Brian Fair
Encyclopedia
Brian Fair is an American musician from Massachusetts
, best known as lead vocalist of the heavy metal
band Shadows Fall
. He graduated from Milford
High School in 1993 and went on to study literature at Boston University
.
, an influential hardcore band in the Worcester
music scene. While Fair was on vocals, Scott McCooe and Pete Cortese
played guitar, Mike D'Antonio
played bass, and Jay Fitzgerald played drums. Overcast's first 7", Bleed Into One, was released in 1992 through Exchange Records. The band's first full-length, Expectational Dilution, was released in 1994 and is considered a groundbreaking effort as many claim that Overcast are the pioneers of the metalcore
scene. Their final full-length, Fight Ambition To Kill, was released in 1997. This release was followed by nationwide touring with Shai Hulud
and Disembodied. Overcast eventually split up in November 1998.
Soon after Overcast disbanded Fair joined Shadows Fall in place of Phil Labonte who left due to creative differences. Soon after the band signed to Century Media Records. The band recorded its second studio album Of One Blood with Fair on vocals in 2000, the release included re-recorded songs from Somber Eyes to the Sky.
The Art of Balance (2001–2003)
Due to repeated comparisons with Gothenburg melodic death metal bands, Shadows Fall decided to change its style to find its own sound. Inspired by more thrash, hard rock and power ballad influences, the band recorded its third studio album, titled The Art of Balance. Released on September 17, 2002, the album peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Top Independent albums chart. Shadows Fall released three music videos to promote the album; "Thoughts Without Words", "Destroyer of Senses", and "The Idiot Box". The Art of Balance featured a cover of the Pink Floyd song "Welcome to the Machine". Andy Hinds of Allmusic stated the album is "a modern heavy metal album that is both brutal and highly musical, traditional yet forward-thinking", but criticized the placement of "Welcome to the Machine", stating the song "is stylishly well-executed, but seems a tad out of place nonetheless." Shadows Fall supported The Art of Balance by touring on Ozzfest in 2003.
In January 2003, a new space rock
project called Transient was formed. Transient saw Fair taking a break from vocals, this time playing the guitar and the drums instead. Fair was reunited with Overcast member Scott McCooe, who was now playing bass. Transient released a three song demo, whose tracks were recorded by Pete Rutcho of Blistered Earth, in November 2004. This is Transient's only material to date.
Fair continued with Shadows Fall as his main priority, and the band released several more records. On April 29, 2006, Overcast reunited to play at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival. The band then announced and re-recorded archive material and two new tracks, produced by metal producer Nick Raskulinecz
, under the name Reborn to Kill Again
.
Shadows Fall's 5th record, Threads of Life
, was released on April 3, 2007 through Atlantic Records
and Roadrunner International
. Fair has also recently worked with Necro, an underground hip hop
musician and producer, on his upcoming album entitled Death Rap
. Fair appears on Death Rap's fifth track, "Suffocated to Death by God's Shadow", with Mark Morton
(Lamb of God
), Mike Smith (Suffocation
), and Steve DiGiorgio
(Death).
The 6th studio album from Shadows Fall, titled Retribution (album), was released on September 15, 2009.
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, best known as lead vocalist of the heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Shadows Fall
Shadows Fall
Shadows Fall is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. They are one of the few contemporary metal bands who take their lyrical influence from Eastern philosophy and some references to the Rastafari culture...
. He graduated from Milford
Milford, Massachusetts
Milford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It had a population of 27,999 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Milford, constituting the center of the town, please see the article Milford ,...
High School in 1993 and went on to study literature at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
.
History
From a young age, Fair had always been known for his affinity for a wide range of music. In seventh grade he had his first visit to a recording studio after he and two friends won a radio jingle contest (sponsored by Mass Electric) with a Beastie Boys-inspired tune "The Energy Conservation Rap Song." In high school, he played bass and sang in a punk band called Frenzy that performed at local underage shows. In the summer of his sophomore year (August, 1991), Fair co-founded OvercastOvercast (band)
Overcast was an American metalcore band that started in the early 1990s, but broke up in 1998 after an unsuccessful tour; in 2008 they reunited to play a show and announced they would release a new album entitled Reborn to Kill Again with 11 re-recorded classic tracks and two unreleased...
