The Membranes
Encyclopedia
The Membranes were a post-punk
band formed in Blackpool, Lancashire in 1977, the initial line-up being John Robb (bass guitar), Mark Tilton
(guitar), Martin Critchley (vocals) and Martin Kelly (drums). Critchley soon left, with Robb and Tilton taking on vocals, and Kelly moving to keyboards, with "Coofy Sid" (Coulthart) taking over on drums. Their first release was the "Flexible Membrane" flexi-disc in 1980, and over the next 11 years they would go on to release six studio albums. Their first single proper, "Muscles", was a single of the week in the UK music press and a big club hit in New York
being played in the Danceteria
by the likes of the Beastie Boys
eventual DJ Mojo and other cutting edge New York DJs. Kelly left after "Muscles", to be replaced by Steve Farmery on guitar for the follow-up Pin Stripe Hype EP. The band pioneered the avant noise scene of Big Black
and Sonic Youth
for several years with their critically acclaimed "Spike Milligan's Tape Recorder" single and Death To Trad Rock EP and their debut Gift Of Life album. They were the first band to be signed to Alan McGee
's Creation
label but the deal fell though when McGee could not afford to pay their studio bill for the "Spike Milligan's Tape Recorder" single. The band relocated to Manchester
in 1983, and "Spike Milligan's Tape Recorder" was issued on the Criminal Damage label, which met with a positive critical response but distribution problems limited its impact.
After The Membranes, Robb went on to form Sensurround and later Goldblade
.
and Mark Tilton
formed the band at Blackpool Sixth Form College
. Inspired by punk rock and the DIY ethic of punk, they started a fanzine, Rox and The Membranes at the same time. Tilton, who lived a few doors down the road from Robb, bought a 'Woolworth's special' guitar from a junk shop, while Robb built his own bass out of spare parts and a slab of wood from a local DIY store (along with dustbin lids, the band having no drummer at this stage). They then enlisted a singer Martin Critchley and Martin Kelly joined on drums. Critchley subsequently left, with Robb and Tilton taking over to share the vocals, Martin Kelly moving to keyboards with a WASP synthesiser and a 13 year old kid called Coofy Sid joining on drums. Their first recording was "Ice Age", which appeared on the Blackpool Rox EP featuring Section 25
, Syntax and The Kenneth Turner Set on Robb's Vinyl Drip label,
After a flexi-disc debut, the Flexible Membrane EP in 1980, they released the debut single proper "Muscles" in 1982, which was raved over by both the music press and John Peel
. That record's success saw the band sign a deal with Rondolet Records who issues a follow-up, the Pin Stripe Hype EP (the only Membranes record to feature guitarist Steve Farmery). Rondolet folded and the band signed to Criminal Damage Records.
After Steve Farmery left, the band went deeper into their new direction. Coofy Sid's drumming became more tribal and the guitars wilder and heavier.
They would have been the first band to sign to Creation Records
, and the label's first release would have been "Spike Milligan’s Tape Recorder", but Alan McGee
had no money for the studio so the band stayed with Criminal Damage and released this seven inch single, described in ZigZag (magazine)
as "not only have The Membranes wiped the floor with the opposition, they redesigned the tiles". They were awarded single of the week in all four music papers, and "Spike Milligan" reached number six in the John Peel
Festive 50.
In January 1985 The Membranes appeared on The Tube
and released the Death To Trad Rock EP which went to number 8 in the UK Indie Chart
and saw the band on the front cover of Sounds
. At this point Mark Tilton
left the band: he was replaced shortly after by Stan Batcow, who came in on bass with Robb moving to guitar.
The new line-up recorded the album but without the studio engineer John Brierley who had worked on their last two releases. With a rookie engineer on board, the band's resulting debut album didn't capture their massive sound but still came out to rave reviews and went to number one in the indie chart.
After a gig in London, a Creation Records
night, the band left/were sacked from the label after an argument. The gig was booked as The Membranes headlining with The Pastels
and Slaughter Joe
on the bill. It was decided by someone, not the promoter, to draw lots for the billing and the lots surprisingly came out with The Membranes going on first and Slaughter Joe headlining. This meant that the bulk of the audience who had come to see The Membranes missed the band, and let their feelings be heard during Slaughter Joe's set and because Joe was Alan McGee's best friend The Membranes were off the label. The Pastels walked out in support of The Membranes.
