Missing in Discography - Soundfront Releases Spring 95, 1995 [Soundfront Records] - Addiction, CD 1992 [Soundfront Records #FRONTCD 2] - Supersonic, CD 1994 [Soundforund Records #CD 084-36202] - Supersonic, CD 1994 [Soundforund Records #FRONTCD 6] - Territorial, Cassette 1996 [Metal Mind Records #MASS 0327] - Territorial, Cassette 1996 [Hades Records #N/A]
Joel Andersson - Vocals, Bass (Vital Signs, Rivendell, Foreign Legion (US), The Blinded)
Lawrence "M. Harvey" West - Guitar (Damien, Vital Signs, Rivendell, Foreign Legion (US), Loch Vostok (guest))
Per Robert "Perrra" Johansson - Drums (Three Mile Smile, Lafayette, Lost Souls, ColdSpell, Dogface, Inrage, Gust of Anger, Lover Under Cover, Leif Åhman Band, Grand Design (guest))
Former / Past Members
Jonas Ragnarsson - Guitar (Vital Signs, Detained)
Sampo Axelsson - Bass (Spellbound, Lion's Share, Road To Ruin, Kung För 1 Dag, Orange, Toehider, Glenn Hughes, Tony Martin, H.F.M.C., Frog, Audiovision (guest), Sideburn (guest), Skyblood (guest), Daniel John (guest))
Mats "Matte" Järnil - Bass (Vital Signs, Lost Souls, Inrage, Helltrain, The Duskfall, The 21st Impact, Porklift (guest))
Christer "Chris Goldsmith" Goldschmidt - Bass (Glory, Hellinor, ColdSpell, Sorl, Dreams Fall, Scarpoint, Rage of Angels, Killbrain, Rumble Tribe, Stefan Elmgren's Full Strike, Pontus Norgren/Damage Done, Chris Crowberry)
Info from Janne Stark's Encyclopedia It started in 1987, when Lawrence and Joel played in the band Vital Signs. After having spent some time in the US they returned to Sweden in 1992 and formed Crawley. On the band's debut the bass was handled by Matte Järnil and rhythm guitarist Jonas Ragnarsson was also part of the band. 'Addiction' is not as heavy as heavy as the follow-up, but more influenced by bands like Extreme and King's X, while 'Supersonic' is for heavier, more guitar-oriented and shows more traces from the heavier sides of Alice In Chans and Soundgarden. The album also meant a switch from Matte to new bass player Sampo Axelsson. Late 1994 the band started recieving great recognition in Europe. The 'Soundfront Releases Spring 95' three band split contains demo-versions of "N.N.P.W" and "TV Screen". In 1995 the band split, but reformed with bass player Christer "Chris Goldsmith" Goldschmidt replacing Sampo. He was however not part of the band on the third album. Matte was later found in labelmates Lost Souls. Lawrence has previously recorded an MLP with the band Damien. Sampo later joined Road To Ruin and Lion's Share, while Goldsmith can be found in Full Strike, Hellinor and Scarpoint.
Biography by FWOSHM.com (Translated and compiled with help from booklet in Japan release of Addiction) Vital Signs, the predecessor to Crawley was formed 1986 in Uppsala, Sweden by Joel Andersson (vocals), Jonas Ragnarsson (guitar), Matte Järnil (drums) and Christer Karlbom (bass). They made demo tapes and played at gigs in their hometown, but frontaman Joel was searching for his own path rather than settling down with Vital Signs. When Joel was about to participate in the Swedish Championship of Rock in 1987 he quickly formed a separate project called Rivendell. His partner at the time was Lawrence West who was then in local band Damien.
Joel and Lawrence hit it off through this project, and this parnership woul eventually take shape in the current form of Crawley but it would take about five more years and struggles in both Sweden and America before they were able to settle down and devote themselves to the band that now is Crawley.
In 1987, after working on the Rivendell project, Lawrence left Damien and joined Joel's Vital Signs. The band restarted with a five-piece line-up featuring twin guitars, but this did not last long. Joel, who's father lived in USA, moved to Minneapolis alongside with Lawrence to form Foreign Legion, a name inspired by their status as foreigners in a new country. In January 1988, Foreign Legion completed their demo, and several of the songs were played on radio stations in the Minneapolis area. They also performed at local clubs, gaining recognition in the scene. However, Lawrence’s application for a work visa was never approved, and running out of funds, he was forced to return to Sweden.
Back in Sweden, Lawrence reached out to keyboardist Rikard Zander (Evergrey) from their previous project Rivendell, and together they returned to the USA to revive Foreign Legion. In the summer of 1988, they were offered the opportunity to support Cheap Trick, and things seemed to be looking up. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances on Cheap Trick’s side, the show was canceled, and Foreign Legion’s big break never materialized. Once again, funds dried up, and Lawrence and Rikard had to return to Sweden.