, an influential hardcore band in the Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
music scene. While Fair was on vocals, Scott McCooe and Pete Cortese
Pete Cortese
Pete Cortese is the guitarist for the pioneering metalcore band Overcast. He also played guitar for the rock group Seemless. He appeared in Killswitch Engage for a short period of time....
played guitar, Mike D'Antonio
Mike D'Antonio
Michael "Mike" D'Antonio is best known as the bass guitarist and founder of Massachusetts metalcore band Killswitch Engage and of the band Overcast....
played bass, and Jay Fitzgerald played drums. Overcast's first 7", Bleed Into One, was released in 1992 through Exchange Records. The band's first full-length, Expectational Dilution, was released in 1994 and is considered a groundbreaking effort as many claim that Overcast are the pioneers of the metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
scene. Their final full-length, Fight Ambition To Kill, was released in 1997. This release was followed by nationwide touring with Shai Hulud
Shai Hulud (band)
Shai Hulud is an American hardcore punk band with progressive metal influences, originally formed in Pompano Beach, Florida, the band later moved up to Poughkeepsie, New York....
and Disembodied. Overcast eventually split up in November 1998.
Soon after Overcast disbanded Fair joined Shadows Fall in place of Phil Labonte who left due to creative differences. Soon after the band signed to Century Media Records. The band recorded its second studio album Of One Blood with Fair on vocals in 2000, the release included re-recorded songs from Somber Eyes to the Sky.
The Art of Balance (2001–2003)
Due to repeated comparisons with Gothenburg melodic death metal bands, Shadows Fall decided to change its style to find its own sound. Inspired by more thrash, hard rock and power ballad influences, the band recorded its third studio album, titled The Art of Balance. Released on September 17, 2002, the album peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Top Independent albums chart. Shadows Fall released three music videos to promote the album; "Thoughts Without Words", "Destroyer of Senses", and "The Idiot Box". The Art of Balance featured a cover of the Pink Floyd song "Welcome to the Machine". Andy Hinds of Allmusic stated the album is "a modern heavy metal album that is both brutal and highly musical, traditional yet forward-thinking", but criticized the placement of "Welcome to the Machine", stating the song "is stylishly well-executed, but seems a tad out of place nonetheless." Shadows Fall supported The Art of Balance by touring on Ozzfest in 2003.
In January 2003, a new space rock
Space rock
Space rock is a subgenre of rock music; the term originally referred to a group of early, mostly British, 1970s progressive and psychedelic rock bands such as Hawkwind and Pink Floyd, characterised by slow, lengthy instrumental passages dominated by electric organs, synthesizers, experimental...
project called Transient was formed. Transient saw Fair taking a break from vocals, this time playing the guitar and the drums instead. Fair was reunited with Overcast member Scott McCooe, who was now playing bass. Transient released a three song demo, whose tracks were recorded by Pete Rutcho of Blistered Earth, in November 2004. This is Transient's only material to date.
Fair continued with Shadows Fall as his main priority, and the band released several more records. On April 29, 2006, Overcast reunited to play at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival. The band then announced and re-recorded archive material and two new tracks, produced by metal producer Nick Raskulinecz
Nick Raskulinecz
Nick Raskulinecz is a Grammy-winning American record producer. He resides in Nashville, Tennessee.-Production career:Raskulinecz is from the Bearden area of Knoxville, Tennessee. He first produced and recorded bands in Knoxville on a 8-track recorder that his grandfather bought for him...
, under the name Reborn to Kill Again
Reborn to Kill Again
Reborn to Kill Again is an album by the American metalcore band Overcast, which was released on August 19, 2008. It contains 11 classic tracks and 2 unreleased songs."Root Bound Apollo" was first released on Shadows Fall's Of One Blood....
.
Shadows Fall's 5th record, Threads of Life
Threads of Life
-Best Buy bonus tracks:-iTunes bonus tracks:-Miscellaneous bonus tracks:From the WWE album Wreckless Intent-Personnel:Shadows Fall*Brian Fair – vocals*Jonathan Donais – lead guitar, vocals*Matt Bachand – guitar, vocals*Paul Romanko – bass...
, was released on April 3, 2007 through Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
and Roadrunner International
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
. Fair has also recently worked with Necro, an underground hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
musician and producer, on his upcoming album entitled Death Rap
Death Rap
Death Rap is the fifth studio album by American hip hop musician Necro, released on September 11, 2007 by Psycho+Logical-Records through Koch Distribution. It was the first studio album Necro released since signing with Koch in July 2007. As the title suggests, the album is Necro's return to...
. Fair appears on Death Rap's fifth track, "Suffocated to Death by God's Shadow", with Mark Morton
Mark Morton (musician)
Mark Duane Morton is the lead guitarist of the American groove metal band Lamb Of God.- Before Lamb of God :Morton grew up near Williamsburg, Virginia. His first band was Axis, which was composed of other local youth, one being Ryan Lake of Alabama Thunderpussy fame. Morton played rhythm guitar...
(Lamb of God
Lamb of God (band)
Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler...
