted the band’s path a decade later. How does Lacey want fans to feel after Flyleaf’s time has come and gone?
“It doesn’t matter if they remember Flyleaf. It matters if they remember hope, faith, love and the message of grace and mercy that triumphs over judgement.”
Being on the road with Halestorm, their first tour with another female fronted band, I had to know if there were plans to continue touring with other female lead rock and heavy metal bands.
“We just take it as it comes. We aren’t seeking anything specific. We are just thankful for every new opportunity.”
Lastly, with the winding down of the Sno-core tour, I wanted to know if the tour had lived up to her expectations or if the tour had given her any unexpected funny stories.
“I didn’t know what to expect really. It has been amazing…sold out shows. The guys from Shinedown and Seether have beautiful talent and great open hearts. No funny stories as of yet, but I think the end of the tour will bring some practical jokes.”
