Drowning Craze

Last updated

Drowning Craze
Origin London
Genres Post-punk
Years active1980–1982
Labels Situation Two
Past membersSimon Raymonde
Simon Godfrey
Paul Cummins
Angela Jaeger
Frankie Nardiello

Drowning Craze was a London-based post-punk band active from 1980 to 1982.

Contents

History

Forming in 1980, Drowning Craze began as an instrumental trio of bassist Simon Raymonde, guitarist Paul Cummins and drummer Simon Godfrey. [1] Their influences included Wild Swans, Delta 5, the Pop Group, A Certain Ratio, 23 Skidoo, the Fire Engines and Public Image Ltd. [1]

Situation Two founder Peter Kent heard the group's demos and put them in contact with Angela Jaeger, a New York-born vocalist who had moved to London to study voice and musical theatre. [1] One week later, [2] this line-up recorded the band's debut 7" single, "Storage Case", [1] produced by Raymonde's brother, Nick Raymonde. Released by Situation Two on 24 June 1981, [3] It made "Single of the Week" in British music magazines NME and Melody Maker . [1] Jaeger played only one gig with the band before leaving. [1]

Kent found them a replacement, Chicago-born Frankie Nardiello, [1] who joined in time to sing on the band's second single, "Trance", released on 17 October 1981. [4] In January 1982, Drowning Craze recorded a Peel Session, airing on 13 January and featuring the songs "In the Heat", "Keep Fit", "Out of Order" and "He Was". [5] Drowning Craze performed gigs in support of artists including the Birthday Party, Bauhaus, Modern English and Divine. [6] [1]

The group disbanded after a third and final single, "Heat", released 3 March 1982. [7] Raymonde later said, "Artistic differences and the guitarist qualifying as an accountant led to the band's demise, probably a blessing in disguise". [6]

In 2018, Raymonde's label, Bella Union, announced the release of a Drowning Craze compilation album, Singles '81-'82, collecting all three singles as well as the Peel Session tracks. [8]

Later projects

Raymonde joined Cocteau Twins before forming the Bella Union label, and later, Snowbird.

Jaeger went on to sing backup with Billy MacKenzie, the Monochrome Set and Pigbag.

Adopting the name Groovie Mann, Nardiello is the lead singer of Chicago-based industrial rock band My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult.

Discography

Singles

Compilation albums

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cocteau Twins</span> Scottish rock band

Cocteau Twins were a Scottish rock band active from 1979 to 1997. They were formed in Grangemouth on the Firth of Forth by Robin Guthrie and Will Heggie (bass), adding Elizabeth Fraser (vocals) in 1981. They signed with the record label 4AD in 1982 and released their debut album Garlands. In 1983, Heggie was replaced with multi-instrumentalist Simon Raymonde. The group earned critical praise for their ethereal, effects-laden sound and the soprano vocals of Fraser, whose lyrics often eschew any recognisable language. They pioneered the 1980s alternative subgenre of dream pop and helped define what would become shoegaze.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cockney Rejects</span> English punk rock band

Cockney Rejects are an English punk rock band that formed in the East End of London in 1978. Their 1980 song "Oi, Oi, Oi" was the inspiration for the name of the Oi! music genre. The band members are supporters of West Ham United, and pay tribute to the club with their hit cover version of "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles", a song traditionally sung by West Ham supporters.

Pigbag were a British post-punk band, best known for their instrumentals, active between 1980 and 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Raymonde</span> British musician and member of the Cocteau Twins

Simon Philip Raymonde is an English musician and record producer. He is the son of the late arranger and composer Ivor Raymonde. He is best known as the bass guitarist and keyboard player with the Scottish band Cocteau Twins from 1983 to 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rich Kids</span> English new wave band

Rich Kids were a short-lived new wave band from London, founded in 1977 by Glen Matlock following his departure from the Sex Pistols. The band also included teenage guitarist Steve New, former Slik and future Ultravox member Midge Ure and Rusty Egan, who both later founded Visage together. They released one album and three singles during their existence, from March 1977 to December 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Splodgenessabounds</span> English punk rock band

Splodgenessabounds are an English punk rock band formed in Keston, Kent. The band is associated with the Oi! and punk pathetique genres. Their frontman is Max Splodge. They have scored three UK Singles Chart entries, including one Top 10 hit and a second Top 30 hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Professionals (band)</span> English punk rock band

The Professionals were an English punk rock band active from 1979 to early 1982 and again from 2015 to 2024. They were formed by ex-Sex Pistols members Steve Jones and Paul Cook after that band's demise. The Professionals split in 1982, before reforming in 2015 under the leadership of Cook.

