Formerly known as the Dharmas, Steadman is a melodic Brit-pop, alternative pop/rock outfit that has been compared to Radiohead, Oasis, and Suede, among others. The band was formed in Hastings, England, in 1998, and after playing its share of U.K. gigs, the Dharmas signed with Arista's British division. But things didn't work out with Arista; eventually, the Dharmas were able to get out of the contract, change their name to Steadman and record independently. Lead vocalist/songwriter Simon Steadman started his own label, Freeloader Recordings, in the late '90s, and the band's debut album, Loser Friendly, came out on Freeloader in England in 1999. Then, in 2000, the CD was released in the U.S. by the Los Angeles-based Ozone Recording Company (ORC). Loser Friendly employs most of Steadman's original lineup, including Simon Steadman, bassist David Walton, and drummer Russell Field. However, keyboardist Ellie Wyatt was replaced by Chris Murphy and guitarist James Board is a recent addition. ~ Alex Henderson