Dr and The Crippens

Not to be confused with Crippen.

Dr and The Crippens are a British hardcore band from Lancaster, England, who recorded and toured in the late 1980s and early 1990s. They became known for unusual costumes and innovative use of stage props during their live shows which included frequent use of an exploding head. The band recorded two sessions for Radio 1 DJ John Peel on 8 May 1988 and 16 July 1989.

Dr and The Crippens
Origin	Lancaster, England
Genres	Hardcore punk, thrashcore
Years active	1987–1990; 2001; 2003
Labels	Manic Ears Records
Past members	Max Von Reinheart Tom Crippen Wayne Crippenski Jesus Van Gough BB Kablamo

After a short hiatus, the band re-emerged with a new sound in 1994 in the shape of Krill. Noting a marked change in musical style (The Crippens, but slower...), the stage show remained largely the same, with a healthy dose of pyrotechnics strategically placed inside cabbages. The new genre attracted new fans, but those faithful to Dr and The Crippens remained loyal attendees at live shows, ensuring the last third of all sets contained Crippens favourites. Krill released one studio album 'Beef on the Bone' and split in 2000, playing their last show to a packed crowd at Lancaster's Yorkshire House.

In 2016, after spending time with other projects, Tommy Crippen decided there was a little space in the collective hardcore-punk nostalgia and a healthy appetite in the Japanese punk market to reform the band. Under the abbreviated name The Crippens, the band thawed out its cryogenically frozen head and began playing live again at UK punk/hardcore festivals and venues. The Crippens shows remain true to their original format (loud, irreverent, unexpected props and likelihood of explosions) and continue to record new material in the same vein. Since their reincarnation in 2016, a number of lineup changes have occurred, with a revolving door of past and present members, or those closely linked with the original band taking their turn in creating the chaos of Dr and The Crippens.

Members

Dr and The Crippens

• Max Von Reinheart (Nick Palmer) - Vocals
• Tommy Crippen (Tom Myall) – Guitar/Vocals
• Wayne Crippenski (Wayne Elliot) – Bass/Vocals
• Jesus Van Gogh (Dave Ellesmere) – Drums/Vocals
• BB Kablamo – Drums
• Emily Danger - Guest vocals on "Don't look in the freezer"

Krill

• Max Von Reinheart (Nick Palmer) - Vocals
• Tommy Crippen (Tom Myall) – Guitar/Vocals
• Theo Crippen (Bill Myall) Bass/vocals 1994/1997
• MC Hammered (Loz Hamilton) Drums
• Spanka D Monkey (Mark Morgan) Bass/vocals 1997/2000

The Crippens

• Tommy Crippen (Tom Myall) - Guitar/Vocals
• Theo Crippen (Bill Myall) - Bass/vocals
• Loz Hamilton - Drums (2016/2020
• Bingo Dabber (Kev Baxter) - Vocals (2016/2018)
• Mikey Dohnut (Michael Hodgkins) - Vocals/keyboards (2018/Present)
• Malek Baali - Drums (2021/2023)
• Spanka D Monkey (Mark Morgan) - Drums/vocals (2023/Present)

Discography

Studio albums

• Fired From The Circus (1988)
• Raphanadosis (1989)
• Beef on The Bone (Krill) 1999 Grimm Products Recordings

Live albums

• Live Hearts (1992)

EPs

• Avant Gardening (1989)

Singles

• "Live" (1989)
• "Turn To Gas" (1991)
• "Untitled" / "Until This Sky Will Be Parted" (1991)

Compilations

• Digging In Water (1987)
• Hardcore Holocaust - The Peel Sessions (1988)
• The North Atlantic Noise Attack (1989)
• Hardcore Holocaust II - The Peel Sessions (1990)
• Manic Ears - The Histyrical Years '86-'90 (1990)
• Grind Your Mind - A History Of Grindcore (2007)
• Trapped In A Scene UK Hardcore 1985-1989 (2009)
• Cabaret Style (Singles Unreleased Live) (2015)

VHS

• Live Snit - Live at the Fulham Greyhound, London (1989)