
Crisis are an English punk rock band formed in 1977 in Guildford, Surrey. An openly left-wing and anti-fascist band, they performed at rallies for Rock Against Racism and the Anti-Nazi League, and at Right to Work marches. British music magazine Sounds used the phrase "Music to March To" to describe their controversial and radical left-wing form of music.
Crisis formed in 1977 with the lineup of Phrazer (vocals), Lester Jones (lead guitar), Douglas Pearce (guitar), Tony Wakeford (bass) and Insect Robin the Cleaner (drums).
Their debut single, "No Town Hall", was released in 1978 on Action Group Records.
On 11 January 1978, Crisis recorded four tracks at a Peel Session for BBC Radio 1, with two of the tracks released as the "UK 79" 7" single in 1979 on the Ardkor label. The remaining two Peel Session songs were posthumously issued by Ardkor in 1981 as "Alienation".
In early 1979, the band underwent a major change in personnel when Phrazer and Insect Robin the Cleaner were replaced by Dexter (a longtime fan and roadie) and Luke Rendle. After performing their last show, supporting Magazine and Bauhaus in their hometown of Guildford on 10 May 1980, the band broke up.
Links to Peel[]
Peel first started playing Crisis in 1978, which was also the same year, they did a session for his programme. Crisis recorded four tracks, with two of the tracks released as the "UK 79" 7" single in 1979 on the Ardkor label. The remaining two Peel Session songs were posthumously issued by Ardkor in 1981 as "Alienation".
Sessions[]
Crisis - Peel Session 1978
Session is available on UK 79 7", 1979 (Ardkor CRI002) and Alienation / Brückwood Hospital 7", 1981 (Ardkor CRI 004)
1. Recorded: 1978-11-01. First Broadcast: 08 November 1978
- White Youth / Alienation / UK 78 / Brükwood Hospital
Other Shows Played[]
- 1979
- 30 April 1979: Holocaust (7” - No Town Hall (Southwark)) Action Group
- 09 May 1979: Holocaust (7” - No Town Hall) Action Group
- 04 June 1979: Holocaust (7” - No Town Hall (Southwark)) Action Group
- 17 September 1979: UK '79 (7") Ardkor
- 18 September 1979: White Youth (7" - UK '79) Ardkor
- 25 September 1979: UK '79 (7") Ardkor
- 19 November 1979: UK '79 (7") Ardkor
- 1980
- 20 May 1980: On TV (12” – Hymns Of Faith) Ardkor
- 03 June 1980: Laughin' (12" - Hymns Of Faith) Ardkor
- 17 June 1980: Afraid (12" – Hymns Of Faith) Ardkor
- 1981
- 18 November 1981: Alienation (7") Ardkor