Crossfade (American band)

This article is about the American rock band. For the Swedish rock band, see Crossfade (Swedish band).

Crossfade
Origin	Columbia, South Carolina
Genres	Alternative rock alternative metal post-grunge hard rock nu metal
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Eleven Seven Columbia
Members	Ed Sloan Les Hall Mitch James Ryan Yerdon
Past members	Brian Geiger Tony Byroads James Branham Mark Castillo

Crossfade is an American rock band originating from Columbia, South Carolina. Their current members are Ed Sloan on lead vocals and guitar, Les Hall on lead guitar, keyboard, and backing vocals, and Mitch James on backing vocals and bass. Since their formation, Crossfade has released three studio albums – their platinum selling self-titled debut album in 2004, Falling Away in 2006, and We All Bleed in 2011.

History

Early years, Crossfade and Falling Away (1999-2007)

Crossfade was formed in 1999, originally under the name The Nothing. The band consisted of Ed Sloan on lead guitar and vocals, Mitch James on bass guitar and backing vocals, and Brian Geiger on drums. The band released an album that year titled Numb. The song Breathing Slowly, originally from the album, was re-recorded for Falling Away in 2006. Later that year the band changed their name to Sugardaddy Superstar, after vocalist and DJ Tony Byroads joined the band. The band recorded songs in the "Sugardaddy Studio," a studio that lead singer Ed Sloan had built in his garage. The songs eventually attracted the interest of the Los Angeles, California A&R company Taxi (Independent A&R), and HitPredictor co-founder and FG Records/Earshot head Doug Ford which ultimately led to the signing of a record deal with the FG Records/Earshot division of Columbia Records.

In 2002, they changed their name once again, this time to Crossfade. That year the band entered the studio to record two more songs to add to the eight they had recorded in the "Sugardaddy Studio" for their debut album. They released their first album, Crossfade, on April 13, 2004. The first single off the album, "Cold," gave the band significant mainstream exposure. Two singles followed afterward in 2005: "So Far Away" and "Colors." In February 2005, their Crossfade album was certified Gold by the RIAA and was later certified Platinum in August 2005. Crossfade had with "So Far Away" their debut radio broadcast on 94.5 the Buzz (Houston, Texas) Cage Match at 10 o'clock p.m. where it competed with a new song every night and won out over the competition for over three weeks. At the time, Crossfade's single had been the longest lasting song on the Cage Match since its founding. That year, Tony Byroads left the band to start a family and was not replaced.

After coming off the success of their first album, the band began to write a follow-up. In 2006, James Branham replaced drummer Brian Geiger, who left the group to dedicate himself to his auto detailing business. Crossfade's second album, Falling Away, was released on August 29, 2006. The album spawned three singles: "Invincible," "Drown You Out," and "Already Gone." After releasing the album, they needed another guitarist for their upcoming tour. Les Hall, an old friend of Ed Sloan, filled the position. After touring, Hall wanted to become an official member of the band and he asked if he could take part in the songwriting. Sloan accepted and Les Hall became Crossfade's lead guitarist and keyboardist. Though their debut album sold over one million copies, Falling Away only sold 200,000.

New label (2008-present)

In 2008, the band was dropped from Columbia Records. The band signed with Eleven Seven Music. After drummer James Branham left and formed a new band, A Fall From Down, he was replaced by temporary member Will Hunt for the recording of the album.

On January 2, 2009, Crossfade released a demo track entitled "We All Bleed." It was announced that they would be releasing a new album later that year. According to the band, the new album would have a darker, and possibly different, sound than their previous releases.

In June 2010, the track listing for We All Bleed was revealed, and the first single, "Killing Me Inside," was released along with a music video. The release date for We All Bleed was originally October 26, 2010, but was pushed back first to January 2011, then April 12, 2011, before being pushed back a third time to June 21, 2011. The album closer track "Make Me A Believer" was made available for download for free in the meantime, which is the longest song the band has ever recorded. Around that time after the album was finished recording, studio drummer Will Hunt became the drummer of American rock band, Evanescence, who he toured with in 2007.

On November 24, 2010, Crossfade announced on their YouTube channel, CrossfadeMusicTV, that Mark Castillo from the metalcore band Bury Your Dead would be the band's new drummer.

The same day that the first single "Killing Me Inside" was officially released to digital retailers, the band announced on their Twitter that the album would finally be released on June 21, 2011. In November, the band also released the second single, "Prove You Wrong," and released the music video for the song in December.

In 2011, Crossfade headlined Rockapalooza in Jackson, Michigan.

Crossfade supported Papa Roach and Buckcherry on the Rock Allegiance Tour in 2011 with Puddle of Mudd, P.O.D., Red, and Drive A.

In January 2012, drummer Mark Castillo announced on his Facebook that he had left Crossfade to pursue a career in the metalcore band Emmure.

Despite a lengthy period of inactivity, the band have not broken up as of August 2016. Sloan took to Facebook to address rumors of the band's demise in the meantime.

In October 2017, Ed Sloan surfaced via his professional Facebook page to post a video announcement stating that an upcoming solo album would be ready very soon and that its debut single "Surrender", would be released on November 10. In the same announcement, Sloan stated that new Crossfade material was "In the works." An acoustic version of "Surrender" was later released.

On February 2, 2018, Ed released his second solo single titled "Alive."

On March 30, 2018, Ed released his third solo single titled "Without You."

On January 1, 2018, former drummer from Puddle of Mudd Ryan Yerdon joined Crossfade as a new drummer.

Band members

Current

• Ed Sloan – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1999–present), lead guitar (1999–2006)
• Mitch James – bass, vocals (1999–present)
• Les Hall – lead guitar, keyboard, sampling, backing vocals (2006–present)
• Ryan Yerdon - drums (2018-present)

Former

• Tony Byroads – vocals, turntables, sampling (1999–2005)
• Brian Geiger – drums (1999–2006)
• James Branham – drums (2006–2008)
• Mark Castillo – drums (2010–2012)

Touring and session member

• Will Hunt – drums, percussion (2008–2010)

Timeline

Discography

Crossfade discography
Studio albums	3
Singles	9
Music videos	7

Studio albums

Year	Album details	Peak chart positions					Certifications
		US	US Alt.	US Heat.	US Ind.	US Rock
2004	Crossfade Released: April 13, 2004 Label: Columbia Records	41	—	1	—	—	US: Platinum
2006	Falling Away Released: August 29, 2006 Label: Columbia Records	30	—	—	—	9
2011	We All Bleed Released: June 21, 2011 Label: Eleven Seven Music	100	14	—	17	26
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Singles

Year	Song	Peak chart positions					Certifications	Album
		US	US Alt.	US Main.	US Pop	SWE
2004	"Cold"	81	2	3	23	47	US: Gold	Crossfade
2005	"So Far Away"	—	14	4	—	—
	"Colors"	—	18	6	—	—
2006	"Invincible"	—	—	18	—	—		Falling Away
	"Drown You Out"	—	—	21	—	—
	"Already Gone"	—	—	—	—	—
2011	"Killing Me Inside"	—	—	17	—	—		We All Bleed
	"Prove You Wrong"	—	—	29	—	—
2012	"Dear Cocaine"	—	—	—	—	—
	"We All Bleed"	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Music videos

• Cold (2004)
• Colors (2005)
• Invincible (2006)
• Drown You Out (2006)
• Killing Me Inside (2011)
• Prove You Wrong (2011)
• Dear Cocaine (2012)

External links

• Official website