Drowning Craze
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Drowning Craze | |
|---|---|
| Origin | London |
| Genres | Post-punk |
| Years active | 1980–1982 |
| Labels | Situation Two |
| Past members | Simon Raymonde Simon Godfrey Paul Cummins Angela Jaeger Frankie Nardiello |
Drowning Craze was a London-based post-punk band active from 1980 to 1982.
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]