Crispy Ambulance | Artist

Crispy Ambulance is an English post-punk band, formed 1977 in Manchester by Keith Darbyshire, Robert Davenport, Alan Hempsall, and Gary Madeley. They played their first gig on 1 January 1978 at the Spurley Hey Youth Centre and were generally regarded as Joy Division copyists. Following a self-released debut single "From the Cradle to the Grave" (1980), the band was signed by Factory Records and soon-after released the singles "Unsightly and Serene" and "Live on a Hot August Night", both produced by Martin Hannett. In April 1980 singer Alan Hempsall appeared on stage with Joy Division at Derby Hall, standing in for Ian Curtis who had suffered an epileptic fit. The performance descended into a riot, as depicted in the Joy Division biopic "Control". Their debut album The Plateau Phase ('82) was given a five star review by Sounds Magazine and established their characteristic post-punk industrial sound. The band then split in late 1982. After reforming in 1999 they released two somewhat lacklustre albums but then bounced back in 2016 with the excellent Random Textures + Compulsion album. The 1983 compilation of early singles The Blue and Yellow of the Yacht Club is also an excellent album.

Artist Website: crispyambulance.com

Featured Albums: Crispy Ambulance

Related Artists: Joy Division, Section 25, A Certain Ratio