Crikey, it’s the Cromptons! - Head on the Block (1990)

Tony Chestnut (aka Crompton, to whom I’m personally very grateful), the singer and song-writer with Crikey, it’s the Cromptons!  recalls his time with the band as follows: ‘Both times we made a record we split up shortly afterwards which was a shame. But we did get to play Uni London union with the Bodines and Lpool Uni with Weather Prophets as well as often with Jactars in the limited venues Lpool had in late 80s and once supported by a young Boo Radleys whom I  later became tour manager for. We had a successful tour of Germany. A couple of live sessions on Roger Hill Radio Merseyside. [We] were the subject of a book Rock music in Lpool by Sara Cohen. Had a few revues in music press and one article in Melody Maker but eluded the attention we may have deserved.’

‘I recall our first big gig at U.L.U London Uni Union with Mighty Mighty and the Bodines. The place was packed, we were being really well received then I swapped over my guitar to an acoustic for a couple of numbers only to get electrocuted thru the microphone and my teeth!  And be total out of tune. We struggled for what felt like forever to tune up but it was so hot and with new strings it was hopeless and ended in chaos. But the Bodines really liked us and kindly got us up on stage to do two Velvet Underground numbers with them as their encore. We ended up selling a lot of our albums and T shirts that nite I was lucky to be wearing rubber soled Doc Martens. And made sure all my gear was earthed after that near death experience.

‘At another gig, this time in Berlin' The Kob' the audience kept asking us to play faster, as that was one of our specialities and it became so frenetic! Usually we'd stick to our set list, but this was our second nite playing the same venue so we went with it but had to play the set twice as we played a 45 min set in 20 mins as so blisteringly fast, but no one seemed to notice, as they kept asking for more.’ 

After the split that followed the release of their first Mini-LP (Mouthing Off, 1989, see relevant post), Crikey, it’s the Cromptons! got back together again in late 1989. This time the line-up included Tony Crompton (vocals, rhythm guitar, former Cardboard Cutouts, Zyloids, Crompton Vest Band, Jades), Dave Treble (lead guitar), Paul Scott (bass) and Andy Delamere (drums).

The following year the band recorded at Out of the Blue Studio in Manchester the second LP, produced by Nick Garside

Head on the Block (1990)

- Pillow

- Head on the Block

- They Got

- U.S.E.D

- Senses

- Stimulate

- Share the Kiss

- Ready or not

- Clamber on

- Overload

Shortly after the release of the LP, the band split up, this time for good.

head on the block

(Again, thanks to Tony for all the help, info and audio material)