The Membranes

The Membranes
The Membranes on stage in Manchester 2013
Background information
Origin	Blackpool, England
Genres	punk rock, post punk, noise rock
Years active	1977–1990, 2009 – present
Labels	Cherry Red Records Creation Records, Vinyl Drip Records, Criminal Damage, Rondelet, In-tape, Constrictor, Glass Records, Clawfist
Website	http://www.themembranes.co.uk/
Members	John Robb (1977-1990, 2009-present) Nick Brown (1982-1990, 2009-present) Peter Byrchmore (2009-present) Rob Haynes (2009-present)
Past members	Mark Tilton (1977-1985) Coofy Sid (197?-1990) Martyn Critchley (1977) Martin Kelly (1977-1982) Steve Farmery (1982) Stan Batcow (1985-1986) Wallas Terror (1986-1988) Keith Curtis (1986-1990) Paul Morley (1989-1990)

The Membranes are a post-punk band formed in Blackpool, Lancashire in 1977, the initial line-up being John Robb (bass guitar), Mark Tilton (guitar), Martyn 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.

In 2009 the band reformed after My Bloody Valentine asked the band they had once supported several times to play their All Tomorrows Parties festival. The Membranes then recorded the 105 critically acclaimed 'Dark Matter/Dark Energy' album and have been playing festivals across Europe since then as well as special event gigs like at the top of Blackpool tower. The band also received press acclaim for a series of concerts they played with choirs in Estonia and Portugal as well as the BIMM choir in the UK.