- The Crüxshadows
-
The Crüxshadows 
Promotional photoBackground information Origin Tallahassee, Florida, United States Genres Dark Wave
Synthpop
Dark Electro
Gothic rock[1]Years active 1992–present Labels Wishfire Records Website www.thecruxshadows.com Members Jen "Pyromantic" Jawidzik
Jessica Lackey
JoHanna Moresco
David Russell Wood
Mike Perez
Jennelia VermesPast members Valerie Gentile
Cassandra Luger
Rachel McDonnell
Stacey Campbell
George Bikos
Tim Curry
Kevin Page
Chris Brantley
Trevor Brown
Sean Flanagan
Beth Allen
Holly McCall
Rachel Ulrich
Sarah Poulos
Sarah Stewart
Holly HastyThe Crüxshadows (
/ˈkruːʃædoʊz/)[2] is an Dark Electro group from Florida. Their sound is made up of a combination of male vocals, electric violin, guitar, and synth. Centered around vocalist and songwriter Rogue, The Crüxshadows blend 1980s inspired synthpop and modern rock with introspective lyrics.The band has enjoyed global popularity,[3] releasing CDs worldwide and touring extensively throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.[4]
For much of the band's career, they have been available through Dancing Ferret Discs, an independent label based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[5] In 2009 the band formed partnerships with several labels and distributors that allowed them to create their own imprint, Wishfire Records.[6] Lyrically much of The Crüxshadows' music draws its influence and subject matter from mythology, religion, history, and dreams.[7] Often referred to with the acronym CXS, their motto is Live Love Be Believe.
Contents
History
The band was originally formed in 1992 by Rogue, Sean Flanagan,[8] and Tim Curry, in Tallahassee, Florida.[9] The Cruxshadows' debut album, ...night crawls in, was self-released under the "Black Widow Music" label in 1993, followed by their first CD release, Telemetry of a Fallen Angel, in 1996. Telemetry earned them a fair amount of recognition and produced the band's first signature song, Marilyn, My Bitterness. In 1997 they signed a short-lived record deal with Nesak International.[10] Flanagan and Curry left the band a few months later.[11] Toward the end of 1997, The Cruxshadows interests were transferred to Dancing Ferret Discs,[12] and Telemetry became the new label's first release. Rogue assembled a new musical lineup and recorded The Mystery of the Whisper, Paradox Addendum and Until the Voices Fade... (1998–2000).[13]
In 2000, the band released the song Deception as part of the Vampire: The Masquerade soundtrack. During that year, they began to actively promote their music in Europe, particularly Germany, and recorded Deception in a German language version titled Täuschung. They played their first tour of Europe[14] and released a special limited edition CD available only at their European live shows called Intercontinental Drift. Due to high fan demand, a slightly expanded version was officially released worldwide with the title Echoes and Artifacts.[15]
Although a U.S. band, they have enjoyed phenomenal success in Europe[16]: after debuting at #5, the 2002 EP Tears stayed in the Deutsche Alternative Charts for 8 weeks[17] and subsequent releases have consistently placed in the top 10.[18] That same year they released the album Wishfire which also placed at #2 on the DAC[17] and secured the band's popularity both in the USA and in Europe. In Late 2003, The band released Ethernaut and produced one of its most recognizable and enduring songs to date, Winterborn. In 2004 The Crüxshadows released a remix disc based on the material on the Ethernaut CD called Fortress In Flames. Both CDs featured cover art created by noted artist Chad Michael Ward.[19]
In 2005 The band released a DVD called Shadowbox. The DVD featured a 2004 performance given to 15,000 fans at the Wave-Gotik-Treffen in Leipzig Germany and demonstrated the kind of theatrical intensity the band's concerts are known for having.[20] It also contained several music videos, a few documentaries about the band, many extras, and an additional audio CD. The song "Foreverlast" was released as part of the DVD/CD combo.[21]
Their 2006 single, "Sophia", made its debut on the Billboard Charts in the issue dated September 23, 2006. "Sophia" debuted at #1 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart, replacing Beyoncé in the top spot. At the same time, it placed at #7 on the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart. On both charts, "Sophia" was the highest-ranking debut entry that week.[22] The release of "Sophia" coincided with the band's performance at 2006's Dragon*Con. In an interview on the Dragon Con website, Rogue credits much of the single's success to their appearance at the convention and performance there.[23] Sophia remained in the charts for 19 weeks, including a re-entry [24] almost a year later. In 2007 The Crüxshadows released the long anticipated Dreamcypher, followed by a second single, Birthday. Birthday debuted at #1 on the Billboard Dance Singles Sales Chart [25] and was the #2 selling single of any genre in the entire country that week,[26] second only to the single from High School Musical 2
The band toured China in May 2007, and became the first goth band ever to perform at an open-air festival in that country. This performance took place during the MIDI Festival [27] in Beijing and was covered by Chinese television and print media.[28]