The band then signed to In Tape, the label run by Marc Riley
and released their critically acclaimed 'Songs Of Love And Fury' album which was their breakthrough album in the USA>
Sharing a house in West Didsbury (in the garden of which Dinosaur Jr
recorded their "Freak Scene
" video), The Membranes created a scene and got themselves back to their leanest and meanest since Mark Tilton
left. The resulting Kiss Ass Godhead was far better for the constant touring. It was also one of the first records that Steve Albini
recorded and the band spent time in his cellar in Chicago recording some of the tracks. They were surprised to find that Albini had all their records as well as several early copies of the Rox fanzine.
Kiss Ass Godhead was licensed all over the world and the band toured worldwide and made quite an impact in countries like Germany, Greece and the USA where they were released by Homestead records along with contemporary bands like Big Black and Sonic Youth. The band's next album was their last, 'To Slay the Rock Pig'.
In 2009 the band were asked to reform for the All Tomorrows Parties music festival, curated by My Bloody Valentine. This successful show was followed up by a gig in Istanbul, supported by Sean Parker Band
, and a sold out 2010 gig in London. The Membranes current situation is ongoing.
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
band formed in Blackpool, Lancashire in 1977, the initial line-up being John Robb (bass guitar), Mark Tilton
Mark Tilton
Mark Tilton is a UK screenwriter, filmmaker and musician, born 1962 in Blackpool, England.Tilton is a frequent collaborator with director George Milton: Milton & Tilton’s screenplay The Truth, a darkly comic murder-mystery satirising new age therapy, was produced by European indie 2 Many Executives...
(guitar), Martin Critchley (vocals) and Martin Kelly (drums). Critchley soon left, with Robb and Tilton taking on vocals, and Kelly moving to keyboards, with "Coofy Sid" (Coulthart) taking over on drums. Their first release was the "Flexible Membrane" flexi-disc in 1980, and over the next 11 years they would go on to release six studio albums. Their first single proper, "Muscles", was a single of the week in the UK music press and a big club hit in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
being played in the Danceteria
Danceteria
Danceteria was a well-known four-floor nightclub located in New York City which operated from 1980 until 1986 and in the Hamptons until 1995. Throughout its history, the club had seven different locations, three in NYC and four in the Hamptons...
by the likes of the Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
eventual DJ Mojo and other cutting edge New York DJs. Kelly left after "Muscles", to be replaced by Steve Farmery on guitar for the follow-up Pin Stripe Hype EP. The band pioneered the avant noise scene of Big Black
Big Black
Big Black was an American punk rock band from Evanston, Illinois, active from 1981 to 1987. Founded by singer and guitarist Steve Albini, the band's initial lineup also included guitarist Santiago Durango and bassist Jeff Pezzati, both of Naked Raygun...
and Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
for several years with their critically acclaimed "Spike Milligan's Tape Recorder" single and Death To Trad Rock EP and their debut Gift Of Life album. They were the first band to be signed to Alan McGee
Alan McGee
Alan McGee has been a record label owner, musician, manager, and music blogger for The Guardian.McGee is best-known for co-forming and running the independent Creation Records label from 1983–1999, and then Poptones from 1999-2007...
's Creation
Creation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
label but the deal fell though when McGee could not afford to pay their studio bill for the "Spike Milligan's Tape Recorder" single. The band relocated to Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in 1983, and "Spike Milligan's Tape Recorder" was issued on the Criminal Damage label, which met with a positive critical response but distribution problems limited its impact.
After The Membranes, Robb went on to form Sensurround and later Goldblade
Goldblade
Goldblade are an English punk rock band from Manchester, England. The band formed in early 1995 when ex Membranes frontman, John Robb, put the band together with Wayne Simmons and former A Witness vocalist Keith Curtis on bass, Rob Haynes on drums and Jay Taylor on guitar.The band signed to...
.
Early years
In 1977 John RobbJohn Robb
John Robb is a Codhead vocalist in the punk rock band Goldblade. Based in Manchester, he has also written several books on music and frequently appears as a journalist/commentator on documentary/light entertainment music shows.-Early life:Robb was born in Fleetwood and grew up in suburban Blackpool...
and Mark Tilton
Mark Tilton
Mark Tilton is a UK screenwriter, filmmaker and musician, born 1962 in Blackpool, England.Tilton is a frequent collaborator with director George Milton: Milton & Tilton’s screenplay The Truth, a darkly comic murder-mystery satirising new age therapy, was produced by European indie 2 Many Executives...
formed the band at Blackpool Sixth Form College
Blackpool Sixth Form College
The Blackpool Sixth Form College serves the Fylde and surrounding areas of the county of Lancashire, England. The college has around 1,900 full-time students. The college offers academic and applied programmes to a wide range of students aged between 16 and 19....