Determined to keep the dream alive, Lawrence saved up money and returned to the USA in early 1989. He reunited with Joel and recruited two new members in Minneapolis to breathe new life into Foreign Legion. They recorded a new demo titled 'Imperative' and approached independent American labels, but the response was slow. Realizing their options were limited, Lawrence made the difficult decision to shift focus and form a band in Sweden instead. He teamed up with Matte Järnil from their old band Vital Signs, along with Mikael Landholm (drums) from the Damien days, and decided to revive the name Vital Signs.
In 1991, Jonas Ragnarsson (also from the original Vital Signs lineup) joined the band. Around the same time, drummer Mikael left to focus on raising his child and could no longer commit to the band. He was replaced by Pella Johansson, who had previously played with the band Lafayette in Uppsala. With the lineup solidified, the band changed its name to Crawley.
Recording for their debut album, Addiction, began in July 1992 and was completed and released in November of that year. The album was well-received by the media, but the journey wasn’t without hurdles. Just before its completion, they were informed that the album might be canceled due to financial difficulties at their label. Fortunately, indie label Soundfront, run by the owner of the recording studio, stepped in and offered them a new contract, saving the album from being shelved.
Info from Janne Stark's Encyclopedia It started in 1987, when Lawrence and Joel played in the band Vital Signs. After having spent some time in the US they returned to Sweden in 1992 and formed Crawley. On the band's debut the bass was handled by Matte Järnil and rhythm guitarist Jonas Ragnarsson was also part of the band. 'Addiction' is not as heavy as heavy as the follow-up, but more influenced by bands like Extreme and King's X, while 'Supersonic' is for heavier, more guitar-oriented and shows more traces from the heavier sides of Alice In Chans and Soundgarden. The album also meant a switch from Matte to new bass player Sampo Axelsson. Late 1994 the band started recieving great recognition in Europe. The 'Soundfront Releases Spring 95' three band split contains demo-versions of "N.N.P.W" and "TV Screen". In 1995 the band split, but reformed with bass player Christer "Chris Goldsmith" Goldschmidt replacing Sampo. He was however not part of the band on the third album. Matte was later found in labelmates Lost Souls. Lawrence has previously recorded an MLP with the band Damien. Sampo later joined Road To Ruin and Lion's Share, while Goldsmith can be found in Full Strike, Hellinor and Scarpoint.
Biography by FWOSHM.com (Translated and compiled with help from booklet in Japan release of Addiction) Vital Signs, the predecessor to Crawley was formed 1986 in Uppsala, Sweden by Joel Andersson (vocals), Jonas Ragnarsson (guitar), Matte Järnil (drums) and Christer Karlbom (bass). They made demo tapes and played at gigs in their hometown, but frontaman Joel was searching for his own path rather than settling down with Vital Signs. When Joel was about to participate in the Swedish Championship of Rock in 1987 he quickly formed a separate project called Rivendell. His partner at the time was Lawrence West who was then in local band Damien.
Joel and Lawrence hit it off through this project, and this parnership woul eventually take shape in the current form of Crawley but it would take about five more years and struggles in both Sweden and America before they were able to settle down and devote themselves to the band that now is Crawley.
In 1987, after working on the Rivendell project, Lawrence left Damien and joined Joel's Vital Signs. The band restarted with a five-piece line-up featuring twin guitars, but this did not last long. Joel, who's father lived in USA, moved to Minneapolis alongside with Lawrence to form Foreign Legion, a name inspired by their status as foreigners in a new country. In January 1988, Foreign Legion completed their demo, and several of the songs were played on radio stations in the Minneapolis area. They also performed at local clubs, gaining recognition in the scene. However, Lawrence’s application for a work visa was never approved, and running out of funds, he was forced to return to Sweden.
Back in Sweden, Lawrence reached out to keyboardist Rikard Zander (Evergrey) from their previous project Rivendell, and together they returned to the USA to revive Foreign Legion. In the summer of 1988, they were offered the opportunity to support Cheap Trick, and things seemed to be looking up. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances on Cheap Trick’s side, the show was canceled, and Foreign Legion’s big break never materialized. Once again, funds dried up, and Lawrence and Rikard had to return to Sweden.
Determined to keep the dream alive, Lawrence saved up money and returned to the USA in early 1989. He reunited with Joel and recruited two new members in Minneapolis to breathe new life into Foreign Legion. They recorded a new demo titled 'Imperative' and approached independent American labels, but the response was slow. Realizing their options were limited, Lawrence made the difficult decision to shift focus and form a band in Sweden instead. He teamed up with Matte Järnil from their old band Vital Signs, along with Mikael Landholm (drums) from the Damien days, and decided to revive the name Vital Signs.
In 1991, Jonas Ragnarsson (also from the original Vital Signs lineup) joined the band. Around the same time, drummer Mikael left to focus on raising his child and could no longer commit to the band. He was replaced by Pella Johansson, who had previously played with the band Lafayette in Uppsala. With the lineup solidified, the band changed its name to Crawley.
Recording for their debut album, Addiction, began in July 1992 and was completed and released in November of that year. The album was well-received by the media, but the journey wasn’t without hurdles. Just before its completion, they were informed that the album might be canceled due to financial difficulties at their label. Fortunately, indie label Soundfront, run by the owner of the recording studio, stepped in and offered them a new contract, saving the album from being shelved.
