The Cribs to release second album with Johnny Marr

The Cribs' Johnny Marr has confirmed that the band plan to carry on and make a second album as a four-piece. He said it would be "weird" if they didn't.

Speaking in a video interview with NME.COM, which you can watch by clicking below, the legendary Manchester guitarist said there was no question as to whether they would continue as their current set-up, which Marr joined to release latest album 'Ignore The Ignorant'.

"It's an unspoken understanding," he said. "It'd be weird to not do it [make another album together]."

He added: "The situation with The Cribs is right from the off. When we decided we were going to make it permanent, I felt like I was welcomed in a band full-time. We're onto a good thing musically… it'd be much weirder to not do one [another album].

Watch the interview in full by clicking below.

Video: http://www.nme.com/nme-video/video/41247200001

The Cribs get keyboards in for new album sessions

The Cribs have started early work on their next studio album – and have started using keyboards.

Guitarist Johnny Marr said that frontman Ryan Jarman had been experimenting with the instrument for their new recording sessions, producing music he described as "different" to their previous work.

"The new stuff, particularly that Ryan's coming up with, is quite different," he told BBC 6music. "Ryan's been playing some keyboards and he's got very inspired by it. It still sounds like the band and his lyrics are always really interesting."

He added: "Gary [Jarman, bass]'s been doing some stuff in Portland, so it's all very healthy really. I'm excited about doing a new record."

The band's new album will be the follow-up to last year's 'Ignore The Ignorant' – their fourth album, but the first they recorded with Marr as a band member.

Watch a new video interview with The Cribs below now.

Video: http://www.nme.com/nme-video/video/86628434001

The Cribs go cross-dressing for new one-off single



The Cribs have announced the release of a new one-off, non-album single, 'Housewife' – you can hear the song and watch the band's new video above now.

The song is available from tonight (August 9) as a download and seven-inch vinyl single.

Ryan and Gary Jarman have got into the 'Housewife' spirit by dressing up in drag for the cover art.

The single was recorded as Edwyn Collins' studio in London, where the Wakefield/Manchester band have been demo-ing new material for their next album.

The Cribs hint at more unexpected releases following cross-dressing 'Housewife'

The Cribs have hinted that their recent single 'Housewife', which was released at short notice on Monday (August 9) – and features the band in drag on the cover – could be the first in a run of unexpected releases from the band.

Speaking to NME in a video interview you can watch on the right now, Ryan Jarman explained that the band had been busy working on new material, adding that it was not necessarily destined for an album.

"We have been doing some writing in downtime. We've written a bunch of stuff but in what capacity it's going to be used I can't really say," he explained.

The guitarist added: "We never ever look backwards. We always move forward. As soon as we finish a record I'm looking ahead to the next one because the only reason I write songs is I buzz off it. I never stop doing it because I want that feeling over and over again. It stops you getting lazy."

Watch the video interview now, which also includes The Cribs' tips for playing the best festival set.

Video: http://www.nme.com/nme-video/video/506980884001

The Cribs' Ryan Jarman: 'I'm already writing new songs, despite recently going on a break'

The Cribs' Ryan Jarman has revealed the he's already writing new songs, despite the group recently taking a break.

The Wakefield band played their "last shows for a long time" at this year's Reading and Leeds Festivals, but Jarman confessed he's already working on new material.

"I can't help writing songs," the guitarist and vocalist told Spinnermusic.co.uk. "The only reason I write songs is 'cos I buzz off 'em for a few weeks after I've written it, and that's the only reason that keeps me going."

As for inspiration, Jarman revealed that lying in bed each morning is proving fruitful.

"Every single day, when I wake up in the morning, before I get out of bed, I spend about two hours just laying there self-loathing," he said. "That's where most of my inspiration from."

He added: "It's not even from drinking or a hangover, I've been like that for years. I just wake up with a severe serotonin depletion and it's so difficult to get up with, but I have so many mad thoughts, real mad thoughts, and it's quite dark, but I'm glad that I still do that."

