Rollerskate Skinny
Encyclopedia
Rollerskate Skinny were an Irish
band that enjoyed their greatest success during the 1990s.
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
:
The band relocated to London
and released their debut EP
, Novice in September 1992. 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: awarded single of the week in the NME. The following month, the band recorded a session for John Peel
's BBC Radio 1
show, 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 with bands such as Mercury Rev, Smashing Pumpkins, Mazzy Star, Hole and Pavement
. They were also invited by Perry Farrell to join 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 moved to Chicago
. 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.
and formed the band, Kid Silver, releasing the album Dead City Sunbeams in 1999. In 2004 Ken, along with 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 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 stated 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, and The Irish Times (in 2008) named it #7 in a similar list (with MBV's 'Loveless taking the #1 spot).
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
band that enjoyed their 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 strawberryStrawberry
Fragaria is a genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, commonly known as strawberries for their edible fruits. Although it is commonly thought that strawberries get their name from straw being used as a mulch in cultivating the plants, the etymology of the word is uncertain. There...
logo. In 1991, Jimi Shields
Jimi Shields
Jimi Shields was previously best known for his work with 1990s indie rock group Rollerskate Skinny. He is the co-director of TTT, thirtythreetrees, LTD in Dublin, Ireland, which is a landscape art and garden design practice...
(younger brother of My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields
Kevin Shields
Kevin Patrick Shields is an American-born, Irish vocalist, guitarist, and producer of alternative rock band My Bloody Valentine....
) joined the band and suggested a name change to Rollerskate Skinny, chosen from a line in The Catcher in the Rye
The Catcher in the Rye
The Catcher in the Rye is a 1951 novel by J. D. Salinger. Originally published for adults, it has since become popular with adolescent readers for its themes of teenage confusion, angst, alienation, language, and rebellion. It has been translated into almost all of the world's major...
, by J. D. Salinger
J. D. Salinger
Jerome David Salinger was an American author, best known for his 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye, as well as his reclusive nature. His last original published work was in 1965; he gave his last interview in 1980....
:
"She's quite skinny, like me, but nice skinny, rollerskate skinny."
The band relocated to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and released their debut EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Novice in September 1992. They were named in the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
's "Top Ten New Bands of the Year" in 1992. They were signed to Beggars Banquet
Beggars Banquet Records
Beggars Banquet is an English independent record label that began as a chain of record shops owned by Martin Mills and Nick Austin, and is part of the Beggars Group of labels...
offshoot label Placebo, who released their Trophy EP in April 1993: awarded single of the week in the NME. The following month, the band recorded a session for John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
's BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
show, and their debut album Shoulder Voices (awarded CMJ Magazine's
CMJ New Music Monthly
CMJ New Music Monthly was a monthly music magazine with interviews, reviews, and special features. Each issue included a compact disc with 15 to 24 songs by well established bands, unsigned bands, and everything in between...
album of the month), was released in October that year. Another EP, Threshold, was issued in early 1994. The band toured with bands such as Mercury Rev, Smashing Pumpkins, Mazzy Star, Hole and Pavement
Pavement (band)
Pavement is an American alternative rock band that formed in Stockton, California in 1989. In their career, they achieved a significant cult following, and they were called the best band of the 1990s by prominent music critics Robert Christgau and Stephen Thomas Erlewine...
. They were also invited by Perry Farrell to join the 1994 Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
tour. The increased media coverage as a result of the tour saw the band sign a major-label deal with WEA
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
.
Shields left the band and moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. 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 CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and formed the band, Kid Silver, releasing the album Dead City Sunbeams in 1999. In 2004 Ken, along with former members of Philadelphia band, Aspera
Aspera (band)
Aspera were an American indie rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-History:Aspera formed in 1996 under the name Aspera ad Astra in Philadelphia, and released a 7" split with Haelah before issuing their debut full-length in 1998...
, formed Favourite Sons
Favourite Sons
The Favourite Sons is an indie rock band from Brooklyn, made up of Ken Griffin and four members of Jagjaguwar's Aspera. They have released one full length album, Down Beside Your Beauty, which was mixed by Victor Van Vugt The Favourite Sons is an indie rock band from Brooklyn, made up of Ken...
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 Wounded Knees
Wounded Knees
Wounded Knees is a band whose core members are Jimi Shields , ex-Mercury Rev flautist Suzanne Thorpe, and Phil Williams .-History:...
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 stated 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, and The Irish Times (in 2008) named it #7 in a similar list (with MBV's 'Loveless taking the #1 spot).
Singles 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