Ed Crawford
Charles Edward Crawford, known as ed fROMOHIO, (born January 26, 1964, in Steubenville, Ohio) is best known as the lead singer and guitarist for Firehose, an alternative rock band he formed in 1986 with former Minutemen members Mike Watt (bass guitar) and George Hurley (drums).[1]
Edward Crawford | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Charles Edward Crawford |
| Born | January 26, 1964 (age 57) Stuebenville, Ohio |
| Genres | Alternative rock Indie rock |
| Occupation(s) | Guitar Player |
| Instruments | Electric Guitar |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Labels | SST, Columbia |
| Associated acts | Firehose Grand National Food |
Biography
In 1985, Minutemen vocalist and guitarist D. Boon was killed in a van wreck.[2] In 1986, Ed, a recent Ohio State University graduate and Minutemen fan, heard an erroneous rumor that Watt and Hurley were auditioning new guitarists[1] from a member of Camper Van Beethoven.[3] Ed contacted Watt after obtaining his phone number and talked his way into visiting San Pedro.[1] Watt and Hurley were still very much grief-stricken over the death of their friend and bandmate but Crawford traveled all the way from Ohio to San Pedro, California to meet Watt. Crawford was about to return to Ohio, when at the last minute, Watt accepted Ed's offer.[1] Along with Hurley, they formed Firehose. Shortly thereafter, the new band would record their first album, Ragin', Full On, and started touring. Eventually, he would record four more LPs with the band.
Ed sang and played guitar with Firehose until they broke up in 1994 after releasing five albums and touring extensively.
Ed currently lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1] and recently started playing solo acoustic as well as electric gigs around town with his new band, the Ed Crawford Trio. He appeared in the 2005 documentary film We Jam Econo. Since Firehose's break-up, he has also fronted the band Grand National (not to be confused with the UK band also named Grand National), and toured as a second guitarist with the now-defunct alt-country band Whiskeytown led by Ryan Adams, as well as with the Chapel Hill band Southern Culture on the Skids, and the Detroit band Mule.
As of 2012, Ed is playing in a band called "Food"[4] which is an acronym for "Far Out Old Dudes".[1]
As of July 2020, Ed has lost his job and is living in his car. A go fund me page was put together by fans of Ed and firehose, seeking to raise $8000 to help him get a place to live in the Pittsburgh area.
References
- Thompson, Matthew (2013). "edFROMOHIO". Fluke Fanzine. 1 (11): 3–7. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- Sheffield, Rob (December 22, 2010). "Remembering D. Boon and the Minutemen". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- Burnsilver, Glenn (April 10, 2012). "fIREHOSE's Ed Crawford: "It Was Our Job. We F**kin' Showed Up Every Day."". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- Prato, Greg (January 30, 2012). "Mike Watt on the fIREHOSE Reunion". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 27, 2019.