Crazyhead

Biography

Crazyhead were an English punk rock band from Leicester, England, UK. Though lumped in with the largely non-existent Grebo scene, they were more influenced by the Garage Rock of the late 60's, as well as bands like The Ramones, The Stooges and Captain Beefheart. They described themselves as "urban bastard blues band", and their songs ranged in theme from trenchant social commentary to the surreal, but always with an underlying vein of black humour. Band Members * Kev Reverb (Kevin Bayliss...

Crazyhead were an English punk rock band from Leicester, England, UK. Though lumped in with the largely non-existent Grebo scene, they were more influenced by the Garage Rock of the late 60's, as well as bands like The Ramones, The Stooges and Captain Beefheart. They described themselves as "urban bastard blues band", and their songs ranged in theme from trenchant social commentary to the surreal, but always with an underlying vein of black humour.

Band Members

* Kev Reverb (Kevin Bayliss) – Guitar
* Anderson (Ian R. Anderson) – Vocals
* Vom (Robert Morris) – Drums
* Fast Dick (Richard Bell) – Guitar (1985-1997)
* Porkbeast (Dr. Alex Peach) – Bass (1985-1991)
* Christina (Christine Wigmore) – Bass (1991-2000)
* Peter Creed – Guitar (1997-2000)

also:

* Gaz Birtles - sax
* John Barrow - sax
* Tony Robinson - trumpet

- credited as "The Phantom Horns" and "The Space Bastards".

* PP Arnold & Katie Kissoon - backing vocals on "Rags"

History

They signed to independent label Food in late 1986 and their debut single "What Gives You The Idea That You're So Amazing, Baby?" topped the UK Indie Chart soon after. For the rest of the year they toured extensively, supporting The Cult, then Julian Cope, and also played the Glastonbury Festival. Their second single "Baby Turpentine" also topped the British Indie Chart.

In mid-1988 their third single "Time Has Taken Its Toll On You" reached #68 in the Top 100. The band embarked on another UK tour to promote their debut album Desert Orchid, released in October 1988, along with another single, "Rags", and then toured Europe supporting Iggy Pop. They then released the "Have Love Will Travel" EP before embarking on yet another UK tour.

In 1989 they made two brief tours of the United States, and appeared at the Reading Festival. At the behest of the British Council, they played an international music festival in Moscow, USSR, and in early 1990, along with Skin Games and Jesus Jones were one the first western bands to tour post-Ceauşescu Romania. Later that year they played at the Namibian Independence Day concert.

However Food had been acquired by the major label EMI, and the band were dropped. Their second album "Some Kind Of Fever" was released through Revolver Records. In 1992 they gigged across Europe, and in 1993 embarked on a tour of the UK in order to promote an album of cover versions "Live In Memphis", even though the deal to release it fell through.

Over the next few years Crazyhead made sporadic live appearances. In 1997 they released Fucked By Rock - a collection of previously unreleased material, demo versions, and live tracks, and an EP of new material 13th Floor. They again toured the UK, supporting The Mission on a number of UK dates. They started recording material for a new album, but the departure of Anderson to work abroad meant the end of the band. They played their farewell gig in Leicester on 21st December 2000.

Discography
Year Title Label Cat. No. Other information
1987 "What Gives You The Idea That You're So Amazing, Baby?" Food SNAK 8
1987 "Baby Turpentine" Food SNAK 10
1988 "Time Has Taken Its Toll On You" Food SNAK 12 Reached #65 in the UK Top 100
1988 "Rags" Food SNAK 14
1988 Desert Orchid Food LP1
1989 Have Love Will Travel EP Food Food 16 Reached #68 in the UK Top 100
1989 The Food Christmas EP Food Food 23 Shared release with Jesus Jones and Diesel Park West
1990 Some Kind Of Fever Revolver Records REV 162
1990 "Everything’s Alright" Revolver Records REV 64
1995 Live In Memphis Unreleased covers album
1998 Chemical Lunch EP Self-released CD-R
1999 Fucked By Rock Snatch Records Gash 3
1999 13th Floor EP Snatch Records ATOG1

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