The Crüxshadows (Pronounced as IPA: [ˈkru:ʃædoʊz]) are an Independent darkwave band from Florida. Their style combines electric violin, guitar and synth, and they have been successful in goth and Darkwave music scenes. Co-founded by current vocalist Rogue along with former members Sean Flanagan and Tim Curry, the band blends 80's inspired synth-pop and modern rock.
The band has enjoyed worldwide popularity, touring extensively throughout North America and Europe, and as of 2007, Beijing, China
For most of the band's career, they have been signed with Dancing Ferret Discs, based in Philadelphia, PA. Lyrically much of the Crüxshadows' music draws its influence and subject matter from mythology, history, and dreams, citing their motto of Live Love Be Believe.
History
The band was originally formed in 1992 by Rogue, Sean Flanagan, and Tim Curry, in Tallahassee, Florida. Their 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 signature song, Marilyn, My Bitterness. In 1997 they signed a short-lived record deal with Nesak International. Later that year, their interests were transferred to Dancing Ferret Discs, and Telemetry became the new labels first release. Just prior to this period in 1997, both Curry and Flanagan left the band. Rogue assembled a new musical lineup and recorded The Mystery of the Whisper. Paradox Addendum and Until the Voices Fade... (1998-2000).
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, and recorded Deception in a German language version titled Täuschung. They played their first tour of Europe and In 2001 they released a highlights disc under two separate titles: in Europe it was originally called Intercontinental Drift and in the USA it was titled Echoes and Artifacts. Subsequent printings on both Continents adopted the US title.
Although a US band, they have enjoyed phenomenal success in Europe: after debuting at #5, the 2002 EP Tears stayed in the Deutsche Alternative Charts for 8 weeks and subsequent releases have consistently placed in the top 5. That same year they released the album Wishfire which also placed at #2 on the DAC 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.
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. 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.
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. 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 that performance. There was also a cross promotional deal with Hot Topic. Sophia remained in the charts for 18 weeks. In 2007 The Crüxshadows released the long anticipated Dreamcypher.
While not exactly a household name in America, the band's sales are strong on both sides of the Atlantic and their music remains a staple of club dance floors worldwide. In Germany, they have appeared on several TV shows and the covers of a number of magazines. Their music has been used in American Television programs on VH1, MTV, Discovery Channel, and ABC.
Throughout their history, the band has built a reputation as something of a touring juggernaut, averaging between 100–120 live shows per year. Their tours have thus far taken them to more than thirty countries, sometimes playing for crowds of 25,000 or more. They have also 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.
Source: http://artists.letssingit.com/cruxshadows-wgxmr/biography
