SugarComa
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Defunct | 2004 |
| Fate | Disbanded, brief reunion in 2013 |
| Headquarters | Romford , England, United Kingdom |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Sugarcoma (also presented as SugarComa) was an alternative metal group originating from Romford, England, active between 1999 and 2004. The lineup featured vocalist and lyricist Jessica Mayers, bassist Heidi Fisk, drummer James Cuthbert, and guitarist Claire Simson. Their sole studio album, Becoming Something Else, was released in August 2002. The band briefly reunited for a single performance in October 2013.
Formation and Early Years
SugarComa came together in March 1999 when singer Jess Mayers joined forces with guitarist Claire Simson, who had previously played with Little Green Pants. Childhood companion James Cuthbert took on drums, while Heidi McEwen (later known as Fisk) handled bass duties. At the time, all members were teenagers attending St Edward's Church of England Academy, where they also utilized school facilities to record their initial demo.
Their band name was derived from a song by Hole. Their live debut occurred at The Walthamstow Standard, where they opened for a Metallica tribute band.
Velocity Recordings Era
The group submitted their demo tapes alphabetically to various labels; Abuse Records, operated by Reading promoter Sid Siddle, was the first to respond positively. Following a collaboration with Tony Defries' management firm MainMan, Siddle renamed the label Velocity Recordings. Defries had tasked Siddle with finding a female-fronted heavy metal act.
After only four gigs, Siddle agreed to finance and promote their debut single. The Blisters EP, produced by Iestyn Polson, became Velocity’s inaugural release in August 2000. It achieved Single of the Week status in both Melody Maker and Kerrang!, with critic Lauren Laverne commending its stylistic fusion.
Since the members were underage, they could not enter into binding contracts without parental approval. Legal advisors for their parents recommended against signing with Velocity/MainMan due to unfavorable contract conditions.
Association with Music For Nations
Gaining traction through marketing efforts, SugarComa recorded a BBC Radio 1 Evening Session and received national radio play from John Peel and Steve Lamacq. Their live performances attracted numerous A&R representatives. In December 2000, they supported My Ruin on a UK tour and subsequently moved up the lineup after another act pulled out. Early in 2001, they supported Disturbed at London Astoria and toured alongside Guano Apes before concentrating on their debut album.
In spring 2001, they signed with Music For Nations and recorded the What Goes Around EP under producer Colin Richardson, known for his work in metal. Much of that year was devoted to writing new songs, partly inspired by a trip to Majorca.
April 2002 saw them headline a UK tour with labelmates InMe as support; this tour was documented in Metal Hammer. While opening for well-established metal bands expanded their audience reach, they encountered hostility from fans loyal to the headliners. The band voiced dissatisfaction over label pressure to adopt a more mainstream sound and criticized inadequate promotion efforts—including appearances on children’s television that clashed with their image.
To align with their 2002 tour activities, SugarComa released a double A-side cover featuring Britney Spears’ "(You Drive Me) Crazy" alongside "Windings." Originally performed as an encore joke during rehearsals, this cover received mixed reactions—garnering praise from some mainstream media outlets but facing criticism within the metal community for perceived compromises to authenticity.
Their debut album Becoming Something Else experienced several delays related to artwork finalization; although finished by January 2002, its release occurred in August across Europe and the United States. Later that year, they supported SOiL and The Wildhearts on UK tours, with Ginger Wildheart expressing interest in producing their subsequent album.
By mid-2003, approximately three-quarters of their second album's demos were completed with an intended release in early 2004. However, following the closure of Music For Nations amid restructuring at parent company Sony Music, SugarComa found themselves without a record deal and searching for new opportunities. According to bassist Fisk, the band gradually dissolved in 2004 as members sought more secure employment but never formally announced a breakup.
Subsequent developments
In December 2011, The End Records secured the rights to re-release the Music For Nations catalog, which included the album Becoming Something Else. Following Music For Nations' revival in 2015, this album was made available through digital platforms.
Although SugarComa initially chose not to sign with Velocity Recordings, that label proceeded to distribute early demo recordings without the band's approval under the titles Never Born (2001) and Life Before Colin (2011). The band publicly rejected these releases as unofficial and incomplete.
A one-off reunion gig was scheduled for October 2013 at The Garage in London; due to high demand, the venue was changed to The Jazz Café. Supporting acts included Hearts Under Fire and Gasoline Thrill. Drummer James Cuthbert was unable to participate and was replaced by Iain "Slomo" Scott. This reunion was intended to provide a sense of resolution following their sudden exit from their previous record company.
By April 2015, the band members had pursued different professional paths: Mayers was working in human resources, Simson had become a digital project manager specializing in mobile applications, Fisk was employed as a train operator for the London Underground, and Cuthbert had lost contact with the group.
Musical style and inspirations
Media outlets frequently categorized SugarComa within the nu metal genre; Velocity Recordings described them as a "fiery nu-metal foursome." They were often compared to Canadian female metal group Kittie—a comparison they consistently disputed—favoring influences from alternative metal acts such as Sepultura and Babes in Toyland.
Band members have publicly denied association with nu metal, highlighting their minimal use of drop D tuning, absence of DJs, and lack of connection to figures like Fred Durst. They also noted attracting fans from the riot grrrl movement despite stylistic differences.
Critics commended Mayers for her energetic vocal delivery that combined both screaming and melodic singing, with lyrics conveying authentic teenage experiences. Although they resisted being labeled as nu metal during their active years, SugarComa's impact remains recognized within the extended legacy of that genre.
Personnel
Last lineup
- Jessica Mayers – lead vocals (1999–2004, 2013)
- Claire Simson – guitar (1999–2004, 2013)
- Heidi Fisk (née McEwen) – bass (1999–2004, 2013)
- Iain "Slomo" Scott – drums (2013)
Previous members
- James Cuthbert – drums (1999–2004)
Albums
- Becoming Something Else (2002)
Unauthorized releases
- Never Born (2001)
- Life Before Colin (2011)
EPs
- Blisters (2000)
- What Goes Around (2001)
Singles
- "(You Drive Me) Crazy/Windings" (2002) (UK Chart position No. 57)
- "Zero Star" (2002) (UK Chart position No. 83)
Notes