- Doors Open: 7:30 pm
- Theatre
- Advance Admission: £32.50
Formed in 1979 in Kirkby on Merseyside, China Crisis are essentially vocalist/keyboardist Garry Daly and guitarist Eddie Lundon.
With hits including ‘Wishful Thinking’, ‘Black Man Ray’ and ‘King In A Catholic Style (Wake Up)’, their distinctive AOR-fuelled pop songs were everywhere in the ’80s, spending a total of 92 weeks in the charts. Who said the ’80s were all bad? China Crisis, for instance, were largely considered one of the better musical things about that much-maligned decade.
- Official website facebook.com/pages/China-Crisis/295592467251068
- Listen on Spotify
This event is presented by Scruff of the Neck
A bit fiery for most in the new romantic camp during the early ’80s, China Crisis were inspired by similar sources but injected their pop songs with occasional political commentary and bluesy reggae rhythms. Comprising the core duo of vocalist/keyboard player Gary Daly and guitarist Eddie Lundon, the group formed in 1979 near Liverpool, England.
The first China Crisis single, “African and White,” didn’t appear until 1982, but it was quickly picked up by Virgin Records and made the U.K. charts. With drummer Dave Reilly on board, their full-length debut, Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms, arrived later that year and also charted. Another single from the album, “Christian,” hit number 12. They recorded their follow-up LP, Working with Fire and Steel: Possible Pop Songs, Vol. 2, with bassist Gazza Johnson and drummer Kevin Wilkinson. It reached number 20 in the U.K. as well as charting in Canada and across Western Europe. It also produced the Top Ten hit “Wishful Thinking.”
China Crisis’ third album, 1985’s Flaunt the Imperfection, was produced by the sympathetic Walter Becker (from Steely Dan), and resulted in the Top 20 singles “Black Man Ray” and “King in a Catholic Style.” The album was their first to crack the Billboard 200 in the U.S., and it hit the Top Ten in the U.K. and New Zealand. A year later, 1986’s What Price Paradise?, which featured Brian McNeill instead of Becker on synths, reached a career-high 114 in the U.S. but landed outside of the Top 50 at home. China Crisis worked with Becker once more on 1989’s Diary of a Hollow Horse, which earned critical raves though not much commercial movement. It proved to be their final record with Virgin. Their sixth studio LP, Warped by Success, appeared on Stardumb Records in 1994 and was followed by numerous compilations, including Virgin‘s China Crisis Collection: The Very Best of China Crisis (1997), and a long recording hiatus, though Daly and Lundon continued to tour on and off as China Crisis.
In December 2013, China Crisis reappeared with the song “Everyone You Know” in conjunction with a crowdfunding campaign for their seventh album. Autumn in the Neighbourhood was eventually released in June 2015 and followed by tour dates in the U.K., the Netherlands, and North America. In 2017, Caroline released a deluxe edition of Working with Fire and Steel, which included demos and several BBC radio performances from the time of the album. ~ John Bush & Marcy Donelson, Rovi
You may also be interested in
The Superskas 20 Year Anniversary Show!
, from £15Celebrating 20 Years of The Superskas with current line up and former members returning for a special one…
Find Your Perfect Event Space at Newhampton Arts Centre
PostedFind Your Perfect Event Space at Newhampton Arts Centre Searching for a convenient, flexible venue in Wolverhampton that…
Richard Herring – Can I Have My Ball Back?
, from £21.50In 2021 Richard Herring went to his GP to find out why his right ball seemed to be…
The Bluetones Acoustic
, from £18The Bluetones Acoustic show is two members of Brit Pop legends The Bluetones, for special acoustic performances of…
Geoff Norcott – Work In Progress 2025 Tour
, from £15Geoff Norcott now has an established string of TV credits to his name. Geoff has appeared on LIVE…
Thea Gilmore
, from £22.5020 albums and 25 years into her recording career and only now does Thea Gilmore feel enough of…