Despite having some time off, drummer Ross Jarman admitted that Ryan is unlikely to stop working, revealing his brother "hasn't been on holiday since 1997."

"I may go on holiday in the New Year if I get chance," Ryan explained. "But I've got all these ideas. I've got all our old recording gear in my basement, so I'm going to get it all fixed up. It's all vintage gear, so it's all temperamental, but I'm going to get that all up and running and become a bit of a scientist in my basement."

The Cribs reveal fifth album plans

The Cribs have revealed that they will start work on their fifth album after their festival dates this summer.

The announcement was made on the band’s Twitter feed following news of their set at this summer’s RockNess Festival in Scotland (June 10-12).

“Despite being on a break, The Cribs are not superhuman and still have to eat, therefore they will be playing a handful of summer festival shows,” said the band.

The Cribs then went on to tell their followers they’ll be returning to the studio when the festival shows are over, more of which are to be announced.

The band’s last album, the Top Ten ‘Ignore the Ignorant’, was released in September 2009 and was the first to feature new member Johnny Marr.

Johnny Marr leaves The Cribs to pursue solo work

Johnny Marr has left The Cribs after four years in the band.

The guitarist has said that he will be working on solo material and film soundtracks, outlining that he won't be appearing live with the Wakefield trio this year or working on their next album.

The former Smiths man has been working with The Cribs since early 2008. He is understood to have officially left the band in January.

In a statement released today (April 11), Marr said: "I'm working on new solo songs. I'll be putting out two records over the next year or so and doing more film soundtrack work."

He added: "Touring and recording with Ryan, Gary and Ross [Jarman] has been fantastic and [2009 Cribs album] 'Ignore The Ignorant' is something I'm really proud of. We ended up doing much more than we originally set out to and I've made three good friends."

The Cribs: 'New album sessions with Johnny Marr weren't working'

The Cribs have explained why guitarist Johnny Marr has left the band after nearly four years in the set-up.

Ryan, Gary and Ross Jarman posted a message on Thecribs.com, writing that they had attempted new album sessions with Marr but that the stints "weren’t really working".

Marr released one album with the band, 2009's 'Ignore The Ignorant'.

"There were definite intentions of continuing on together and making another record," the three brothers wrote. "We even went into the studio with Edwyn Collins again last spring and started recording some stuff, but it just wasn't really working."

They added: "We were all pretty burnt at that point and that is why we decided that after eight years and four records we should take some time off."

The trio went on to explain that demo sessions they subsequently recorded as a threesome put the idea in their heads that they should revert to their original line-up.

"During that time we all intended on working on other projects," they wrote. "At some point late last year we just casually got together out in Portland as a three-piece and it was so much fun. Johnny had started working on a solo record in the time off, and it just seemed like the right time to go our separate ways."

They added: "We have a bunch of new songs and are embracing the lo-fi again. It never was about fancy studios and LA and all that. We are back in our usual environment and feeling good about it. We've got everything we need."

The band are set to knuckle down on their fifth album after their summer festival appearances.

The Cribs in talks with Queen/David Bowie producer for album five

The Cribs are set to meet Queen and David Bowie producer David Richards this summer about the possibility of him producing their fifth album.

The band are starting life again as a three-piece after guitarist Johnny Marr left the set-up earlier this year, and they already have some ideas about which direction to go in. Bassist/singer Gary Jarman told NME that the band plan to fly to Switzerland, where Richards is based, to sound him out about working with them.

"I used to be obsessed with the Queen album 'Innuendo' [released in 1991]", he explained. "I've been in touch with the producer, Dave Richards, who works out of a studio in Switzerland. He's interested in doing it – we're going out there to visit him in July, I think."

As well as Queen's 'Innuendo' Richards produced Bowie's 1987 album 'Never Let Me Down'. He has also worked with Deep Purple, Iggy Pop and Yes.

The Cribs' Ross Jarman has spinal surgery

The Cribs' drummer Ross Jarman underwent surgery on his spine earlier this week (August 2).

