The Skeletal Family history ::
Formed from the ashes of The Elements (Keighley, West Yorkshire,
England). The Skeletal Family began life in December 1982.
The initial line-up consisted of: -
Anne-Marie Hurst (Vocals)
Stan Greenwood (Guitars)
Roger "Trotwood" Nowell (Bass)
Steve Crane (Drums)
Ian "Karl Heinz" Taylor (Keyboards)
Taking their name from a David Bowie track off the Diamond Dogs album,
the band quickly gained a sizeable local following, encouraged by this
produced a self funded single "Trees"/"Just A Friend"
released through the Leeds based Luggage label.
The single quickly gained the attention of Radio
One's John Peel, which through regular airings on his late night show
saw the single breach the lower regions of the National independent
charts.
Due to this radio airplay the band by-passed the usual route of playing
the small pub circuit and made their London debut at the Fulham Greyhound
to an enthusiastic audience, no doubt bolstered due to the current radio
airplay. The gig also received an encouraging reaction from the now
defunct national music paper "Sounds", which secured the band
other prestigious support slots with Sex Gang Children and Play Dead.
By now with a Radio One session booked for March, the band recorded a
second single "The Night"/"Waiting Here". For this
release drummer Steve Crane was replaced by Manchester based Howard
Daniels. Karl Heinz also departed (occasionally resurfacing on various
future projects). Due to disappointing sales the single the single fails
to make the impression expected, and the band set about recording their
third single "She Cries Alone". Enlisting the services of the
recently defunct Southern Death Cult guitarist Ian "Buzz"
Burrows as co-producer and roadie, now turned drummer Martin Henderson
replacing the increasingly unreliable Howard, "She Cries Alone"
gave the band their first major mark in the independent charts, and armed
with this success recorded the debut album "Burning Oil".
Around this period the band came close to extinction, whilst returning
from a Belgium appearance, the tour van rolled over, and after crawling
from the van it was discovered to be teetering on the edge of a 10 ft fall
over the canal. Miraculously no one was hurt apart from one passenger who
lost half his lower ear!!! Whilst recording the album the band learnt that
Sisters Of Mercy front man Andrew Eldridge had specifically asked the band
to support the Sisters on their Autumn Black October tour.
Now playing to much larger receptive audiences, the reaction ensured that
when released "Burning Oil" reached the top of the UK indie
charts, beating The Smiths & New Order in the process. With a now much
larger profile and two more Radio One sessions the band played numerous
dates around Britain and Europe and proved popular enough to sell out
London's then prestigious Marquee club.
Despite previously enduring limited recording budgets, the bands success
now enabled them to enlist the services of Cult/Gene Loves Jezebel
producer John Brand, relocating to Highland studios Inverness and
recording the bands second album "Futile Combat". Aided by
Waterboys saxophonist Anthony Thistlewaite and Graham Pleeth on synths,
the band achieved a more polished sound, a marked improvement on the
previous offering.
Live favourite "Promised Land" was chosen as the first single
off the album and on release reached the top three of the National Indie
charts. The band topped the year with special guest appearances with
Siouxsie & The Banshees at Brixton Academy plus Spear of Destiny
London's Lyceum.
By this time tensions within the band were high which culminated in both
Anne-Marie and Martin (who joined March Violets vocalist Simon to form The
Batfish Boys) leaving.
With a nationwide tour still booked, Anne-Marie rejoined and the band
enlisted ex Gene Loves Jezebel drummer Dik on drums. Relationships in the
band were still strained and although then tour was a success, Anne-Marie
once again departed to form Ghost Dance with Sisters Of Mercy founder Gary
Marx, forcing the band to cancel what would have been the band's seventh
Radio One session for John Peel.
At this point the band, who were at the height of their success decided
to carry on. Additional musicians were drafted in, Kevin Hunter from Hull
based band Cold Dance and local Keighley guitarist John Clarke joined the
ranks while Trotwood and Stan sifted through numerous replies from a
Melody Maker advert, intent on finding a replacement vocalist.
An initial rehearsal with Look Back In Anger vocalist Mitch Ebbling
didn't work out, So the band plumped for ex Colourfield, Manchester
vocalist Katrina Phillips.
Katrina, who had sang and appeared with Terry Hall (ex Specials lead
singer) on The Colourfield single "Thinking Of You" had a
different voice and character to Anne-Marie, but had the added advantage
of writing her own tunes and lyrics.
A new manager was found in the form of Tony Perrin and the band set about
recording the next single "Restless" at Bradford's newly formed
Flexible Response studios. The single was originally intended for release
on the Red Rhino label, but after shooting a video with Pulp's Jarvis
Cocker and Russell Senior directing decided, with the aid of the band's
publishing company DJM to try for a major label release.
After offers from various companies the band decided to sign with
Chrysalis Records, as they seemed to be the most enthusiastic regarding
promoting the band. "Restless" was remixed and partially
rerecorded in Island Studios London with Smiths producer Steven Street,
who whilst giving a more professional mix, deviated it so much from the
original master tapes that it was almost unrecognisable as the Skeletal
Family sound.
Nonetheless the single was released in 7" & 12" format
gaining plenty of airplay on Radio One's Janice Long's Evening show which
resulted in a further two sessions for the station plus a double page
feature in Melody Maker.
The second single for Chrysalis "Just a Minute" recaptured the
classic Skeletal Family sound and gave the band their highest success in
the National charts at the time.
The band completed a highly successful German tour before retuning to
Britain to record demo's for their forthcoming album with seventies glam
rock Sweet' guitarist Andy Scott at the helm. Again disruptions occurred
within the ranks causing the band to split the day before the bands first
pre recorded TV performance was aired.
Following a successful gig at the Cockpit Leeds on 5.12.02 the Skels have
reformed . And have played several more sucsessful UK gigs with new dates
steadily appearing
The Skeletal Family Story continues..................
By association::
John Brand who produced Futile Combat now manages The STEREOPHONICS. The
engineer on that session was Brendan Lynch of Paul Weller and OCS fame.
Tony Perrin who managed the band briefly went on to success with The
MISSION, and then RIGHT SAID FRED.
Spike who did the early Ghost Dance singles now produces for OASIS.
Shaun from MANIC STREET PREACHERS fame's first single was Promised Land.
:: Click here for furter information on
the Skeletal's BBC Radio One sessions ::
End ::
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