Skyclad (band)
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Bio
The band was founded in 1990 by former Sabbat vocalist Martin Walkyier and Pariah guitarist Steve Ramsey, after Walkyier left Sabbat over an argument with guitarist Andy Sneap as to the direction of his lyrics. The two's aim was to put together the 'ultimate pagan metal band' (initial ideas for the band included such extravagances as traditional Robin Hood costumes, though these concepts were soon dropped). Rounding out the group with another ex member of Pariah, bassist Graeme English, as well as a second guitarist in the shape of Dave Pugh and drummer Keith Baxter, they penned a deal with German record label Noise International and recorded and released Wayward Sons Of Mother Earth in 1991. After a your with Overkill they added Fritha Jenkins on violin and keyboard, allowing for a more folk-based sound on their follow-up release A Burnt Offering For the Bone Idol in 1992. The groups early outpur was prolific, with Jonah's Ark following in 1993 and Prince of the Poverty Line a year later in 1994 with Cath Howell replacing Jenkins. She in turn was replaced by Georgina Biddle for 1995's The Silent Whales of Lunar Sea, after which both Baxter and Pugh left the group. Unable to tour, the group recorded and released Irrational Anthems and Oui Avant-Garde a Chance in the space of a year, both with studio drummers. The Answer Machine? followed in 1997 with the band still lacking a permanent drummer, but drummer Jay Graham and guitarist Kevin Ridley (who had previously been the bands producer) signed on in 1998, in time to record Vintage Whine for a 1999 release. The lineup remained stable for the recording of 2000's Folkémon, but founding member Walkyier left the band in 2001, citing the bands unwillingness to tour in South America owing to security concerns as the final straw, though other band members have commented that his somewhat acerbic personality was one of the major contributing factors to the groups lineup instability. The 2001 single Swords of a Thousand Men, taken from Folkémon is the last release on which he did vocal work. For many fans, Walkyiers lyrics and delivery style were one of the bands central attractions, and there were fears that his departure spelled the end of the band. After replacing drummer Jay Graham (who left at the same time as Walkyier) and moving Kevin Ridley onto vocals, the group sprang into action to remedy these fears with a live album, Another Fine Mess in 2001, quickly followed by 2002's No Daylights... Nor Heel Taps which featured studio re-recordings of Skyclad classics with the new line-up. This was accompanied by the 'The Same...But Different' tour, the largest Skyclad had undertaken for many years, from which Live At The Dynamo, the second live album in as many years, was taken. 2004's A Semblance of Normality marks the bands first new material post-Walkyier (there had been some unpleasantness between Walkyier and the other band members over copyrights and royalties for his lyrics), keeps very much in the vein of previous releases, with Ridley's lyrics making an obvious effort to follow similiar themes and styles to Walkyiers whilst retaining an individual identity. The album has been more widely publicised and promoted than perhaps any previous Skyclad release, and has received much critical acclaim, especially in the English-speaking world, where, ironically (given the use of inventive wordplay in their titles and lyrics), the band is almost unknown. However, in South America and mainland Europe they have been extremely popular for many years, especially in Germany and Greece, where they've been regarded as the second biggest heavy metal band after Metallica, a situation on which band members have remarked with a sort of resignation in interviews.
The band takes their name from the practice of ritual nudity of the wiccan religion, where rituals will be performed with the participants literally clad only by the sky, as a sign of equality. The name alludes both to the bands religious leanings and to their social beliefs.
Lyrical themes
Skyclad could very nearly be described as a protest band. Their lyrics deal with a wide variety of real-world themes (as well as more personal issues, though this was mainly under Walkyier) including poverty, drugs, environmentalism, politics, urban decay, paganism, society and commercialism. The bands polemics are often based on real experiences: In an interview, Walkyier recalled a point in the bands early days where his electricity meter reached 19 pence, and he was reduced to sharing cold baked bean sandwiches with guitarist Steve Ramsey. Skyclad's politics are generally left wing, with a strong working-class bent, although the band does differ from this at points: 'Men of Straw' and 'Catherine at the Wheel' amongst others show a strong, zero-tolerance attitude to child abuse, and 'Ten Little Kingdoms' is anti-devolution. Walkyier's writings for the band also show a particular fascination with sexually predatory women ('My Mother in Darkness', 'Polkageist!', 'Little Miss Take-All').
The band is noted for concealing the message of its songs somewhat in allusion and wordplay ('Womb of the Worm', 'Vintage Whine'), though this has become less pronounced in later albums written by Ridley, who favours a slightly more straight-forward style. Puns and wordplay, however, have become for many an integral part of the band.
Discography
- The Wayward Sons Of Mother Earth Full-Length 1991
- A Burnt Offering For The Bone Idol Full-Length 1992
- Tracks From The Wilderness EP 1992
- Thinking Allowed? Single 1993
- Jonah's Ark Full-Length 1993
- Prince of the Poverty Line Full-Length 1994
- The Silent Whales of Lunar Sea Full-Length 1995
- Old Rope Compilation 1996
- Irrational Anthems Full-Length 1996
- Oui Avant-Garde a Chance Full-Length 1996
- The Answer Machine? 1997
- Outrageous Fourtunes Limited Edition EP 1998
- Vintage Whine Full-Length 1999
- Classix Shape Limited Edition EP 1999
- Folkémon Full-Length 2000
- History Lessens Compilation 2001
- Another Fine Mess Live Album 2001
- Swords of a Thousand Men Single 2001
- No Daylights... Nor Heel Taps Compilation/Re-Recording 2002
- Live At The Dynamo Live Album 2002
- A Semblance Of Normality Full-Length 2004
Line-up
- Steve Ramsey (Guitar) since 1990 (Also in: Satan, Pariah, Blind Fury)
- Graeme "Bean" English (Bass) since 1990 (Also in: Satan, Pariah, Blind Fury)
- Georgina Biddle (Violin) since 1994
- Kevin Ridley (Vocals since 2001, Guitar since 1998, Producer since 1990)
- Arron Walton (Drums) since 2001
Former Members:
- Jay Graham (Drums) 1998-2001
- Martin Walkyier (Vocals, lyrics) 1990-2000 (Also in: The Clan Destined, ex-Sabbat)
- Nick Acons (Guitar, Violin) 1997
- John Leonard (Flute, Mandolin, ...) 1997
- Mitch Oldham (Drums) 1997
- Dave Moore (Session-Guitar) 1996 (Ex-Velvet Viper)
- Paul A.T. Kinson (Drums) 1996
- Paul Smith (Drums) 1996
- Dave Ray (Guitar) 1995
- Jed Dawkins (Drums) 1995
- Keith Baxter (Drums) 1990-1995
- Dave Pugh (Guitar) 1991-1995
- Fritha Jenkins (Violin) 1991-1993
- Cath Powell (Violin) 1993-1994
- Danny Porter (Session-Guitar) 1991
External links
- Official website (http://www.skyclad.co.uk)
- Official Skyclad forums (http://pub41.ezboard.com/bofficialskycladmessageboard)
- Folkmetal.com (Skyclad fansite) (http://www.folkmetal.com)
- Bombjour! Ezine (http://perso.wanadoo.fr/bombjour/Ezine/index.htm)
- Arnaut's Skyclad page (http://www.rotzorg.org/arnaut/skyclad)de:Skyclad