The operation was to correct a herniated disc which was pushing on a nerve, an incident which had happened a few years ago when he was loading the band's gear in and out of a venue. The procedure went well and his brother, the band's vocalist and guitarist, Ryan, took to Facebook to explain what happened.

He revealed why they waited so long for the surgery, adding that when Ross has recovered fully, they'll be getting back to work on their fifth album, the follow-up to 2009's 'Ignore The Ignorant'.


He continued:

The Cribs on new album: 'Recording with Steve Albini was very rewarding'

The Cribs have talked about their as-yet-untitled fifth album, praising producer Steve Albini.

The Wakefield band, now back as a three-piece since Johnny Marr's departure, have been working on the follow-up to 'Ignore The Ignorant' in studios in New York, Chicago and London.

They've teamed up with producers Dave Fridmann (Mercury Rev, The Flaming Lips) and Steve Albini (Nirvana, Pixies) for their forthcoming album, and say it's been going well.

The band's Ryan Jarman told Rolling Stone: "Recording in Chicago with Steve was a swift, no-messing-about affair. Very rewarding."

Meanwhile Gary Jarman dropped hints that the album is heavier than previous Cribs records

He said: "In addition to playing my usual bass on this record, I have been playing a lot of baritone guitar too. Distorted, it just sounds so dirty and heavy. I think that is a good indicator of how the Chicago sessions shaped up."

The band also recorded at Abbey Road studios in London.

Of the sessions, which coincided with his birthday, Gary said: "Going in to work on your birthday isn't so bad when 'work' is at Abbey Road. We recorded and self-produced a four-song suite here in three days."

The Cribs this week announced three lives dates for 2012, where they're expected to play a batch of new songs.

They'll headline the NME Awards Show at London ULU on February 28.

In addition to that show, they will also play Edinburgh Liquid Room on March 1, and Leeds Metropolitan Uni on March 3.

The Cribs work with Steve Albini on forthcoming new album

The Cribs are set to release their first album since 2009's 'Ignore The Ignorant' and their first as a three piece since 2007's 'Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever' this April.

The album has the working title 'In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull', and has been produced by Dave Fridmann (Mercury Rev, The Flaming Lips, MGMT) in New York, as well as Shellac's Steve Albini (Nirvana, The Stooges, Jarvis Cocker) in Chicago and a self produced stint in London's Abbey Road.

The band began work on the record following the departure of former guitarist with The Smiths, Johnny Marr, who left the band last year. Of Marr's departure and the new album, Ryan Jarman of the band told NME:


He continued: "I liked the last record and it was a progression, but there was something lost in translation. It was something indefinable – but it's back."

The Cribs announce full details of new album 'In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull'



The Cribs have announced full details of their forthcoming fifth studio album.

The Wakefield band, a trio once more after the departure of Johnny Marr last April, will release 'In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull' on May 7.

The album was largely recorded in New York with MGMT and Flaming Lips producer David Fridmann at his Tarbox Road studio. There were also further sessions at Abbey Road in London and with Nirvana and Pixies producer Steve Albini in Chicago.

The tracklisting of the album, which is the follow-up to 2009’s 'Ignore The Ignorant', is as follows:

'Glitters Like Gold'
'Come On Be A No-One'
'Jaded Youth'
'Anna'
'Confident Men'
'Uptight'
'Chi-Town'
'Pure O'
'Back To The Bolthole'
'I Should Have Helped'
'Stalagmites'
'Like A Gift Giver'
'Butterflies'
'Arena Rock Encore With Full Cast'



The band have announced a full UK tour to coincide with the release of 'In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull'. The Cribs are also confirmed to play an intimate London show as part of the annual run of NME Awards Shows. They will play London's ULU on February 28.

The Cribs will play:

Nottingham Rock City (May 7)
London Troxy (8)
O2 Academy Bristol (9)
Glasgow Barrowlands (11)
Manchester Academy (12)
Eastbourne Winter Gardens (13)

Tickets go onsale on Friday (February 17) at 9am (GMT).

