The Membranes

The Membranes are a British post-punk band from Blackpool, England, formed in 1977. Their line-up changes over time include John Robb on bass and vocals, Mark Tilton on guitar and vocals, Martin Critchley on vocals, Martin Kelly on drums and keyboards, Coofy Sid (Coulthart) on drums, and later Steve Farmery on guitar for the Pin Stripe Hype period. The group is associated with post-punk, noise rock, industrial, dark wave, alternative rock and pop, and is identified as a UK punk band.

Early line-up and first releases

The original line-up consists of John Robb, Mark Tilton, Martin Critchley and Martin Kelly. Critchley leaves soon after the band forms, with Robb and Tilton taking on vocals, Kelly moving to keyboards, and Coofy Sid joining on drums. Their first release is the Flexible Membrane flexi-disc in 1980. Their first proper single, Muscles, becomes a UK music press single of the week and also gains attention in New York club culture.

Albums, singles and scene role

Over the next 11 years, the band releases six studio albums. Among their best-known records are the Spike Milligan's Tape Recorder single, the Death To Trad Rock EP and the debut album Gift Of Life. These releases place them in the UK indie chart top 5 and link them to the early avant-noise scene associated with bands such as Big Black and Sonic Youth. Their sound combines heavy bass, slide guitar, frenetic rhythm guitar, pounding drums and a strong emphasis on noise while still using song-based structures.

Labels, moves and live reputation

The Membranes become the first band signed to Alan McGee's Creation label, although that deal falls through when the studio bill for Spike Milligan's Tape Recorder cannot be paid. The single instead appears on Criminal Damage after the band relocates to Manchester in 1983. By 1984 and 1985, the group has a reputation for extremely loud live shows and an anti-rock attitude, with a distinctive visual image centred on Mark Tilton's quiff and John Robb's hair and clothing.

Later activity

After The Membranes, John Robb forms Sensurround and later Goldblade. The band later reforms after a long break for ATP festival events requested by My Bloody Valentine and Shellac, and continues with performances and new material. Their work later includes Dark Matter/Dark Energy, a concept album built around ideas of the birth and death of the universe, with live shows called The Universe Explained in which Robb interviews scientists on stage before the band performs.

Themes and subject matter

Their later songs draw on cosmology and mortality, moving from the big bang to the end of the universe. The track In The Graveyard directly addresses Robb's father's death, and his voice is heard at the start of the song speaking about the universe. The album as a whole connects scientific ideas with personal loss and the idea of energy returning to the void after death.