Crossbreed (band)
Encyclopedia
Crossbreed was a six member industrial metal
band from Clearwater, Florida, formed in 1996. They were signed with Artemis Records before being dropped from the label in 2003.
's radio festival, Livestock, where they met the girls from the band Kittie
. They gave them a copy of their 3-Track demo, which found its way to the A & R Rep for Kittie's former label Artemis. Crossbreed was signed to Artemis by the end of the year and their debut album, Synthetic Division
was released nationally on May 8, 2001. Their first single, "Underlined", debuted on MTV2
& MTVX
. The video for that song was nominated for a Billboard Music Award
. In the summer of 2001 they toured the U.S. and Canada with the German band Rammstein
and did a short run with Static-X
. Synthetic Division has sold to date a total of over 50,000 copies. In what would be a sign for the future, bassist Charlie Parker left the band after a show on April 20, 2002. Crossbreed then parted ways with their label in 2003 and after a show with Orgy
on May 2, 2004, bassist Bishop, keyboardist "Flip", and drummer Simpkins left the band as well. Later that year, Izzo would also leave the band. James Rietz & Chris Nemzek chose to continue and re-form the band with new members.
, former manager of KISS
), Crossbreed spent their time writing new material and doing shows in Florida, including opening for Orgy
, Mushroomhead
, and Mindless Self Indulgence
. On July 25, 2005 they released their self-produced EP New Slave Nation
and toured the Midwest with Mushroomhead
and Dope
on the "Music for Freedom" Tour. The following spring, they went out with Nothingface
and Silent Civilian
for a brief time before dropping off the tour due to conflict. Since that time they have toured again with Mushroomhead
as well as alone throughout the Eastern U.S.
As of May 14, 2008, it was noted on Subkulture's Myspace
Blog that Kem Secksdiin is co-writing and performing numerous songs on the upcoming Crossbreed album.
In July 2008, Crossbreed opened up their own audio-visual recording studio. Dubbed "The Candy Factory", the studio is located in the warehouse district of Downtown Clearwater, Florida and served as the studio where Crossbreed's new record KE 101
was recorded.
In June 2008, Crossbreed signed with "Driven Music Group", the new label of ex-Korn
guitarist, Brian "Head" Welch. According to the band's MySpace, their new album KE 101
was scheduled to be released in late spring/early summer 2009 via Ryko distribution, but due to the company going under, they have decided to sign with Crash Music, an affiliate of Driven Music Group. Due to this and several other issues, the new album KE 101
was released on September 15, 2009.
Crossbreed played their last show on December 17, 2010 at The State Theatre in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Members of Crossbreed formed a band called Shu-Tang. http://www.facebook.com/#!/shutangmusic
Guitars - Chris Nemzek (1996–2010)
Bass - Corey Floyd (2004–2010)
Keyboards - Kem Secksdiin (2006, 2007–2010)
Keyboards - Ian Hall (2005–2010)
Drums - Jay Diesel (2008–2010)
Drums - Travis Simpkins : 1996 - 2004
Electronics - Dan "DJ" Izzo - 1999 - 2005
Keyboards - Phil "Flip" Marquardt : 1998 - 2004
Bass - Bishop : 2002 - 2004
Bass - Ferrell : 2002
Drums - Mike Cais (2007–2008)
Drums - Chris Morris : 2004 - 2006
Drums - Dan Fox : 2006 - 2007
Drums - Angel Bartolotta : 2006
Keyboards - Jason Tropf - 1997 - 1998, 2004(live)
Keyboards / Programming - Travis Inskeep : 2004 - 2006
Industrial metal
Industrial metal is a musical genre that draws from industrial music and many different types of heavy metal, using repeating metal guitar riffs, sampling, synthesizer or sequencer lines, and distorted vocals. Founding industrial metal acts include Ministry, Godflesh, and KMFDM.Industrial metal's...
band from Clearwater, Florida, formed in 1996. They were signed with Artemis Records before being dropped from the label in 2003.
Early years
Crossbreed was formed in 1996 as a four-man band consisting of James Rietz, Chris Nemzek, Charlie Parker & Travis Simpkins. A year later they added keyboardist Jason Troph who left in 1998 to front the Orlando-based band Irrational. He was replaced by Phil "Flip" Marquardt. Their self-produced album .01 was released in 1998 with only 1000 copies made. In 1999, Dan "DJ" Izzo (then under the moniker "D.J. Balistick") joined the band as their DJ/2nd Keyboardist. It was at this time that he began developing their stage show using black lights and glow paint, which helped bring the band to the attention of the music industry.2000-2005
On April 29, 2000 Crossbreed played Tampa's 98RockWXTB
WXTB — branded 98 Rock — is a commercial radio station in the Tampa, Florida area. However the station can be heard as far north as Ocala and Williston due to its strong signal...