Rip Rig + Panic were an English post-punk band founded in 1980 that disbanded in 1983. The band were named after a jazz album of the same name by Roland Kirk. They were formed by Sean Oliver (bass), Mark Springer, Gareth Sager and Bruce Smith —the latter two formerly of The Pop Group)—with singer Neneh Cherry. Other members included saxophonist Flash, singer Andi Oliver, trumpeter David De Fries, and viola-player Sarah Sarhandi.

Crispy Ambulance are an English post-punk band, formed in Manchester in late-1977 by Keith Darbyshire (bass), Robert Davenport (guitar), Alan Hempsall (vocals), and Gary Madeley (drums). They had been inspired by the Sex Pistols' second gig in the Lesser Free Trade Hall, in addition to the bands Magazine and Hawkwind.

The Passions were a British-Irish post-punk/new wave band which formed in 1978 and disbanded in 1983. The Passions' music was grounded mainly in Barbara Gogan's voice and Clive Timperley's delicate Echoplex guitar work. They were considered a one-hit wonder due to their early 1981 single "I'm in Love with a German Film Star".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artery (band)</span> British post-punk band

Artery are a British post-punk band from Sheffield, that was founded in 1978. They were commonly known and often confused as 'The'. In 1985, they split up after several changes in the line-up and the release of a total of four albums. They reformed in 2007 after being invited by Jarvis Cocker to perform at the Meltdown Festival.

Zones were a Scottish power pop and new wave band founded in late 1977, following the demise of PVC2.

The Fallout Club was a British synth-pop and new wave band formed by Irish singer Trevor Herion, the experimental drummer Paul Simon, future successful Thomas Dolby on keyboards, and bassist Matthew Seligman in 1981. Herion and Simon formed the band shortly after the demise of their previous group, the Civilians, while Dolby was in Bruce Woolley and the Camera Club Seligman, who also had played in the Soft Boys.

Notsensibles are a punk rock band from Burnley, England, who had their greatest success with their second single, the tongue-in-cheek "I'm in Love with Margaret Thatcher".

Lightning Raiders were an English pub rock band, with Johnny Hodge being the most prominent member of the group. During their lifetime, they released two singles, an EP, and recorded an album that was not released until 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sector 27</span>

Sector 27 were an English new wave band founded in 1979 by Tom Robinson. Their 1980 debut album, Sector 27, was produced by Steve Lillywhite. Robinson subsequently left the band, and the band continued without him for a number of years. Sector 27 toured with Elton John and The Police.

Ritual was an early 1980s Harrow-based post-punk band that were later aligned with the early UK-based gothic rock movement. The group is commonly associated with Death Cult, which two Ritual members later joined.

Ski Patrol were a British post-punk band formed in London in 1979 by former The Wall and future Folk Devils singer Ian Lowery and Nick Clift of The Debutantes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Academy Fight Song</span> 1980 single by Mission of Burma

"Academy Fight Song" is a song written by Clint Conley and originally recorded by Mission of Burma. It is also known for having been performed and recorded by R.E.M.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiery Jack</span> 1980 single by The Fall

"Fiery Jack" is a song by the Fall released in 1980 as their fourth single.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "INTERVIEW: Simon Raymonde | God Is In The TV". Godisinthetvzine.co.uk. 28 July 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  2. ↑ "Before". Pigbag.com. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  3. ↑ Post Punk Diary: 1980-1982 by George Gimarc (page 173)
  4. ↑ Post Punk Diary: 1980-1982 by George Gimarc (page 208)
  5. ↑ "Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 02/01/1982 Drowning Craze". BBC. 13 January 1982. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  6. 1 2 "official web site". Cocteautwins.com. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  7. ↑ Post Punk Diary: 1980-1982 by George Gimarc (page 581)
  8. ↑ "Singles '81-'82 - Drowning Craze | Releases". AllMusic . Retrieved 13 March 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.