Based out of Tallahassee, Florida, Big Dismal was an alternative rock/post grunge band signed to Wind-Up Records from c. 2001-2004. The band lineup included Eric Durrance with vocals, Chuck Shea on guitar, Gary Sobel on bass, and Jeff Chomin on the drums. The band first released the Big Dismal EP in 2001 (which had production help from Scott Stapp of label mate rock icons Creed, and then released their debut album Believe in 2003. Big D was also featured on the Songs Inspired by The Passion Of The Christ album with the hit single Rainy Day and the oft forgoten Reason I Live.
The debut album "Believe" saw the releases of the singles Remember (I.O.U.), Just The Same, and Reality. Also featured on the album was the potential hit, Missing You, featuring the guest vocals of label mate Evanescence's Amy Lee.
Around the release of Believe, Durrance had to have vocal surgery, and this hindered the support of the album which had the potential to be a big hit. Big Dismal joined the See Spot Rock Tour in 2004, their first and pretty much only big tour before disbanding. The rest of the SSR Tour included label mates 12 Stones, as well as Christian rockers Skillet and Pillar. Filling out the tour lineup was the Christian hip-hop duo GRITS.
Soon after the See Spot Rock Tour, there was trouble in the Big Dismal camp and the group disbanded.
eric durrance is still signed with Wind-Up records and is set to release his debut solo alt-country album in the first quarter of 2007.
Guitarist Chuck Shea joined the Christian rock group Seventh Day Slumber. Shea will debut his studio guitar work on Seventh Day Slumber's new album "Finally Awake" on March 20, 2007.
From Wikipedia:Big Dismal was a Florida based post-grunge Christian Rock band featuring vocalist Eric Durrance, guitarist Chuck Shea, bassist Gary Sobel, and drummer Jeff Chomin. Before the band found its way to Wind-Up, it was essentially just Durrance, toiling away in Tallahassee's local scene. Eventually, his solo recordings (and Christian beliefs) sparked the interest of the label, and with the addition of his supporting players renamed the project Big Dismal. Believe, the official debut, appeared in May 2003. It showcased a familiar and faith-based post-grunge sound similar to Creed or 3 Doors Down.
Rolling Stone named Big Dismal one of "Five Christian Bands on the Rise" and the band had three CONSECUTIVE #1 Singles off their debut record, Believe on Christian Rock radio (Remember, I.O.U., Reality and Just The Same). The band's first #1 Single, (Remember, I.O.U.) was named Song of the Year in Christian Rock Radio by Radio and Records, having remained at #1 on the chart for over (6) weeks. The song was also used in the Chris Benoit tribute edition of Raw. Big Dismal was also named Band of the Year in the Christian Rock market by Radio and Records and were also nominated for a Dove award in 2004 for Christian Rock Album of the Year. Music videos were created for each of their #1 Singles as well as for the song "Rainy Day."
The "Believe" album for Wind-Up received critical acclaim but failed to sell well. Front man Eric Durrance has announced that the band have split. Eric Durrance has gone solo and has recorded a country record with the other band members moving on to new projects.