Biography
The hard rock and heavy metal group Crossfade makes its home in Columbia, South Carolina, where every member continues to live. It formed in the final years of the 1990s when singer-guitarist Ed Sloan combined his talents with bassist and backing vocalist Mitch James and drummer Brian Geiger to establish the power trio the Nothing. A lifelong Columbia resident, Sloan had started piano lessons at the age of eight and gravitated toward grunge and heavy metal, entering his first group, Darkchilde, during eighth grade. While later majoring in computer science at the University of South Carolina, he began seeking additional players. Fellow Columbia native Geiger had been playing drums since childhood and had already performed with the local band Celestian Slant. James, whose fascination with bass began at a David Lee Roth concert, treated the Nothing as his first musical project. The lineup expanded to a quartet with the addition of singer and club DJ Tony Byroads, who grew up in Buffalo, New York, played in Final Wave while in high school, and relocated to Columbia after graduation.
Rechristened Sugardaddy Superstar, the band cultivated a local audience while recording at its own Sugarstar Studio. Wider attention arrived after the Los Angeles A&R company Taxi and Los Angeles promoter Chris Long, who soon became manager, arranged an L.A. showcase in March 2002. That exposure produced a deal with Earshot, a Columbia Records subsidiary, early the following year. Working with mixer-engineer Randy Staub, the musicians reworked their self-released album Cold and adopted the name Crossfade. Columbia Records issued the revised album, also titled Crossfade, in April 2004; the same year James Branham replaced Geiger on drums. Lead single “Cold” enjoyed strong modern rock radio support, logging 65 weeks on the Active Rock chart, and the album reached platinum certification by August 2005. By then the group had reverted to a trio after newly married Byroads departed. Touring continued, including spring engagements the next year at overseas military bases. “Invincible” reached radio in June 2006, previewing the follow-up Falling Away, which appeared in late August.
Rechristened Sugardaddy Superstar, the band cultivated a local audience while recording at its own Sugarstar Studio. Wider attention arrived after the Los Angeles A&R company Taxi and Los Angeles promoter Chris Long, who soon became manager, arranged an L.A. showcase in March 2002. That exposure produced a deal with Earshot, a Columbia Records subsidiary, early the following year. Working with mixer-engineer Randy Staub, the musicians reworked their self-released album Cold and adopted the name Crossfade. Columbia Records issued the revised album, also titled Crossfade, in April 2004; the same year James Branham replaced Geiger on drums. Lead single “Cold” enjoyed strong modern rock radio support, logging 65 weeks on the Active Rock chart, and the album reached platinum certification by August 2005. By then the group had reverted to a trio after newly married Byroads departed. Touring continued, including spring engagements the next year at overseas military bases. “Invincible” reached radio in June 2006, previewing the follow-up Falling Away, which appeared in late August.
Albums
Singles