Members Rachel McDonnell, George Bikos, and Sarah Poulos left the group at the end of the 2007 DreamCypher tour, and the band gained new members in Valerie Gentile, JoHanna Moresco, David Russel Wood, and Sarah Stewart (originally listed as Sarah Kilgore). This new lineup released the single "Immortal" on July 4 (Europe)/July 8 (USA), and began the 2008 Immortal Tour. Immortal became the band's third consecutive Billboard top ten single (by sales) in the United States. Valerie Gentile toured with the band for 2008, but early in 2009, left the band returning home to New York City. Cassandra Luger was chosen to take her place[29] but lasted only a single tour season before being replaced by guitarist Mike Perez in early 2010. Jenne Vermes was added as a singer/dancer at the same time.[30]
Despite a large number of major setbacks in early 2010 including a crippling theft of money and equipment, legal issues, and the loss of several members, the band returned to Europe to play some festivals including the Amphi Festival in Köln.[30]
The band's sales remain strong on both sides of the Atlantic and their music is a staple of club dance floors worldwide. In Germany, they have appeared on several TV shows and on the covers of a number of magazines.[31] Their music has been used in American Television programs on VH1, MTV, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, Logo, and ABC.[citation needed]
Throughout their history, the band has toured extensively, often averaging between 100–120 live shows per year.[32] Their tours have thus far taken them to more than thirty countries, sometimes playing for crowds of 25,000 or more.[33] While they are no stranger to large festival shows, they have throughout their career made a point to play smaller cities in the US and Europe that do not often have the chance to host live shows by major touring acts.[4]
The band founded its own label, Wishfire Records some time in 2009, and released a new single in the second half of that year. Their first title Quicksilver debuted at #32 on the Billboard U.S. Hot 100 Singles Sales chart [34] and several months later, it returned to the charts, this time at #2. Additionally Quicksilver debuted at #7 on the Billboard U.S. Hot Dance Singles Sales Chart and later peaked at the #1 position tying it with Birthday for The Crüxshadows highest charting song.[35]
Labels
The Cruxshadows initially self-released two albums under the imprint name "Black Widow Music" between 1992 and 1996.[36] Those titles were Night Crawls In... and Telemetry of A Fallen Angel. In 1997 they signed a deal with Nesak International/Kado Records to give Telemetry of A Fallen Angel a full commercial release, as well as an option for a future album. Nesak eventually sold their rights to Dancing Ferret Discs and Mere Mortal Records.[37] Mere Mortal Records went out of business prior to releasing any albums by The Crüxshadows.[38] Dancing Ferret Discs released a number of The Crüxshadows titles over the following ten years.[39] In July 2008, Dancing Ferret Discs announced that it was becoming a catalog label and while existing titles would remain in print, the label would not be releasing new albums.[40] Rather than sign a deal with another label, The Crüxshadows started their own label in mid-2009, in cooperation with several established labels and distributors in different markets worldwide.[41] Their new label was named Wishfire Records and their first release was Quicksilver, which hit the shelves in the USA on September 8, 2009.[42] The song became their fourth consecutive single to reach the top 10 on the Billboard Hot Dance Singles Charts, and their third to occupy the #1 position.[43]
Touring
The band is known for extensive touring, appearing in club shows, theatre shows, and at festivals in Europe and North America annually. In 2007, they were invited to play at the Midi Festival in Beijing, China.[44][45] In 2009 the band performed as headliner of The Gothic Cruise, and in September 2010 the band played Dragon Con held in Atlanta, Georgia. (dc-cruxshadows guest page).
Lyrics and concepts
Much of The Crüxshadows' music is based on Greek and Egyptian mythology. Their work includes symbolic references to a number of mythical figures,[46] and many of their lyrics deal with the concept of God.[46] According to the band's singer Rogue, the inspiration for much of The Crüxshadows' material came from a five tiered dream.[47] The primary albums together form a series unofficially called the Angel Cycle.[48] This cycle uses myth, legend, and spiritual elements to address more personal issues that are characterized by their universal significance.[49][50] The lyrics operate as re-invented parables in many cases, and Rogue has openly stated that he intends Cruxshadows to impact people's lives individually through music.[47]
References in popular culture
Having become one of the better-known Gothic/Darkwave bands in recent years, The Crüxshadows' many supporters also include authors such as fantasy/horror writer Caitlín R. Kiernan,[51][52] fantasy writer Sherryln Kenyon,[53] and military science fiction writer John Ringo.[54] Ringo is fond of including references to The Crüxshadows and their lyrics in his works. In Ghost, former Navy SEAL Petty Officer Mike Harmon makes references to the song "Winterborn". The most recent novel in the Legacy of the Aldenata series, Eye of the Storm, takes its title from the Crüxshadows song of the same name, and the first verse's lyrics are printed on an introductory page.
