Brian Fair (born May 30, 1975) is an American musician from
Massachusetts, best known as lead vocalist of the
Thrash metal band
Shadows Fall. He graduated from
Milford High School in 1993 and went on to study literature at
Boston University.
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
Overcast, 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.
The split saw Overcast's members go their separate ways, including bassist
Mike D'Antonio joining his current band
Killswitch Engage. Fair went on to join
Shadows Fall, who had recently parted with vocalist
Philip Labonte and offered Fair the position minutes after Overcast's last show. Fair's first full length with Shadows Fall,
Of One Blood, was released on April 4, 2000 through
Century Media Records.