When
Hoover broke up in 1994, the band was probably at the height of its popularity. They split leaving a number of new songs unrecorded and many people disappointed.
Ex-
Hoover members Fred Erskine and
Joe McRedmond continued to play together, however, and, joined by drummer Vin Novara, they formed a new band: The
Crownhate Ruin. They played their first show barely two months after
Hoover's demise.
The band's music moved into a darker area, with more challenging arrangements and time-signatures, and while the new sound didn't immediately connect with some of the
Hoover fans, The
Crownhate Ruin began to develop its own following through touring and the release of an album on
Dischord in early 1996.
After
Crownhate Ruin, Erskine moved to Chicago and played in many more projects, including June of 44.
Photo:
Pat Graham
