Crease (band)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States |
| Founder | Kelly Meister, Fritz Dorigo, Eric Dorigo |
| Headquarters | Fort Lauderdale , United States |
| Products | Music albums |
| Website | https://myspace.com/creaseband |
Crease is a hard rock group from the United States, established in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, in 1994.
The band’s core trio—Kelly Meister and brothers Fritz and Eric Dorigo—originally performed together in the Alt-Thrash outfit XSF (Excessive), which was created in 1985. Following the departure of bassist Vinny Pereira, Greg Gershengorn joined the lineup. Completing the remaining Excessive performances, the ensemble adopted the new name Crease and began developing fresh songs. Their debut full-length record, Interference, was issued through a regional independent label in 1995. Subsequent achievements included the self-funded ...Six Pack Shy Of Pretty released in 1998, which paved the way for their major label album Vindication and the indie release Only Human.
Formation and early days (1994)
Crease originated from XSF (Excessive), a band formed by high school classmates Kelly Meister (vocals), Fritz Dorigo (guitar), Eric Dorigo (drums), and bassist Vinny Pereira. In 1994, with Greg Gershengorn stepping in for Pereira, the group shifted their songwriting direction and rebranded as Crease. They actively toured throughout South Florida and produced a six-track demo under producer Gary Stryder’s guidance. This demo caught the attention of a local indie record company.
Debut album: Interference (1995)
In 1995, Crease secured a deal with DM Records, an independent label, to record their first full album, Interference. Despite releasing it, dissatisfaction with the mix and limited promotional efforts restricted its commercial impact. Nevertheless, the album received a Jammy Award nomination for “Best Independent Release of the Year” within Florida. After their contract concluded in 1996, Crease resumed operating independently to reassess their business approach.
(1996–1998)
During this three-year span, Crease composed over sixty songs and recorded material sufficient for three albums—Stuck Like Chuck, Tastes Like A Penny, and Lost In The Process—none of which were officially released at that time but later contributed tracks to ...Six Pack Shy Of Pretty and Vindication. The band became a prominent presence on the South Florida music circuit, sharing stages with acts such as Quiet Riot and Vince Neil. During this era, they connected with notable manager Bill Aucoin, famed for his work with Kiss and Billy Idol, who arranged a showcase for record labels. Although no deals materialized then, Crease established a working relationship with producer Paul Trust.
…Six Pack Shy Of Pretty era (1998–1999)
Recording sessions at North Miami’s “Dungeon” studios with Trust commenced for a full-length project but were curtailed after five tracks due to financial constraints. The track “Frustration” became their lead single. Crease independently produced and distributed 500 copies of the EP ...Six Pack Shy Of Pretty, assembling them personally to minimize expenses. The EP caught the attention of DJ Kimba at 94.9 Zeta (WZTA), who placed “Frustration” into heavy rotation after Program Director Greg Steele recognized its potential. The single rapidly ascended to No. 1 on local charts, earning Crease an opening spot for Dishwalla before an audience of 8,000. The EP sold over 7,000 copies.
The band signed with New York-based manager Jamie Schoenfeld and pursued record contracts actively. In summer 1999, industry publication “Hits” dubbed them the “Hottest Unsigned Band in the Country.” Additional Florida radio stations added “Frustration” to their playlists, while 94.9 Zeta released their rendition of “Jenny 867-5309” as a follow-up single. Crease performed near-headlining duties at “Zetafest,” entertaining some 35,000 attendees and outperforming ticket sales compared to Kid Rock and Metallica in Miami over two consecutive weeks.
Throughout that year, Crease played numerous showcases along the East Coast and opened for notable bands including Godsmack, The Goo Goo Dolls, Our Lady Peace, Finger Eleven, and Def Leppard. Broward/Palm Beach New Times honored them as “Best Local Rock Band of 1999.” When DM Records asserted ownership claims over their material, Crease pursued legal action which was ultimately resolved through settlement to avoid extended litigation. Following this resolution, Crease inked a deal with Roadrunner Records in December 1999.
Vindication (2000–2001)
In January 2000, Crease entered Elysian Fields studio in Boca Raton, Florida, to record seven fresh tracks, complemented by updated and remixed versions of five selections from ...Six Pack Shy Of Pretty. These sessions culminated in the creation of the album Vindication. By March 2000, final production was completed at Audio Vision studios in Miami. The single "Frustration" was introduced to radio audiences in June 2000, quickly becoming the eighth most added track nationwide during its initial week and was featured in the motion picture *Thank You, Good Night*. The song "Jenny 867-5309" gained placement in the television series *Roswell* as well as the video game *ESPN X-Games Skateboarding*. Moreover, "Building Up" was incorporated into HBO’s documentary titled *Middle School Confessions*.
By October 2000, following considerable executive shifts at their record label, Crease, along with other artists signed under the previous President and A&R leader, were released from their contracts. This resulted in the band losing control over Vindication. Nevertheless, they promptly returned to the studio to produce five additional tracks. However, interest from record labels waned after the events of September 11, which negatively affected their progress.
Only Human (2001–2006)
For their subsequent studio project, the band teamed up with Grammy-winning producer and mixer Charles Dye. Dye featured Crease on Digidesign’s Pro Tools platform, Hard Disc Life, where he shared all individual tracks for the song "Live To Be In Love" to assist Pro Tools users in honing their mixing skills using professional recordings. This novel exposure significantly enhanced the band’s visibility. In 2004, Only Human was launched under Crease’s own imprint, Whateverman Records, with "Nothing Is Real" serving as its lead single. Despite these efforts, the album did not achieve the commercial impact of ...Six Pack Shy Of Pretty or Vindication. The group disbanded in 2006, with guitarist Fritz Dorigo and bassist Greg Gershengorn forming a new punk/rock ensemble named Dirty DNA.
Leftovers (2010–2011)
In January 2011, Crease communicated through MySpace that they were working on a new album entitled Leftovers, which would include unreleased material from Only Human, alongside fresh compositions and previously unrecorded older songs.
Studio albums
- Interference (1995)
- ...Six Pack Shy Of Pretty (1998)
- Vindication (2000)
- Only Human (2004)
- Leftovers (2011)
Band members
- Kelly Meister – lead vocals
- Fritz Dorigo – guitar, vocals
- Greg Gershengorn – bass guitar, vocals
- Eric Dorigo – drums and percussion