's radio festival, Livestock, where they met the girls from the band Kittie
Kittie
Kittie is a Canadian heavy metal band formed in London, Ontario in 1996. A quartet of women, the group rose to success in 1999 when the track "Brackish" from their debut album Spit became a hit single...
. They gave them a copy of their 3-Track demo, which found its way to the A & R Rep for Kittie's former label Artemis. Crossbreed was signed to Artemis by the end of the year and their debut album, Synthetic Division
Synthetic Division (album)
Synthetic Division is the debut album by Crossbreed. The album had three singles: "Underlined", "Seasons", and "Breathe."-Track listing:# "Severed"# "Seasons"# "Underlined"# "Breathe"# "Pure Energy"# "Release Me"# "Machines"# "Painted Red"...
was released nationally on May 8, 2001. Their first single, "Underlined", debuted on MTV2
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
& MTVX
MTVX
MTVX was a Viacom-owned American rock music video channel. MTVX was available exclusively on digital cable packages or satellite TV providers, being the first network of the "MTV Networks Digital Suite".- Format :...
. The video for that song was nominated for a Billboard Music Award
Billboard Music Award
The Billboard Music Award is an honor given by Billboard magazine, the preeminent publication covering the music business. The Billboard Music Awards show had been held annually in December until it went dormant in 2007, but it returned in May 2011...
. In the summer of 2001 they toured the U.S. and Canada with the German band Rammstein
Rammstein
Rammstein is a German Neue Deutsche Härte band from Berlin, formed in 1994. The band consists of members Till Lindemann , Richard Z. Kruspe , Paul H. Landers , Oliver "Ollie" Riedel , Christoph "Doom" Schneider and Christian "Flake" Lorenz...
and did a short run with Static-X
Static-X
Static-X is an American industrial metal band from Los Angeles, California. They were formed in 1994. They are signed to Warner Bros. Records and have released six albums, their most recent being Cult of Static, which was released on March 17, 2009....
. Synthetic Division has sold to date a total of over 50,000 copies. In what would be a sign for the future, bassist Charlie Parker left the band after a show on April 20, 2002. Crossbreed then parted ways with their label in 2003 and after a show with Orgy
Orgy (band)
Orgy is an American synth rock band formed in 1996, from Los Angeles, California. Orgy described their music as "death pop".-History:Orgy was formed in 1996 by vocalist Jay Gordon and guitarist Ryan Shuck. Bassist Paige Haley, guitarist Amir Derakh, and drummer Bobby Hewitt soon completed the line-up...
on May 2, 2004, bassist Bishop, keyboardist "Flip", and drummer Simpkins left the band as well. Later that year, Izzo would also leave the band. James Rietz & Chris Nemzek chose to continue and re-form the band with new members.
2005 - 2010
With a new line-up and manager (Bill AucoinBill Aucoin
William "Bill" Aucoin was an American band manager, well-known for his work with the rock band Kiss.-Biography:...
, former manager of KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
), Crossbreed spent their time writing new material and doing shows in Florida, including opening for Orgy
Orgy (band)
Orgy is an American synth rock band formed in 1996, from Los Angeles, California. Orgy described their music as "death pop".-History:Orgy was formed in 1996 by vocalist Jay Gordon and guitarist Ryan Shuck. Bassist Paige Haley, guitarist Amir Derakh, and drummer Bobby Hewitt soon completed the line-up...
, Mushroomhead
Mushroomhead
Mushroomhead is an American industrial metal band from Cleveland, Ohio. Formed in 1993 in Cleveland Warehouse District, the band's music can be described as a synthesis of alternative music, heavy metal, and electro-industrial...
, and Mindless Self Indulgence
Mindless Self Indulgence
Mindless Self Indulgence is an American musical group formed in New York in 1997. Their music has a mixed style including rap, punk rock, alternative rock, electronica, techno and industrial...