. Inspired by punk rock and the DIY ethic of punk, they started a fanzine, Rox and The Membranes at the same time. Tilton, who lived a few doors down the road from Robb, bought a 'Woolworth's special' guitar from a junk shop, while Robb built his own bass out of spare parts and a slab of wood from a local DIY store (along with dustbin lids, the band having no drummer at this stage). They then enlisted a singer Martin Critchley and Martin Kelly joined on drums. Critchley subsequently left, with Robb and Tilton taking over to share the vocals, Martin Kelly moving to keyboards with a WASP synthesiser and a 13 year old kid called Coofy Sid joining on drums. Their first recording was "Ice Age", which appeared on the Blackpool Rox EP featuring Section 25
Section 25
Section 25 is an English post-punk band, best known for its single "Looking from a Hilltop" and its association with the Manchester record-label, Factory Records.-Early recordings 1977 - 1982 :...
, Syntax and The Kenneth Turner Set on Robb's Vinyl Drip label,
After a flexi-disc debut, the Flexible Membrane EP in 1980, they released the debut single proper "Muscles" in 1982, which was raved over by both the music press and John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
. That record's success saw the band sign a deal with Rondolet Records who issues a follow-up, the Pin Stripe Hype EP (the only Membranes record to feature guitarist Steve Farmery). Rondolet folded and the band signed to Criminal Damage Records.
After Steve Farmery left, the band went deeper into their new direction. Coofy Sid's drumming became more tribal and the guitars wilder and heavier.
They would have been the first band to sign to Creation Records
Creation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
, and the label's first release would have been "Spike Milligan’s Tape Recorder", but Alan McGee
Alan McGee
Alan McGee has been a record label owner, musician, manager, and music blogger for The Guardian.McGee is best-known for co-forming and running the independent Creation Records label from 1983–1999, and then Poptones from 1999-2007...
had no money for the studio so the band stayed with Criminal Damage and released this seven inch single, described in ZigZag (magazine)
ZigZag (magazine)
ZigZag was a British rock music magazine. It was started by Pete Frame and the first edition rolled off the printing presses on 16 April 1969...
as "not only have The Membranes wiped the floor with the opposition, they redesigned the tiles". They were awarded single of the week in all four music papers, and "Spike Milligan" reached number six in the John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
Festive 50.
In January 1985 The Membranes appeared on The Tube
The Tube (TV series)
The Tube was an innovative United Kingdom pop/rock music television programme, which ran for five seasons, from 5 November 1982 until 1987...
and released the Death To Trad Rock EP which went to number 8 in the UK Indie Chart
UK Indie Chart
The UK Independent Chart or Indie Chart is a chart of the best-selling independent record releases in the UK.- History :In the wake of punk, small record labels began to spring up, as an outlet for artists that were unwilling to sign contracts with major record companies, or were not considered...
and saw the band on the front cover of Sounds
Sounds (magazine)
Sounds was a long-term British music paper, published weekly from 10 October 1970 – 6 April 1991. It was produced by Spotlight Publications , which was set up by Jack Hutton and Peter Wilkinson, who left "Melody Maker" to start their own company...
. At this point Mark Tilton
Mark Tilton
Mark Tilton is a UK screenwriter, filmmaker and musician, born 1962 in Blackpool, England.Tilton is a frequent collaborator with director George Milton: Milton & Tilton’s screenplay The Truth, a darkly comic murder-mystery satirising new age therapy, was produced by European indie 2 Many Executives...
left the band: he was replaced shortly after by Stan Batcow, who came in on bass with Robb moving to guitar.
The new line-up recorded the album but without the studio engineer John Brierley who had worked on their last two releases. With a rookie engineer on board, the band's resulting debut album didn't capture their massive sound but still came out to rave reviews and went to number one in the indie chart.
After a gig in London, a Creation Records
Creation Records
Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were...
night, the band left/were sacked from the label after an argument. The gig was booked as The Membranes headlining with The Pastels
The Pastels
The Pastels are a group from Glasgow, Scotland, UK.Their early records for labels like Whaam!, Creation, Rough Trade, and Glass Records, had a raw and immediate sound, melodic and amateur, which seemed at odds with the time...
and Slaughter Joe
Slaughter Joe
Slaughter Joe aka Joe Foster is a musical artist, record producer, historian, and former child actor.Along with Alan McGee and Dick Green, he had formed Creation Records in 1983. He set up the Kaleidoscope Sound label in the mid 1980s, and Creation's subsidiary label Rev-Ola Records in the early...
on the bill. It was decided by someone, not the promoter, to draw lots for the billing and the lots surprisingly came out with The Membranes going on first and Slaughter Joe headlining. This meant that the bulk of the audience who had come to see The Membranes missed the band, and let their feelings be heard during Slaughter Joe's set and because Joe was Alan McGee's best friend The Membranes were off the label. The Pastels walked out in support of The Membranes.
