The band Crispy Ambulance were formed in Manchester (UK) in 1978 by Alan Hempsall (vocals), Keith Darbyshire (bass), Gary Madeley (drums) and Robert Davenport (guitar). Following a self-released debut single From the Cradle to the Grave (Aural Assault, 1980) the band joined Factory Records. Singles Not What I Expected (Factory, 1980) and Live on a Hot August Night (Factory Benelux, 1981, produced by Martin Hannett) preceded the album The Plateau Phase (Factory Benelux, 1981), and final single Sexus (also Factory Benelux, 1981). Crispy Ambulance, along with Section 25, were often written off by music critics as Joy Division copyists. One particularly harsh criticTotal Guitar, March 1985 even described them as "shoe-gazing also-rans". The band played several dozen live dates in the north of England and London, as well as a short European tour with Factory Records labelmates Section 25 in January 1982. Previously in April 1980 singer Ala

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # TAGS