Location: London
Active: 1977
Punk group formed in London in 1977 by Tony Wakeford, Douglas Pearce, Phrazer and Lester Jones. Their stance was highly political; they were adamantly anti-fascist, focusing on anti-racism, criticizing the British government, and promoting worker solidarity. Their distinct sound distinguished them from the one chord wonder bands in the punk scene of that time, and helped influence bands like Warsaw (later to become Joy Division) and Killing Joke. They paved the way for what would start to become the Postpunk sound, a forerunner of which was known as positive-punk.
This was punk with a strong message, and while some presented such in a pessimistic way like The Mob, or ironically like Blood And Roses and the Kill Your Pet Puppy collective associed bands, sometimes also the Anarcho bands associated with Crass, Crisis was straightforward: “We can change the destructive world through solidarity and standing up against fascist governments.” Singer Phrazer (he would audition unsuccessfully for Actifed) departed in 1979 along with their original drummer, when Luke Rendle and Dexter joined. By 1980 they called it a day, but not before a final gig supporting Bauhaus and Magazine.
After they broke up, Douglas Pearce and Tony Wakeford would form Death In June at the forefront of an emerging genre known as neo-folk. Luke Rendel would join Theatre Of Hate. Lester Jones formed Carcrash International with Dave Roberts of Sex Gang Children and also played with Andi Sexgang. Wakeford later performed as Sol Invictus. In 2018, Tony Wakeford revived the band, carrying on its anti-fascist stance.
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/288492-Crisis-2
BandCamp: https://crisisuk.bandcamp.com
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crisis_(punk_band)
Related: Theatre Of Hate, Sex Gang Children, Actifed, Death In June, Carcrash International, Warsaw, Joy Division, Killing Joke, The Mob, Blood And Roses, Crass, Bauhaus, Magazine, Tony Wakeford, Douglas Pearce, Phrazer, Lester Jones, Dave Roberts, Andi Sexgang, London, UK
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