CHINA CRISIS

Regarded variously as legends of “synthpop” and “sophistipop”, Liverpool originals China Crisis have always made music that’s far easier to love than to define. Originally emerging in 1981 from their native Kirkby broadly in the „new wave“ genre as the songwriting duo of vocalist/keyboardist Gary Daly and guitarist/vocalist Eddie Lundon.

Citing influences as varied as Davie Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Eric Satie and Brian Eno, it’s not surprising that their sound was quickly distinguishable amongst their peers, combining synthpop with reggae, country and other styles with their own unique melodies and harmonies to create distinctively sophisticated but catchy pop in a style all its own. With their philosophy that “the song is the most important thing”, China Crisis weren’t just resourceful with the emerging technology of the time and the ongoing electronic music revolution but would creatively employ a distinctive sonic blend of more orthodox origins – horns, strings, woodwinds, pedal steel – a sound further enhanced by working with some of the greatest producers of the 20th century.

The result of their effort was a clearly identifiable China Crisis sound that stood out from the crowd and garnered the band chart success around the globe, including three UK Top 40 albums and eleven UK Top 50 singles, their classic hits including Wishful Thinking, Christian, Black Man Ray, King in a Catholic Style, Arizona Sky and African and White. More importantly the early years established a decades-loyal fanbase that
continues to grow today.

That the China Crisis sound is enduring is demonstrable well into the 21st Century, not just through the continued fidelity of their longtime fans but the fact that a whole new generation of musicians and listeners are becoming China Crisis devotees. The band have spent the past decade recording touring around the globe, from their home in the UK around Europe, down to Australia/NZ, the Philippines, and Singapore and throughout US and Canada, as well as releasing the lauded Autumn in the Neighbourhood, their first all-new studio album of the millenium.

2024 brought the release of the band’s new album, China Greatness, a collection of the Eddie and Gary’s favourite tracks chosen from across the riches of a 42-year back catalogue featuring elevated, cinematic new
arrangements of classic Crisis music, resulting in their highest-ever position in the vinyl album charts when it was released. 2025 will find Gary and Eddie touring with their band again with their aptly-named “Y Stop Now?” tour, giving audiences the chance to once again hear the best of their more than 40 years of music, and discover what makes China Crisis fans among the most loyal live music fans in the world.

Support by: Knight$ (UK)

Knight$ is the project of Scarlet Soho and Boytronic co-vocalist James Knights.