Iconic Liverpool band China Crisis have sold out a number of venues in the US on their 40th anniversary world tour – and had to improvise when one show was hit by a power cut. Tony McDonough reports

It was back in Kirkby in 1979 that China Crisis first got together but it wasn’t until November 1982 they signed their first recording deal with Virgin Records.

A string of top 40 hits followed as the band helped to define the British post-punk music scene. 40 years on and Gary Daly, Eddie Lundon and the rest of the ‘Chinas’ have embarked on a new world tour.

From New York to Philadelphia, Pittsburgh to Nashville and Cincinnati to Washington the group is wowing audience with many of their best-loved songs. They include Black Man Ray, Wishful Thinking, Stranger by Nature and It’s Everything.

Gigs are already sold out at a number of the US venues including. These include two shows at the world famous Les Paul Club on Broadway.

And it was the sold out Chicago gig this week that showcased the bands versatility and desire to connect to and please their audience. Five minutes before the gig was due to start the stage manager came announced that the show was being cancelled due to a power cut.

At this point a woman in the audience shouted out: “I own a bar, you could play there.”… after a few moments’ thought the lads announced the show must go on and they headed across to The Jarvis Square Tavern in Chicago. They played  a free gig to the gobsmacked locals and very grateful fans.

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Guitarist Eddie Lundon said: “The lady was in floods of tears as we packed up and made our way over to her bar. We have been performing for more than 40 years and we a band we have been through everything that you could throw at us including a pandemic and we were not going to let a power outage disappoint our loyal fans.

“You can take the Scousers out of Liverpool but you can’t take Liverpool out of the Scousers. Nothing was going to stop us playing that gig. Celebrating our 40 years is such an honour, we have such loyal fans and we did not want to disappoint.”

China Crisis are due back in Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on Sunday, September 11, where they will be performing with Kim Wilde. And they will be continuing their own world tour in December with gigs in Australia and New Zealand. They are also performing throughout the UK during 2022-23.