Prior to the formation of The Crimea, Davey MacManus (vocals, brother of DJ Annie Mac) and Owen Hopkin (drums) were in The Crocketts from 1996 to 2001.

31[1] and received Single of the Week on the Colin Murray and Edith Bowman show on BBC Radio 1, along with a performance on Top of the Pops.

Having left the Warner Bros label in 2006, the band continued to self-release records, including album Secrets of the Witching Hour in 2007 as a free download, receiving significant press attention for the - at the time - novel distribution method.

The Crimea have toured with artists including Regina Spektor, Billy Corgan, Kings of Leon, Travis, Primal Scream, Stereophonics, Ash, Snow Patrol and Modest Mouse The band has also previously included Julz Parker (guitar) and guest vocalists Regina Spektor, Tywanna-Jo Baskette and Annie Mac.

[3][4] In an interview with: "God is in the TV", singer Davey MacManus spoke of his plan to go to Dieplsoot, a slum in South Africa to start a children's home.