Carnival Crash was a band active for a brief period, yet its members would go on to become prominent figures in the New York post-punk scene, contributing to bands such as Swans, Live Skull, Ritual Tension, and Chavez. Their recordings, collected on the album "It Is A Happy Man" (Obelisk Records), have endured over time.
Emerging from the late-'70s punk scene, Carnival Crash became part of the dynamic early-'80s post-punk movement in New York City. John Griffin drew inspiration from the streets of Brooklyn, blending influences from doo-wop and rock’n’roll with elements of Captain Beefheart and Rimbaud. Norman Westberg hailed from Detroit, bringing a unique sensibility and a willingness to dive into the evolving music scene. Ivan Nahem had previously played drums in the late-'70s San Francisco punk band The Situations.
All members had been active during the initial wave of punk but were now seeking a new direction in New York City, which was undergoing a cultural shift by 1980. The band's sound, marked by a mix of humor and a certain darkness, resonated with their urban environment. Carnival Crash's music is characterized by its melodic elements and dramatic dynamics, rather than being anti-rock or purely Noise. Significant influences included Alice Cooper, Joy Division, The Birthday Party, Wire, Bush Tetras, and The Contortions.
The origins of Carnival Crash can be traced back to the West Coast, where Ivan Nahem, along with his brother Andrew, Tom Paine, and Mark C., formed a band called Crop while in California. In 1980, Ivan, Tom, and Mark moved to New York City, where they began to look for guitar players. Following disagreements on the band's direction, Ivan departed, and the group eventually evolved into Live Skull. Subsequently, he formed Carnival Crash with John Griffin and brought in guitarist Norman Westberg, whom he had met during auditions for Crop. With Westberg onboard, the trio began performing in their East Village neighborhood, playing at loft parties, the influential noise rock venue A7, and renowned clubs such as CBGB and Tramps. Initially, John and Ivan shared vocal duties while searching for a lead singer, but when auditions were unsuccessful, Ivan stepped out from behind the drums to take on the role of front man, with future Live Skull member James Lo joining as drummer.
During its brief existence, Carnival Crash recorded twice. The first session took place in 1981 at George Kaufman’s loft rehearsal studio, utilizing his TEAC 4-track recorder, with Ivan and John sharing vocal responsibilities. A second recording session occurred in 1982 when the band had expanded to four members at Noise NY. However, the band disbanded during these sessions, leading Ivan to release two tracks as a single under the name Ivan X: "Edge of Night" b/w "Tell Tale Heart," which received critical acclaim.
Norman Westberg later joined Swans, where he would remain for many years, and he is currently active as a solo artist with a dedicated following. Ivan and Andrew Nahem formed Ritual Tension with Michael Shockley and Marc Sloan, continuing to make music from the Eighties into the early 1990s, and releasing four records: "I Live Here" LP / "Hotel California" EP (Sacrifice/ILA), "Blood of the Kid" (CBGB/Celluloid), and "Expelled" (Safe House). Recently, Ritual Tension has re-formed, performing live and recording a new album at Mark C’s Deepsea Studio in Hoboken, titled "It’s Just The Apocalypse, It’s Not The End," set for release this Fall on Arguably Records. John Griffin has continued his creative pursuits as both a painter and musician, with recent works available at: https://thegriffinmorrisseycatastrophe.bandcamp.com/track/crow. His goat, Moondog, was selected as WFMU's mascot in 2018. In addition to his work with Live Skull, James Lo has played in the notable band Chavez.
