Crisis

Swap a couple of vowels from Crisis and you end up with Crass. Though not a lot in common musically and politically, they both signalled the end of punk as fun, spontaneity, mischievousness and anarchy (as a way of feeling). In this new ‘new wave’ of punk, punk was seen as a tool of protest… not the ‘If the kids are united ‘schoolboy vision of Sham 69 or the vague political slogans of The Clash but a more hard-edged, radical and political one. Crass, Crisis and the bands they bred became the new puritans. PC1984 might as well have stood for politically correct 1984 as they told us the truth about the world and what our part should be in it according to their rules. The truth was black and white…the enemy obvious…the police were the fascistic army to dominate the workers etc etc. Their record covers say it all. 

Crisis were on their own independent label so their politicisms were directed to …..well their own audience! Unlike the peace loving Crass-sters Crisis favoured the more direct approach often fighting pitched battles with moronic nazi boneheads. When that wasn’t available they fought themselves. If you want to hear more of their tales read Stewart Homes’ book Cranked Up Really High. They are favourites of his and there are some good anecdotes, though perhaps a little worrying that any sort of world these political sonic stormtroopers ( somewhere in the middle of The Socialist Workers Party and the International Marxist group) would usher in would not be a good place to be.

Like Crass, Crisis ended up all in black uniform as well. Well two of them did as Doug P and Tony Wakeford left Crisis to form the enigmatic Death In June. Swapping International Marxism, revolutionary politics, direct action etc etc they re-invented themselves in an unsettling electro acoustic band that people really didn’t know how to take as they flirted with nazi imagery in look and record covers and vague lyrical references in songs such as She Said Destroy and Till The Living Flesh Is Burnt. The other two also moved on. Drummer Luke Rendall joined Theatre of Hate and lead guitarist Lester Jones formed Carcrash International with Dave Roberts from Sex Gang Children.

You might be thinking I don’t like Crisis (or even Crass) but you would be totally wrong. They never sold me their vision of the world and I just wonder what did they achieve. But music is what we are talking about and as a single The No Town Hall EP (Peckham Action Group Records 1979) is excellent and very approachable musically. The stand out track is Pc1984…. pure punk.. But that whole first single is essential and makes Belsen Was A Gas by the Sex Pistols seem worthless.  The second single White Youth is just as good. Hell I even like Death In June but shhh about that!

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