Clinic are an English rock band, formed in 1993 in Crosby, Liverpool by frontman Ade Blackburn, guitarist Jonathan Hartley, bassist Brian Campbell and drummer Carl Turney.
Following the release of Free Reign in 2012 the band went on a seven year break before returning with Wheeltappers and Shunters, the first album written solely by Blackburn and Hartley.
The band's latest album Fantasy Island only features Blackburn and Hartley, with press shots confirming the departure of Campbell and Turney.
Following a brief hiatus, and a one-off appearance by Blackburn and Hartley in a covers act, Sean Durney's L-Ego, supporting the post-A Flock of Seagulls combo An Almighty Atmosphere,[5] Dougherty was replaced in 1988 by Sean Durney, previously drummer with an acoustic agit-pop outfit also part of a mini-scene centred on the Birkey[6] pub in Crosby, Liverpool.
Finn departed and was replaced by Rich Stevens, and following his departure, for a short period by Paul Entwhistle, also of Liverpool band Spontaneous Cattle Combustion.
[7] Entwhistle was subsequently replaced by Brian Campbell after Durney spotted him playing in a band at The Crosby Squash Club.
With the line-up unchanged, the band again renamed itself to Clinic the following year and soon developed early notoriety for featuring instruments (primarily keyboards/organs) that were acquired at various jumble sales and flea markets.
The EP made the top ten of John Peel's Festive Fifty at the end of the year,[11] and two other self-financed singles followed in 1998.
Clinic also appeared with Roky Erickson at Jarvis Cocker's 2007 Meltdown Festival[12] and later in the year toured with Arcade Fire.
After touring to promote the album, in May 2009, Clinic played the Moondog tribute concert at the Barbican in London, performing "Oboe Round".
[20] Following a seven year break, the band released Wheeltappers and Shunters in 2019, with only Blackburn and Hartley receiving songwriting credits.