The Crüxshadows name and likeness have occurred as cameos in comic books like Vertigo/DC Comics' The Dreaming, television shows like CSI,[55] and cartoon strips.[56][57][58]
Members
- Rogue – lead vocals, violin, programming, songwriting
- Mike Perez – guitar
- Jen "Pyromantic" Jawidzik – live synths, backing vocals
- Jessica Lackey – lead dancer, backing vocals
- JoHanna Moresco – violin
- David Russell Wood – violin, backing vocals.
- Jenne Vermes – dancer, backing vocals.
- Former or non-active members
- Cassandra Luger – guitar
- Valerie Gentile – guitar, backing vocals
- Rachel McDonnell – keyboard, violin
- Stacey Campbell – guitar, vocals
- George Bikos – guitar
- Tim Curry – guitar
- Kevin Page – guitar
- Chris Brantley – keyboard, vocals
- Trevor Brown – keyboard
- Sean Flanagan – keyboard
- Beth Allen – dancer
- Holly McCall – dancer, backing vocals
- Rachel Ulrich – dancer
- Sarah Poulos – dancer, backing vocals
- Sarah Stewart – dancer, backing vocals
- Holly Hasty – dancer, backing vocals
- Stephanie Griffith – dancer, backing vocals.
- Nichole Tadlock – dancer, backing vocals.
Discography
Leverkusen 12/06/2002
Albums
Released Title 1993 ...Night Crawls In 1995 Telemetry of a Fallen Angel (original release) 1999 The Mystery of the Whisper 2001 Echoes and Artifacts/Intercontinental Drift 2002 Wishfire 2003 Ethernaut 2004 Telemetry of a Fallen Angel (anniversary edition) 2005 ...Night Crawls In (reissue) 2006 The Mystery of the Whisper & Until the Voices Fade (reissue) 2007 DreamCypher EPs & singles
Released Title Type 1998 Until the Voices Fade... EP 2000 Paradox Addendum EP 2001 Tears EP 2003 Frozen Embers EP 2004 Fortress In Flames EP 2006 Sophia Single 2007 Birthday Single 2008 Immortal Single 2009 Quicksilver EP 2011 Valkyrie Single DVDs
Released Title Type 2005 Shadowbox CD+DVD Chart peak positions
- #1 "Sophia" – (U.S. Hot Dance Singles Sales) – Issue Date: 2006-09-23
- #7 "Sophia" – (U.S. Hot 100 Singles Sales) – Issue Date: 2006-09-23
- #1 "Birthday" – (U.S. Hot Dance Singles Sales) – Issue Date: 2007-09-22
- #2 "Birthday" – (U.S. Hot 100 Singles Sales) – Issue Date: 2007-09-22
- #23 "Sophia" – (U.S. Hot 100 Singles Sales) – Issue Date: 2007-09-22
- #2 "Immortal" – (U.S. Hot Dance Singles Sales) – Issue Date: 2008-09-11
- #6 "Immortal" – (U.S. Hot 100 Singles Sales) – Issue Date: 2008-09-11
- #7 "Quicksilver" – (U.S. Hot Dance Singles Sales) – Issue Date: 2009-09-26
- #32 "Quicksilver" – (U.S. Hot 100 Singles Sales) – Issue Date: 2009-09-26
- #1 "Quicksilver" – (U.S. Hot Dance Singles Sales) – Issue Date: 2009-11-21
- #2 "Quicksilver" – (U.S. Hot 100 Singles Sales) – Issue Date: 2009-11-21
References
- ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/crxshadows-p211741
- ^ Interview with Rogue of The Crüxshadows
- ^ http://tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/ENT05/60111009/1061 International Recording Artists
- ^ a b http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A22842 Pittsburgh City Paper
- ^ http://www.darkwavelounge.com/ferret.html Interview with Patrick Rodgers of Dancing Ferret
- ^ http://www.wishfirerecords.com new label for Cruxshadows
- ^ http://www.side-line.com/interviews_comments.php?id=22607_0_16_0_C Sideline Magazine Interview with Rogue
- ^ http://www.cruxshadows.com/about.htm bands website bio claims keyboard players name was Flanagan, not Beard
- ^ http://vampirefreaks.com/content/comment.php?entry=100&t=Rogue%2C+from+the+Cruxshadows%2C+interviewed+by+Benny+Hell Interview with Rogue of the Crüxshadows
- ^ http://www.emusic.com/artist/11606/11606018.html emusic biography
- ^ http://www.windowsmedia.com/Mediaguide/Templates/Biography.aspx?p_id=P%20%20%20211741 Microsoft windows media guide
- ^ http://www.darkecho.com/darkecho/archives/rodgers_ferret.html interview with Patrick Rodgers
- ^ lyrics & Discography
- ^ http://www.lollipop.com/disc56/thecruxshadows.html Crüxshadows go to Europe
- ^ http://www.shout.ru/news/news_october2004_e.htm echoes & Artifacts review
- ^ Tallahassee Democrat – www.tallahassee.com – Tallahassee, FL
- ^ a b http://www.trendcharts.de/ German Charts
- ^ http://www.cruxshadows.com/about.htm Crüxshadows Biography
- ^ http://www.digitalapocalypse.com/clients.php Chad Michael Ward client list
- ^ http://www.starvox.net/crypt/wgt2004/3.htm Crüxshadows Concert review
- ^ http://www.amazon.com/Cruxshadows-Shadowbox/dp/B0009KFQ4G Crüxshadows Shadowbox amazon page
- ^ http://www.cruxshadows.com/billboard.html Billboard reference PDF's
- ^ http://www.dragoncon.org/pdfs/biz.yahoo.com_news_crux.pdf Indie Band Replaces Beyonce at Top of Billboard
- ^ Top Music Charts – Hot 100 – Billboard 200 – Music Genre Sales
- ^ Top Music Charts – Hot 100 – Billboard 200 – Music Genre Sales
- ^ Top Music Charts – Hot 100 – Billboard 200 – Music Genre Sales
- ^ Ãôµñòôàö½Ú Ö÷Îèì¨
- ^ 图文：迷笛第四天落幕-CRUXSHADOWS性感装束_影音娱乐_新浪网
- ^ http://www.cruxshadows.com/blogger.html
- ^ a b http://www.thecruxshadows.com/news
- ^ Ethernaut
- ^ http://www.cruxshadows.com/tour.htm Crüxshadows tour schedule
- ^ http://www.cruxshadows.com/about.htm Official band bio
- ^ http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=59560578&blogId=512073919
- ^ http://www.cruxshadows.org/Quicksilver.html
- ^ http://www.discogs.com/Crüxshadows-Night-Crawls-In/master/99462
- ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p211741/biography
- ^ http://www.rocketpop.com/meremortal/mmp.html
- ^ http://www.discogs.com/label/Dancing+Ferret+Discs?sort=artist%2Casc
- ^ http://dancing-ferret.com/faq.htm
- ^ http://www.wishfirerecords.com
- ^ http://www.amazon.com/Quicksilver-Cruxshadows/dp/B002GNOLZ4
- ^ http://www.cruxshadows.com/News.html
- ^ Rock In China – News
- ^ http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=19581_0_2_0_C Crüxshadows play Beijing, China
- ^ a b http://www.cruxshadows.com/lyricfinder.html
- ^ a b http://www.side-line.com/interviews_comments.php?id=22607_0_16_0_C
- ^ http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?AuthorID=11214&id=148319
- ^ http://www.popculturemadness.com/interview/Rogue-Cruxshadows.html
- ^ http://www.thedside.it/interviste/int28.asp
- ^ http://www.darkecho.com/darkecho/horroronline/kiernan.html
- ^ http://greygirlbeast.dreamwidth.org/2004/11/10/
- ^ http://www.sherrilynkenyon.com/book_profile.php?id=56 see "read more" section for "Stroke of Midnight"
- ^ http://johnringo.nitro.gen.nz/FAQ/MusicFAQ/tabid/1682/Default.aspx
- ^ CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, season 8, episode 7: Goodbye and good luck
- ^ http://www.officialcruxshadows.com/news
- ^ http://www.thecruxshadows.com/uploaded_images/2008-05-08-707949.jpg
- ^ http://www.gothybeans.com/?tag=cruxshadows
External links
Categories:- Rock music groups from Florida
- Darkwave musical groups
- Gothic rock groups
- Musical groups established in 1992
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