The band then signed to In Tape, the label run by Marc Riley
Marc Riley
Marc Riley is a British musician, alternative rock critic and radio DJ on BBC 6 Music. Formerly a member of The Fall, he had his own record label, In-Tape, and also worked as a record plugger...
and released their critically acclaimed 'Songs Of Love And Fury' album which was their breakthrough album in the USA>
Sharing a house in West Didsbury (in the garden of which Dinosaur Jr
Dinosaur Jr
Dinosaur Jr. is an American alternative rock band formed in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1984. Originally called Dinosaur, prior to legal issues that forced the group to change their name, the band disbanded in 1997 until reuniting in 2005...
recorded their "Freak Scene
Freak Scene
"Freak Scene" is a song by American alternative rock band Dinosaur Jr., the opening track on the group's third studio album Bug . Written and produced by frontman J. Mascis, the song was recorded at Fort Apache Studios by engineers Paul Q. Kolderie and Sean Slade...
" video), The Membranes created a scene and got themselves back to their leanest and meanest since Mark Tilton
Mark Tilton
Mark Tilton is a UK screenwriter, filmmaker and musician, born 1962 in Blackpool, England.Tilton is a frequent collaborator with director George Milton: Milton & Tilton’s screenplay The Truth, a darkly comic murder-mystery satirising new age therapy, was produced by European indie 2 Many Executives...
left. The resulting Kiss Ass Godhead was far better for the constant touring. It was also one of the first records that Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
recorded and the band spent time in his cellar in Chicago recording some of the tracks. They were surprised to find that Albini had all their records as well as several early copies of the Rox fanzine.
Kiss Ass Godhead was licensed all over the world and the band toured worldwide and made quite an impact in countries like Germany, Greece and the USA where they were released by Homestead records along with contemporary bands like Big Black and Sonic Youth. The band's next album was their last, 'To Slay the Rock Pig'.
In 2009 the band were asked to reform for the All Tomorrows Parties music festival, curated by My Bloody Valentine. This successful show was followed up by a gig in Istanbul, supported by Sean Parker Band
Sean Parker Band
Sean Parker Band is an experimental alternative rock group based in Istanbul, based around British-born singer-songwriter Sean Parker. They are notable for playing with Ed Harcourt at Babylon Istanbul club, John Robb's The Membranes at Indigo, with Turkish experimental rock group Replikas at...
, and a sold out 2010 gig in London. The Membranes current situation is ongoing.
Albums
- Crack House (1983, Criminal Damage)
- The Gift of Life (1985, Creation) (#15)
- Giant (1986, Constrictor) (Germany only)
- Songs Of Love And Fury (1986, In Tape) (4)
- Kiss Ass Godhead! (1988, Glass) (8)
- To Slay The Rock Pig (1989, Vinyl Drip)
- Pulp Beating and All That (1986, Criminal Damage) (compilation)
- The Virgin Mary Versus Peter Sellers (1987, Vinyl Drip) (compilation)
- Wrong Place at the Wrong Time (1993, Constrictor) (compilation)
- The Best Of The Membranes (1997, Anagram) (compilation)
Singles/EPs
- Flexible Membrane (1980, Vinyl Drip) (7-inch flexi-disc)
- "Muscles" (1982, Vinyl Drip/Rondelet)
- Pin Stripe Hype (1982, Rondelet)
- "Spike Milligan's Tape Recorder" (1984, Criminal Damage) (#12)
- Death To Trad Rock (1985, Criminal Damage) (12-inch) (#8)
- "Everything's Brilliant" (1986, In Tape) (#11)
- "Groovy F---ers" (1987, Constrictor)
- "Time Warp 1991" (1987, Glass)
- Euro Pig Vs Auto Flesh EP (1989, Vinyl Drip)
- "Big Decision (Slight Return)" (1991, Clawfist) (split 7-inch with That Petrol EmotionThat Petrol EmotionThat Petrol Emotion are a Northern Irish, London-based band with an American vocalist, Steve Mack.-Career:The band originally formed in 1984 from the ashes of the Derry Hitmakers, Bam Bam and the Calling and The Undertones. It was formed by guitarist John O'Neill and second guitarist Raymond Gorman...
)
Compilations
- Tatty Seaside Town (2005) 'The Ugly Truth About Blackpool' (CD by Just Say No To Government Music)