U.K. punk group the Membranes formed in 1977, based in the seaside town of Blackpool. Their first single, the three-track "Muscles" in 1981, gained ascendancy thanks to the support of Radio 1’s John Peel. They joined Rondolet Records for "Pin Stripe Hype" before moving on to Criminal Damage, but distribution problems destroyed the chances of the acclaimed Spike Milligan’s Tape Recorder, which pre-dated the guitar barrage of Big Black and Sonic Youth. The same problems applied to the Death to Trad Rock, after which they moved to Creation Records for the disappointing The Gift of Life. Despite the production services of Steve Albini (Big Black) on 1988's Kiss Ass, Godhead, the album was a letdown and the band disintegrated. ~ Rovi Staff