Skin were a hard rock band active during the 1990s Image File history File linksMetadata BFSOL_Group2. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Parlophone is a record label which was founded in Germany prior to World War I by the Carl Lindstrom Company. ... Snapper Music is an independent record label founded in 1996. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

History

Skin were formed in the early 1990s by ex-Jagged Edge members Myke Grey and Andy Robbins (also formerly of Tokyo Blade & Shogun) along with former 'Kooga vocalist Neville MacDonald and drummer Dicki Fliszar, formerly from Bruce Dickinson's touring band. Originally called Taste, they went through a number of names as they played a smattering of small club dates throughout 1992. The band showed enough quality on these dates to be offered a management deal with Sanctuary Management, who also handled Iron Maiden and, ultimately, a record deal with Parlophone. Through Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson, the band came to the attention of noted American producer Keith Olsen who offered to produce their debut at his 'Goodnight LA' Studio. During 1993, the band flew to LA and began recording. Once the sessions were finished, the band listened to the finished product and decided more was needed so another three songs were recorded with Shay Baby producing. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from east London. ... Parlophone is a record label which was founded in Germany prior to World War I by the Carl Lindstrom Company. ... Keith Olsen is a record producer who co-produced the Fleetwood Mac album Fleetwood Mac, which was released in 1975. ...

Prior to the release of the album, the band finally decided upon the name Skin (someone had written it down on a wall) and embarked upon a 14 date UK tour supporting Little Angels. Another support tour, this time with Thunder helped swell their growing fan base and, in 1993, they released their debut single The Skin Up EP. This was followed by House of Love before their first UK chart single "Money", which peaked at no 18. The debut album, entitled Skin sold even better, breaking into the top 10 and peaking at no 9. Another single from the album, Tower of Strength which was backed with live material from their Donnington Monsters of Rock appearance, also broke into the top 20 and reached no 19. Little Angels was a UK hard rock band of the late 80s and early to mid 90s. ... Thunder are an English hard rock band, who originally formed in 1989 when Terraplane broke up, leaving lead singer Danny Bowes and guitarist/main songwriter Luke Morley to form a new band, namely Thunder. ...

1995 saw Skin consolidating their fan base by recording and releasing Live at the Borderline. A very limited edition CD of classic rock cover versions given away free with Kerrang! magazine, only 50 were available and it has become one of the most prized collectors items among Skin fans although a Japanese import version was released shortly after. In order to capitalize upon their appearance at Gateshead Stadium supporting Bon Jovi, the band also recorded and released Take Me Down to the River as a double CD along with some of the Borderline cuts. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

The Bon Jovi appearance marked a high and low point in the career of Skin. A gig that would potentially give excellent exposure was marred by a fault with the band equipment as a voltage converter was incorrectly installed to USA settings by a stage tech which resulted in blowing Myke's guitar amp and Colin's hammond organ. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

1996 marked the first time that touring keyboard player Colin McLeod was featured in promotional artwork as well as the music video for single "Perfect Day". Despite this, Colin was a part time member as he wanted maintain a funk orientated direction he was continuing at the same time. Funk is an African American musical style. ...

Neither the second album, "Lucky" or the two singles, the first being "How Lucky You Are" and "Perfect Day" achieved the chart success of the debut album. The progression of British chart music at this time, along with the lack of backing for rock music in the mainstream media, led to the band being dropped by Parlophone.

Despite this, Skin still held a Japanese record contract and the third album "Big Fat Slice of Life" was finished and released in 1997. Awaiting a UK release, the band released a self-financed two track CD single "Degeneration" that was distributed through the fan club. Later that same year they released their fourth, and final, studio album Experience Electric on Snapper Music. "Experience..." marked a revised version of the Japanese release with several tracks being reworked. "Ride The Blue Wave" evolved into the title track from the album, but "Big Fat Slice..." and "Degeneration" were omitted due to the fan club release. The album went on to top the indie charts at number 1. Snapper Music is an independent record label founded in 1996. ...

During this period, Skin toured relentlessly. The albums was shopped to several American record companies, and met with mogul Jonathan King. Following the culmination of the tour to promote the album, skin announced they would be emabarking on their farewell tour in 1998. Jonathan King (born December 6, 1944) is the stage name of Kenneth George King, a British pop music producer and personality. ...

