Cellophane (band)

Lore & Background

Cellophane started in 1995 after singer-songwriter Shannon Crawford convinced producer Ross Robinson to produce a demo recording of some of his songs. Robinson agreed after hearing a demo previously made by Crawford, and suggested that bass player Doug Ardito, drummer Mark Bistany, and guitar player John Chase work with Crawford. Upon finishing the recordings, the band played shows in the Los Angeles area and shopped the demos, ultimately signing with Virgin Records.

After a small club tour, an appearance on the 1996 Ozzfest bill followed, and Virgin suggested that producer Howard Benson record the début album, Cellophane (1997). The band toured in support of the album, opening for varied bands such as Korn, Creed, Rage Against the Machine, Warped Tour, Sevendust, L7, Jimmy Eat World and the Nixons, among others.

After a year on the road supporting the album, Cellophane returned to Los Angeles and started preparing to record a second album. During pre-production, Crawford decided to go on as a solo artist and the band was dissolved. Members later played with Vanilla Ice, Puddle of Mudd, Otep, and Michael Jackson.

Reader's Guide

Cellophane's significance lies in their brief but notable presence in the late-1990s alternative metal scene. Formed through the involvement of producer Ross Robinson, the band secured a major-label deal with Virgin Records and released a single album in 1997. Their appearance on the 1996 Ozzfest and tours with prominent acts like Korn, Creed, and Rage Against the Machine placed them alongside emerging hard rock and nu-metal bands of the era. Though the group dissolved after only one album, its members went on to contribute to other well-known projects: Doug Ardito and Mark Bistany later played in Puddle of Mudd, Bistany also founded Otep, and John Chase recorded for Michael Jackson. The band's song 'Down' was used in the soundtrack of the 1997 film Wishmaster, providing a lasting cultural footnote. Cellophane represents a snapshot of the transitional period in rock music when alternative metal was gaining mainstream traction, and their legacy is carried forward through the subsequent careers of its members.

Did You Know?

• The band was not listed on any official 1996 Ozzfest lineup.
• After Cellophane dissolved, Doug Ardito played bass for Vanilla Ice and later Puddle of Mudd.
• Mark Bistany later drummed for Otep but did not start the band.