Skeletal Family are an English goth rock band formed in Keighley, West Yorkshire, in December 1982. The band was formed from the remaining members of an earlier group called the Elements, and took their name from the title of the song "Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family" from the 1974 David Bowie album, Diamond Dogs. The original line-up of the band was Anne-Marie Hurst (vocals), Stan Greenwood (guitar), Roger "Trotwood" Nowell (bass guitar), Ian "Karl Heinz" Taylor (keyboard/saxophone) and Steve Crane (drums). The band split up in 1986 and reformed between 2002 and 2009 before finally reforming again in 2012.
Links to Peel[]
Peel first invited the group for his roadshow at Bradford University on 22nd April 1982 before they even released an album or single. He was fond of the band's music in the early/mid 80's when goth music was at its prime in the UK alternative music scene and the band also did two sessions for his programmes in 1983 and 1984.
Sessions[]
SKELETAL FAMILY John Peel 11th May 1983
1. Recorded: 1983-05-11. First Broadcast: 19 May 1983. Repeated: 07 June 1983
- Black Ju-Ju / The Wind Blows / Someone New / And I
2. Recorded: 1984-09-22. First Broadcast: 08 October 1984. Repeated: 22 October 1984, 07 January 1985
- Far And Near / Hands On The Clock / Move / No Chance
Other Shows Played[]
- 1983
- 17 March 1983: Trees (7") Luggage RRP 00724
- 20 March 1983 (BFBS): Trees (7") Luggage Label
- 27 March 1983 (BFBS): Trees (7") Luggage Label
- 18 April 1983 (BBC World Service): Trees (7") Luggage Label
- 01 May 1983 (BFBS): Just A Friend (7" - Trees) Luggage Label
- 13 July 1983 (BFBS): The Night (7") Red Rhino
- 01 August 1983 (BBC World Service): The Night (7") Red Rhino
- 17 August 1983 (BFBS): The Night (7") Red Rhino
- 1984
- Peel Late December 1983 To February 1984: She Cries Alone (12") Red Rhino REDT 41
- 11 February 1984 (BFBS): She Cries Alone (12") Red Rhino REDT 41
- 20 June 1984: The Wind Blows (12" - Recollect) Red Rhino
- 20 June 1984 (BFBS): She Cries Alone (mini-album - Recollect) Red Rhino
- 17 July 1984: Batman (7" - So Sure) Red Rhino RED 43
- 19 July 1984: So Sure
- 25 July 1984 (BFBS): Batman (7" - So Sure) Red Rhino RED 43
- 04 September 1984: Someone New (album - Burning Oil) Red Rhino REDLP 44
- 09 September 1984 (BFBS): So Sure (album - Burning Oil) Red Rhino REDLP 44
- 10 September 1984 (BBC World Service): Someone New (album - Burning Oil) Red Rhino REDLP 44
- 16 September 1984 (BFBS): So Sure (album - Burning Oil) Red Rhino REDLP 44
- 21 October 1984 (BFBS): Someone New (album - Burning Oil) Red Rhino REDLP 44
- 19 February 1985: Promised Land (album - Futile Combat) Red Rhino
- 04 March 1985: Promised Land (album - Futile Combat) Red Rhino
- 11 March 1985: Promised Land (album - Futile Combat) Red Rhino
- 14 March 1985 (Radio Bremen): Promised Land (7") Red Rhino
- 08 May 1985: This Time (LP - Futile Combat) Red Rhino
- 12 May 1985 (BFBS): This Time (LP - Futile Combat) Red Rhino
- 13 May 1985 (BBC World Service): Streetlight (LP - Futile Combat) Red Rhino
- Peel 012 (BFBS) (May 1985): 'This Time (LP-Futile Combat)' (Red Rhino)
- 05 June 1985: She Cries Alone (LP - Futile Combat) Red Rhino
- 1986
- 01 March 1986 (BFBS): Promised Land (7") Red Rhino
- 1992
- 04 January 1992: She Cries Alone (JP - "a selection inspired by the book Gothic Rock")