), Mike Smith (Suffocation
Suffocation (band)
Suffocation is an American death metal band that was formed in 1989 in Long Island, New York. The band comprises vocalist Frank Mullen, guitarists Terrance Hobbs and Guy Marchais, drummer Mike Smith and bassist Derek Boyer. Suffocation rose to prominence of death metal and created a blueprint for...
), and Steve DiGiorgio
Steve DiGiorgio
Steve DiGiorgio is an American bassist and musician.DiGiorgio has played bass guitar in heavy metal bands such as Death, Autopsy, Control Denied, Testament, Vintersorg, Iced Earth, Sebastian Bach, Charred Walls of the Damned, Obituary, and is a founding member of Sadus. He is widely renowned for...
(Death).
The 6th studio album from Shadows Fall, titled Retribution (album), was released on September 15, 2009.
Wardrobe
Fair is most known for his dreadlocks that have been known to be a large part of his stage show. Fair shaved his head in 1992-3 with a 2 guard and has grown his hair into dreadlocks, which he says he has had ever since making them when he was almost 16 years old. He uses them in a windmill fashion to whip fans during shows. He also is a proud fan of the Boston Celtics, wearing a jersey at many shows. Another commonality in his show is to stagedive, even though his locks frequently get pulled by fans.Discography
- OvercastOvercast (band)Overcast was an American metalcore band that started in the early 1990s, but broke up in 1998 after an unsuccessful tour; in 2008 they reunited to play a show and announced they would release a new album entitled Reborn to Kill Again with 11 re-recorded classic tracks and two unreleased...
- Bleed Into One (7") (1992) - Overcast - Expectational Dilution (1994)
- Overcast - Stirring the Killer (7") (1995)
- Overcast - Overcast/Arise Split CD (7") (1996)
- Overcast - Begging for Indifference (7" EP/CD) (1996)
- Overcast - Fight Ambition to Kill"(1997)
- Shadows FallShadows FallShadows Fall is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. They are one of the few contemporary metal bands who take their lyrical influence from Eastern philosophy and some references to the Rastafari culture...
- Of One Blood (2000) - Shadows Fall - DeadworldDeadworld EPDeadworld is an EP only released in Japan by heavy metal band Shadows Fall.-Track listing:-Personnel:Shadows Fall* Brian Fair – vocals* Jonathan Donais – lead guitar, backing vocals* Matt Bachand – guitar, backing vocals* Paul Romanko – bass...
(EP) (2001) - Shadows Fall - Fear Will Drag You DownFear Will Drag You DownFear Will Drag You Down is a compilation album by Shadows Fall, consisting of remastered versions of their 2000 album Of One Blood and their 2001 Japanese EP Deadworld. It was released in Europe and Australia....
(Compilation Album) (2002) - Shadows Fall - The Art of BalanceThe Art of Balance-Personnel:Shadows Fall*Brian Fair – vocals*Jonathan Donais – lead guitar, vocals*Matt Bachand – guitar, vocals*Paul Romanko – bass*Jason Bittner – drumsAdditional performers*Jim Weeks – drums on "Welcome to the Machine"...
(2002) - Shadows Fall - The War WithinThe War Within (album)This article is about the album. For other uses, see 'The War Within .-Limited edition bonus DVD:#"Stepping Outside the Circle" #"Of One Blood"...
(2004) - Transient - N/A (Demo) (2004)
- Shadows Fall - Fallout from the WarFallout from the War-Personnel:Shadows Fall*Brian Fair – vocals*Jonathan Donais – lead guitar, vocals*Matt Bachand – guitar, vocals*Paul Romanko – bass*Jason Bittner – drumsAdditional performer*Jason McMaster – guest vocals on "Teasn', Pleasn'"Production...
(Compilation Album) (2006) - Shadows Fall - Threads of LifeThreads of Life-Best Buy bonus tracks:-iTunes bonus tracks:-Miscellaneous bonus tracks:From the WWE album Wreckless Intent-Personnel:Shadows Fall*Brian Fair – vocals*Jonathan Donais – lead guitar, vocals*Matt Bachand – guitar, vocals*Paul Romanko – bass...
(2007) - Shadows Fall - Seeking the Way: The Greatest HitsSeeking the Way: The Greatest Hits-Personnel:* Brian Fair – Vocals* Jonathan Donais – Lead Guitar* Matthew Bachand – Rhythm Guitar* Paul Romanko – Bass* David Germain – Drums * Derek Kerswill - Drums * Jason Bittner – Drums...
(2007) - Overcast - Reborn to Kill AgainReborn to Kill AgainReborn to Kill Again is an album by the American metalcore band Overcast, which was released on August 19, 2008. It contains 11 classic tracks and 2 unreleased songs."Root Bound Apollo" was first released on Shadows Fall's Of One Blood....
(2008) - Shadows Fall - Retribution (2009)