Rollerskate Skinny

Infobox musical artist
Name = Rollerskate Skinny


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Dublin, Ireland
Genre = Shoegazing, indie rock
Years_active = 1992 - 1996
Label = Showbiz, Placebo, WEA
Associated_acts = Kid Silver Favourite Sons The Radio
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members = Ken Griffin Ger Griffin Jimi Shields Steve Murray

Rollerskate Skinny were an Irish band that enjoyed its greatest success during the 1990s.

History

Ken Griffin, Ger Griffin (no relation) and Steve Murray had been in The Hippyshakes in the 1980s. Later the band became "Shake" and was characterized by a strawberry logo. In 1991, Jimi Shields (younger brother of My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields) joined the band and suggested a name change to Rollerskate Skinny, chosen from a line in The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger:Ankeny, Jason " [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=ROLLERSKATE|SKINNY&sql=11:kxfqxqe5ldte~T1 Rollerskate Skinny Biography] ", allmusic.com, Macrovision Corporation]

"She's quite skinny, like me, but nice skinny, rollerskate skinny."

The band relocated to London and released their debut EP, "Novice" in September 1992.Strong, Martin (1999) "The Great Alternative & Indie Discography", Canongate, ISBN 0-86241-913-1] . They were named in the NME's "Top Ten New Bands of the Year" in 1992. They were signed to Beggars Banquet offshoot label "Placebo", who released their "Trophy" EP in April 1993. The following month, the band recorded a session for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show, [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/artists/r/rollerskateskinn/ Rollerskate Skinny at the BBC's "Keeping It Peel" site] ] and their debut album "Shoulder Voices" (awarded CMJ Magazine's album of the month), was released in October that year. Another EP, "Threshold", was issued in early 1994. The band toured and supported Pavement on a leg of the 1994 Lollapalooza tour. The increased media coverage as a result of the tour saw the band sign a major-label deal with WEA.

Shields left the band and was replaced by Clive Carroll. The band's first release on WEA was their second album, 1996's "Horse Drawn Wishes". This was followed by the "Speed to My Side" single, but the band split up before any further releases.

Legacy

All of the members of Rollerskate Skinny have gone on to other musical projects. Ken Griffin moved to New York City and formed the band, Kid Silver, releasing the album "Dead City Sunbeams" in 1999.Robbins, Ira & Reno, Brad " [http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=rollerskate_skinny Rollerkate Skinny] ", Trouser Press] In 2004 Ken, along former members of Philadelphia band, Aspera, formed Favourite Sons who signed to Vice Records. Since the demise of Rollerskate Skinny, Ger and Steve worked on the project, Walker. Stevie since started the band Empire, now known as The Radio, which released its debut album in 2005. Jimi Shields went on to form Lotus Crown, and then later The Wounded Knees with Suzanne Thorpe formerly of Mercury Rev.

Ger Griffin has recently began recording again under the name of Super Electric, and in a recent interview he admitted that there is a third, unreleased, Rollerskate Skinny album that may yet see the light of day, and admitted that although the members have all put their past differences behind them and remain friends, that a reunion isn't on the cards.

Rollerskate Skinny remains influential on the Irish music scene. In 2004, "Hot Press" magazine readers voted "Horsedrawn Wishes" #14 on a list of the 100 greatest Irish albums.

Discography

Albums

* "Shoulder Voices" (1993) Placebo
* "Horsedrawn Wishes" (1996) WEA

ingles and EPs

*"Novice" EP (1992) Showbiz
*"Trophy" EP (1993) Placebo
*"Threshold" - Accept Morality . . . . . ...(& Freedom Is Your Bone)" EP (1994) Placebo
*"Speed to My Side" (1996) WEA

References

External links

* [http://www.irishmusiccentral.com/rollerskateskinny Profile at Irish Music Central]
* [http://www.favouritesons.com Favourite Sons]
* [http://www.theradio.ie The Radio]
* [http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=rollerskate_skinny Trouser Press entry]