- Crispy Ambulance
-
Crispy Ambulance were an English rock band, formed in Manchester, United Kingdom in late 1977 by Alan Hempsall (vocals), Keith Darbyshire (bass), Gary Madeley (drums) and Robert Davenport (guitar).[1] They had been inspired by the Sex Pistols second gig in the Lesser Free Trade Hall and the bands Magazine and Hawkwind.[2]
Contents
Career
The band played their first gig on 1 January 1978 at the Spurley Hey Youth Centre.[1] Following a self-released debut single, "From the Cradle to the Grave" (1980), the band joined Factory Records. Singles Unsightly and Serene and "Live on a Hot August Night" (produced by Martin Hannett) preceded their album The Plateau Phase, and final single "Sexus". The Plateau Phase was given a five star review by Sounds.[3]
In April 1980 singer Alan Hempsall also appeared on stage with Joy Division at Derby Hall, Bury, Lancashire, standing in for Ian Curtis who had suffered an epileptic fit,[1] a performance which ultimately descended into a riot. This scene is depicted in the Joy Division biopic Control. During 1981-1982 Crispy Ambulance played several dozen live dates in the UK, as well as a short European tour with Section 25. They also recorded a session for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show in January 1981.[3]
Crispy Ambulance disbanded late in 1982, leaving behind Fin, a live album of late period songs. A further posthumous album, Frozen Blood, included their 1981 BBC radio session for the John Peel programme. The four members carried on for a short time as "Ram Ram Kino", releasing one single "Advantage" on Temple Records.[1]
The original line-up of Crispy Ambulance reformed in 1999, and went on to release two studio albums - Scissorgun in 2002, and The Powder Blind Dream in 2004, as well as a live album, Accessory After The Fact.[1] All these later recordings were produced by Graham Massey of 808 State. The group also undertook a short tour of North America in November 2002.
In the commentary for the 2002 film, 24 Hour Party People, Tony Wilson of Factory Records stated that while he liked Crispy Ambulance, he felt that their name was the worst band name of all time.
Discography
Albums
- The Plateau Phase (1982), Factory - UK Indie # 23[4]
- Scissorgun (2002)
- The Powder Blind Dream (2004)
- Compilations
- Blue and Yellow (of the Yacht Club) (1983), C.A. Tapes
- Frozen Blood (2000), LTM
- Live
- Open, Gates of Fire (1983), C.A. Tapes
- Fin (1985), Les Tempes Modernes
- Accessory After the Fact (1999), LTM
Singles
- "From the Cradle to the Grave" (1980), Aural Assault
- "Not What I Expected" (1980)
- "Live on a Hot August Night" (1981), Factory Records Benelux, FACBN 4
- Unsightly and Serene;; (1981), Factory Records, FAC.32 - UK Indie #27[4]
- "Sexus" (1984), Factory Benelux
Ram Ram Kino
- Advantage - Tantric Routines EP (1985), Temple
References
- ^ a b c d e Strong, Martin C. (2003) The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, ISBN 1-84195-335-0, p. 284-5
- ^ Crispy Ambulance Biography
- ^ a b Gimarc, George (2005) Punk Diary: The Ultimate Trainspotter's Guide to Undreground Rock 1970-1982, Backbeat Books, ISBN 0-87930-848-6, p. 424, 580
- ^ a b Lazell, Barry (1998) Indie Hits 1980-1989, Cherry Red Books, ISBN 0-95172-069-4, p. 54
External links
Categories:- Musical groups from Manchester
- British post-punk music groups
- British New Wave musical groups
- Musical groups established in 1978
- Factory Records artists
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