. On July 25, 2005 they released their self-produced EP New Slave Nation
New Slave Nation
New Slave Nation is a seven song limited edition EP released by Florida band Crossbreed. Their full-length LP was rumored to be released in the Summer of 2007 but was not released until 2009...
and toured the Midwest with Mushroomhead
Mushroomhead
Mushroomhead is an American industrial metal band from Cleveland, Ohio. Formed in 1993 in Cleveland Warehouse District, the band's music can be described as a synthesis of alternative music, heavy metal, and electro-industrial...
and Dope
Dope (band)
Dope is an American rock band from Villa Park, Illinois, formed in 1997 in Chicago, Illinois.To date, the band has released five full-length studio albums, their most recent being No Regrets which was released on March 10, 2009.-History:...
on the "Music for Freedom" Tour. The following spring, they went out with Nothingface
Nothingface
Nothingface was a four-piece metal band from Washington, D.C. noted for having graphic lyrics and occasionally using political themes in their later works, as well as polyrhythmic songs.-First Run:...
and Silent Civilian
Silent Civilian
Silent Civilian is a metalcore band originating from Los Angeles, California. Following his departure from nu metal band Spineshank in 2004, frontman Jonny Santos felt he wanted to move in a different direction musically and start from scratch...
for a brief time before dropping off the tour due to conflict. Since that time they have toured again with Mushroomhead
Mushroomhead
Mushroomhead is an American industrial metal band from Cleveland, Ohio. Formed in 1993 in Cleveland Warehouse District, the band's music can be described as a synthesis of alternative music, heavy metal, and electro-industrial...
as well as alone throughout the Eastern U.S.
As of May 14, 2008, it was noted on Subkulture's Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
Blog that Kem Secksdiin is co-writing and performing numerous songs on the upcoming Crossbreed album.
In July 2008, Crossbreed opened up their own audio-visual recording studio. Dubbed "The Candy Factory", the studio is located in the warehouse district of Downtown Clearwater, Florida and served as the studio where Crossbreed's new record KE 101
KE 101
KE 101 is Crossbreed's second album, released on September 15, 2009. KE 101 strays even further from the nu metal beginnings of Crossbreed, developing their own industrial style.-Track listing:#Kill Everything - 3:59#Hollow - 4:08#Nothing - 4:03...
was recorded.
In June 2008, Crossbreed signed with "Driven Music Group", the new label of ex-Korn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
guitarist, Brian "Head" Welch. According to the band's MySpace, their new album KE 101
KE 101
KE 101 is Crossbreed's second album, released on September 15, 2009. KE 101 strays even further from the nu metal beginnings of Crossbreed, developing their own industrial style.-Track listing:#Kill Everything - 3:59#Hollow - 4:08#Nothing - 4:03...
was scheduled to be released in late spring/early summer 2009 via Ryko distribution, but due to the company going under, they have decided to sign with Crash Music, an affiliate of Driven Music Group. Due to this and several other issues, the new album KE 101
KE 101
KE 101 is Crossbreed's second album, released on September 15, 2009. KE 101 strays even further from the nu metal beginnings of Crossbreed, developing their own industrial style.-Track listing:#Kill Everything - 3:59#Hollow - 4:08#Nothing - 4:03...
was released on September 15, 2009.
Crossbreed played their last show on December 17, 2010 at The State Theatre in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Members of Crossbreed formed a band called Shu-Tang. http://www.facebook.com/#!/shutangmusic
Final Line-up members
Vocals - James Rietz (1996–2010)Guitars - Chris Nemzek (1996–2010)
Bass - Corey Floyd (2004–2010)
Keyboards - Kem Secksdiin (2006, 2007–2010)
Keyboards - Ian Hall (2005–2010)
Drums - Jay Diesel (2008–2010)
Former Members
Bass - Charlie Parker : 1996 - 2002Drums - Travis Simpkins : 1996 - 2004
Electronics - Dan "DJ" Izzo - 1999 - 2005
Keyboards - Phil "Flip" Marquardt : 1998 - 2004
Bass - Bishop : 2002 - 2004
Bass - Ferrell : 2002
Drums - Mike Cais (2007–2008)
Drums - Chris Morris : 2004 - 2006
Drums - Dan Fox : 2006 - 2007
Drums - Angel Bartolotta : 2006
Keyboards - Jason Tropf - 1997 - 1998, 2004(live)
Keyboards / Programming - Travis Inskeep : 2004 - 2006
LPs
- .01 (1998)
- Synthetic DivisionSynthetic Division (album)Synthetic Division is the debut album by Crossbreed. The album had three singles: "Underlined", "Seasons", and "Breathe."-Track listing:# "Severed"# "Seasons"# "Underlined"# "Breathe"# "Pure Energy"# "Release Me"# "Machines"# "Painted Red"...
(2001) - KE 101 (2009)