The Cribs' Ryan Jarman: 'I had self-loathing issues'

The Cribs' Ryan Jarman has said "the last couple of years haven't been easy" for him, but he has his brothers to thank for helping him through the "turmoil" he suffered.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with NME which you can read in this week's issue, Ryan speaks about returning to Wakefield following his recent split with his girlfriend, Kate Nash, who he'd been with since 2007.

He explained: "I've been living with Ross for the last few months. We're closer than we've ever been. And Gary's been in America so I go out and see him. I felt those guys came through for me."

Ryan continued:


The trio have recently just wrapped up a sell-out, small venue tour ahead of the release of their fifth album, 'In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull'.

But returning to the touring circuit so soon after Ryan's break-up has made drummer Ross Jarman question whether it was the best thing for his brother to do. He also reiterates the band's new close bond.

He said: "Going back on the road…I don't necessarily think it'd be a good thing for him (Ryan), mentally. It does concern me. We're a close band, so I think it'll be OK."

The Cribs premiere 'Come On, Be A No-One' video – watch

The Cribs have unveiled the video for 'Come On, Be A No-One', the first single to be released from their forthcoming album, 'In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull'.

The Wakefield trio's video consists of live performance and back-stage clips taken during their recent tour of Britian to promote the new album, which is due out on May 7 on Whiticha Recordings.

The majority of the footage used in the promo was shot during the band's gig at Edinburgh's Liquid Room venue on March 1. You can watch the video by scrolling down the page and clicking.

In a recent interview with NME, frontman Ryan Jarman revealed that he was on the road to recovery from a psychological illness that he says turned his life upside down over the past year.

He said: "I was quite ill last year, during the writing of the record, and it cost me a lot. I had real self-loathing issues. Things are getting better...the last couple of year's haven't been easy."

'In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull' is the band's fifth album of their career and their first since The Smiths' Johnny Marr left the band. 'Come On Be A No-One' is the first track taken from the album to be officially released, out April 16, after they put 'Chi-Town' online last month.

To coincide with the album's release, The Cribs will play a short UK tour. Kicking off in Nottingham's Rock City on May 7, the trek will see the band play London, Bristol, Glasgow and Manchester before finishing up at Eastbourne's Winter Garden on May 13.

The Cribs: 'We've been waiting for the corporate indie ship to sink'

The Cribs have explained the near three-year wait for their new album 'In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull', claiming they were waiting for a generation of 'corporate indie' bands to "sink".

The Wakefield trio told NME their time away from the spotlight allowed them to "cleanse the palette" after they became frustrated with their status as "outsiders" or "underachievers".

Since the release of their fourth album, 2009's 'Ignore The Ignorant', the band parted ways with Johnny Marr after a four-year period with the legendary Smiths guitarist. Frontman Ryan Jarman also recently told NME he had been battling an unspecified psychological illness after splitting from his long-term girlfriend Kate Nash.

Now speaking ahead of the May 7 [UK] release of 'In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull', guitarist Gary Jarman has said the trio are keen to keep building and progressing as a band.

"We were just waiting for the [corporate indie] ship to sink," he said. "There was a period of time where there were so many bands, it was difficult for us to keep out of the regular channels. We were always seen as the outsiders, the band who were underrated or whatever. Underrated compared to bands who started out specifically with a corporate agenda?"

Jarman continued:


His comments come five years after the band's infamous remarks about the commercialisation of indie being a bigger problem than environmental issues. "They want us to speak out about global warming but the biggest problem is the attitude of some indie bands. Isn’t that a bigger problem," Ryan said from the stage at Glastonbury in 2007.

The band are due to play a UK tour in support of their new album next month, kicking off at Nottingham Rock City on May 7.

The Cribs are also among the bands playing an intimate hometown show as part of JD Roots, who have partnered with NME to support local music and search for Britain's Best Small Venue. The band will play Wakefield's Theatre Royal on May 16, with The Horrors returning to Southend Chinnerys on May 9 and Scottish rockers Twin Atlantic playing Glasgow's King Tut's on May 3.