Considering their sizeable egos, it's a wonder how the members of
the Crucial Three were able to fit their heads inside the practice room of guitarist
Pete Wylie's house. The trio of the Liverpool-based group was able to survive approximately six weeks within each other's company before disbanding. Formed in May of 1977, the band splintered by late June. The group was initiated by vocalist
Ian McCulloch, bassist
Julian Cope, and
Wylie, with drummer
Stephen Spence added within short time. By the time they broke up, they had written and rehearsed a number of songs (including "Bloody Sure You're on Dope") without committing anything to tape or performing in public.
Wylie and
Cope quickly formed the just-as-short-lived
Mystery Girls with future
Dead or Alive vocalist
Pete Burns, then moved on together to form the Nova Mob.
McCulloch would gain fame with
Echo & the Bunnymen; after
the Mystery Girls,
Wylie would form
Wah! and
Cope would form
the Teardrop Explodes. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide