Biography
Silvercrush fuses an aggressive, edgy sensibility with melodic tunefulness in its alternative pop/rock and post-grunge approach, drawing comparisons to Creed, Live, and Third Eye Blind. Separate from Silverchair, the band formed in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1997 when lead singer and rhythm guitarist Steele Croswhite assembled lead guitarist Carl Broemel, bassist Dave Christensen, pianist and organist Mike Flynn, and drummer Jim Stauffer. Originally named Choice of Reign, Silvercrush reunited Flynn and Broemel, who had previously played together in Bloomington, Indiana’s Old Pike; Broemel had also performed with Neena Foundry and Pony Boy.
The group enjoyed steadfast backing from the outset by Steele’s father, Bill Croswhite, a longtime musician and singer active for decades in the Salt Lake City scene. Bill had instructed his left-handed son on guitar several years earlier, when Steele was fourteen, after other teachers declined to work with left-handed players. Embracing the challenge, Bill enabled the younger Croswhite to develop left-handed rhythm-guitar technique by the time Silvercrush launched. In 1997 Bill became the band’s manager and arranged shows in Salt Lake City and additional markets, allowing Silvercrush to open locally for Everclear, the Foo Fighters, Third Eye Blind, and pop-metal veterans Cheap Trick.
While preparing for an early-2000s showcase at the Emerging Artists & Talents in Music Conference—abbreviated EAT’M—the members learned of Bill Croswhite’s sudden death from an aortic aneurysm. Despite their grief they performed anyway, viewing continued activity as the proper way to honor his memory. Silvercrush secured a recording agreement in 2001 with the independent label Redline Entertainment, based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The deal introduced the band to producer and guitarist Mike Wanchic, whose credits include multiple John Cougar Mellencamp albums as well as sessions with the Why Store, Cowboy Mouth, Deborah Bartley, James McMurty, and Sue Medley. Wanchic produced Silvercrush’s debut album, Stand, which appeared in June 2002.
The group enjoyed steadfast backing from the outset by Steele’s father, Bill Croswhite, a longtime musician and singer active for decades in the Salt Lake City scene. Bill had instructed his left-handed son on guitar several years earlier, when Steele was fourteen, after other teachers declined to work with left-handed players. Embracing the challenge, Bill enabled the younger Croswhite to develop left-handed rhythm-guitar technique by the time Silvercrush launched. In 1997 Bill became the band’s manager and arranged shows in Salt Lake City and additional markets, allowing Silvercrush to open locally for Everclear, the Foo Fighters, Third Eye Blind, and pop-metal veterans Cheap Trick.
While preparing for an early-2000s showcase at the Emerging Artists & Talents in Music Conference—abbreviated EAT’M—the members learned of Bill Croswhite’s sudden death from an aortic aneurysm. Despite their grief they performed anyway, viewing continued activity as the proper way to honor his memory. Silvercrush secured a recording agreement in 2001 with the independent label Redline Entertainment, based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The deal introduced the band to producer and guitarist Mike Wanchic, whose credits include multiple John Cougar Mellencamp albums as well as sessions with the Why Store, Cowboy Mouth, Deborah Bartley, James McMurty, and Sue Medley. Wanchic produced Silvercrush’s debut album, Stand, which appeared in June 2002.
Albums