The final Skin concert at the LA2 in London, was recorded and released as a double live album Hasta La Vista, Baby! on Reef Records (a subset of Snapper Music). Since the band's demise, a number of un-official releases have been issued featuring rare and unreleased tracks. These tracks combined of what would be the fifth UK album, and a large collection of demos that didn't make it on the debut. Snapper Music is an independent record label founded in 1996. ...

An odd twist of irony was that after the final gig, both "Experience..." and "Hasta..." were released in North America for a limited time, and unknown to the band themselves. Despite this, Skin have remained in dissolution since 1998.

Members

Neville McDonald (vocals)
Myke Gray (guitar)
Andy Robbins (bass)
Dicki Fliszar (drums)
Colin McLeod (keyboards) - 1994-1996

Discography

ALBUMS Image File history File links Broom_icon. ...

Skin(1994)
Absolutely Live at the Borderline (1995) - Ltd Edition
Lucky (1996)
Big Fat Slice of Life (1997) - Japanese only release
Experience Electric (1997)
Hasta la Vista, Baby! (1998) The debut album from UK Hard Rock band Skin. ... The final album from UK Hard Rock band Skin. ...

SINGLES

"The Skin Up EP"; Parlophone 1993
12" features: 'Look But Don't Touch'; 'Shine Your Light'; 'Monkey'

"House of Love"; Parlophone 1994
12" and CD feature: 'House of Love'; 'Good Good Lovin'; 'This Planet's on Fire'; Take It Easy'

"The Money EP"; Parlophone 1994
CD 1 features: 'Money'; 'Unbelievable'; 'Express Yourself'; 'Funktified'
CD 2 features: 'Money'; 'Unbelievable'; 'All I Want'; 'Down, Down, Down'

"Tower of Strength"; Parlophone 1994
CD 1 features: 'Tower of Strength'; 'Money' (live); 'Shine Your Light' (live); 'Colourblind' (live)
CD 2 features: 'Tower of Strength'; 'Tower of Strength' (live); 'Look But Don't Touch' (live); 'Unbelievable' (live)

"Look But Don't Touch" EP; Parlophone 1993
12" Single features: 'Look But Don't Touch'; 'Should I Stay or Should I Go'; 'Pump It Up'; 'Monkey'
CD single features: 'Look But Don't Touch'; 'Should I Stay or Should I Go'; 'Hangin on the Telephone'; 'Dog Eat Dog'

"Take Me Down to the River"; Parlophone 1995
CD 1 features: 'Take Me Down to the River'; 'Rock and Roll' (live); 'Ain't Talking Bout Love' (live); 'Rock Candy' (live)
CD 2 features: 'Take Me Down to the River'; 'Radar Love' (live); 'Come Together' (live); 'My Generation' (live)

"How Lucky You Are": Parlophone 1996
7" picture disc features: 'How Lucky You Are'; 'Spit on You'; 'Sweet Mary Jane'
CD 1 features: 'How Lucky You Are'; 'Spit on You'; 'I Believe'
CD 2 features: 'How Lucky You Are'; Back Door Man'; 'Sweet Mary Jane'

"Perfect Day": Parlophone 1996
7" Red Vinyl features: 'Perfect Day'; 'The Muppet Song (Mah Na Mah Na)'; 'Silly Thing'; 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick'
CD 1 features: 'Perfect Day'; 'The Muppet Song (Mah Na Mah Na)'; 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick'; 'One Way'
CD 2 features: 'Perfect Day'; 'The Muppet Song (Mah Na Mah Na); 'I Got You'; 'Silly Thing'

"Degenetation": self financed CD single
Features 'Degeneration'; 'Big Fat Slice of Life'

Trivia

For the record, Skin were the first band in history to play at the Donington Monsters of Rock Festival without having released an album.

Skin should not be confused with the former lead singer of Skunk Anansie, Skin. Skunk Anansie was an English rock band whose members included Skin (Deborah Dyer), Cass (Richard Lewis), Ace (Martin Kent) and Mark Richardson. ...

External links

• Official Skin Archive