Crispy Ambulance
Encyclopedia
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). They had been inspired by the Sex Pistols
second gig in the Lesser Free Trade Hall
and the bands Magazine
and Hawkwind
.
, "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
.
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, 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.
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
.
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. 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.
Compilations:
Live:
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band, formed in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in late 1977 by Alan Hempsall (vocals), Keith Darbyshire (bass), Gary Madeley (drums) and Robert Davenport (guitar). They had been inspired by the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
second gig in the Lesser Free Trade Hall
Free Trade Hall
The Free Trade Hall, Peter Street, Manchester, was a public hall constructed in 1853–6 on St Peter's Fields, the site of the Peterloo Massacre and is now a hotel. The hall was built to commemorate the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846. The architect was Edward Walters The hall subsequently was...
and the bands Magazine
Magazine (band)
Magazine are an English post-punk group active from 1977 to 1981, then reformed in 2009. Their debut single, "Shot by Both Sides", is now acknowledged as a classic and their debut album, Real Life, is still widely admired as one of the greatest albums of all time...
and Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
.
Career
The band played their first gig on 1 January 1978 at the Spurley Hey Youth Centre. Following a self-released debut singleSingle (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "From the Cradle to the Grave" (1980), the band joined Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
. Singles Unsightly and Serene
Unsightly and Serene
"Unsightly and Serene" was the second release made by the Manchester post-punk band, Crispy Ambulance.It was also their first release on Factory Records, as they were signed to the label with the help of Rob Gretton who, after the death of Ian Curtis in May 1980, became a director of the label...
and "Live on a Hot August Night
Live on a Hot August Night
"Live on a Hot August Night" was Crispy Ambulance's third release and the second release made on Factory Records . It was produced by the legendary producer, Martin Hannett and even though the title suggests the single was recorded live, it was recorded in a Studio....
" (produced by Martin Hannett
Martin Hannett
Martin Hannett , sometimes credited as Martin Zero, was a record producer and an original partner in Factory Records with Tony Wilson...
) preceded their album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
The Plateau Phase
The Plateau Phase
The Plateau Phase was the first album released by post-punk band Crispy Ambulance. It was released in 1982 and was a departure to the sound of the earlier singles which was considered to be closer to the sound of post-punk contemporaries Joy Division...
, and final single "Sexus". The Plateau Phase was given a five star review by Sounds
Sounds (magazine)
Sounds was a long-term British music paper, published weekly from 10 October 1970 – 6 April 1991. It was produced by Spotlight Publications , which was set up by Jack Hutton and Peter Wilkinson, who left "Melody Maker" to start their own company...
.
In April 1980 singer Alan Hempsall also appeared on stage with Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
at Derby Hall
Derby Hall (Bury)
The Derby Hall is a large Victorian neo-classical building situated on Market Street in the centre of Bury, Greater Manchester, England.-History:The Derby Hall was built in the late 1840s for Edward Smith-Stanley, the 13th Earl of Derby....
, Bury, Lancashire, standing in for Ian Curtis
Ian Curtis
Ian Kevin Curtis was an English singer and lyricist, famous for leading the post-punk band Joy Division. Joy Division released their debut album, Unknown Pleasures, in 1979 and recorded their follow-up, Closer, in 1980...
who had suffered an epileptic fit, 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
Section 25
Section 25 is an English post-punk band, best known for its single "Looking from a Hilltop" and its association with the Manchester record-label, Factory Records.-Early recordings 1977 - 1982 :...
. They also recorded a session for John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
's BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
show in January 1981.
Crispy Ambulance disbanded late in 1982, leaving behind Fin, a live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
of late period songs. A further posthumous album, Frozen Blood, included their 1981 BBC radio session for the John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
programme. The four members carried on for a short time as "Ram Ram Kino", releasing one single "Advantage" on Temple Records
Temple Records (1984 UK label)
Temple Records was originally an independent record label run by Genesis P-Orridge and Psychic TV from 1984 through 1994 for releases by Psychic TV and related projects. Releases from this era have a TOPY catalog number. TOPYUS was the sublabel for releases inside the United States of America.In...
.
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. All these later recordings were produced by Graham Massey
Graham Massey
Graham Massey was a founding member of the British band, 808 State, formed in 1988 in Manchester, England. Originally a hip-hop group called Hit Squad Manchester, the band shifted to an acid house sound, recording their debut album, Newbuild in 1988 under the new name 808 State.-Music:The band was...
of 808 State
808 State
808 State are a British electronic music outfit, formed in 1987 in Manchester, taking their name from the Roland TR-808 drum machine and their common state of mind...
. The group also undertook a short tour of North America in November 2002.
In the commentary for the 2002 film, 24 Hour Party People
24 Hour Party People
24 Hour Party People is a 2002 British film about Manchester's popular music community from 1976 to 1992, and specifically about Factory Records. It was written by Frank Cottrell Boyce and directed by Michael Winterbottom...
, 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.
Albums
- The Plateau PhaseThe Plateau PhaseThe Plateau Phase was the first album released by post-punk band Crispy Ambulance. It was released in 1982 and was a departure to the sound of the earlier singles which was considered to be closer to the sound of post-punk contemporaries Joy Division...
(1982), Factory - UK Indie # 23 - 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 NightLive on a Hot August Night"Live on a Hot August Night" was Crispy Ambulance's third release and the second release made on Factory Records . It was produced by the legendary producer, Martin Hannett and even though the title suggests the single was recorded live, it was recorded in a Studio....
" (1981), Factory Records Benelux, FACBN 4 - Unsightly and SereneUnsightly and Serene"Unsightly and Serene" was the second release made by the Manchester post-punk band, Crispy Ambulance.It was also their first release on Factory Records, as they were signed to the label with the help of Rob Gretton who, after the death of Ian Curtis in May 1980, became a director of the label...
;; (1981), Factory Records, FAC.32 - UK Indie #27 - "Sexus" (1984), Factory Benelux