Skyclad (band)
Encyclopedia
Skyclad are a British
heavy metal
band with heavy folk
influences in their music. They are considered one of the pioneers of folk metal
. The etymology behind the term "skyclad" comes from a pagan/wicca
n term for ritual nudity, in which rituals are performed with the participants metaphorically clad only by the sky, as a sign of equality. The name alludes both to the bands' religious leanings and to their social beliefs, as set out in the song "Skyclad" on their first album.
vocalist Martin Walkyier
and Satan
/Pariah guitarist Steve Ramsey
, after Walkyier left Sabbat over an argument with guitar
ist Andy Sneap as to the direction of the music. 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 drum
mer Keith Baxter
, they penned a deal with German
record label
Noise International
and recorded and released The Wayward Sons of Mother Earth in 1991. The album cover was designed by Garry Sharpe-Young.
After a tour with Overkill
they added Fritha Jenkins on violin
and keyboard
and a second guitarist in the shape of baxter's friend Dave Pugh, allowing for a more Folk
-based sound on their follow-up release A Burnt Offering for the Bone Idol in 1992. The group's early output was followed by "Jonah's Ark" in 1993. In 1994 was released Prince of the Poverty Line
, record where Cath Howell replaced Fritha Jenkins.
Howell would return to her studies and was replaced by Georgina Biddle for 1995's The Silent Whales of Lunar Sea, after which both Baxter and Pugh left the group. Having a deficit of band-members the band was generally unable to tour, although they replaced, at short-notice, Tiamat on the Black Sabbath "Forbidden" UK tour in 1995. This was whilst recording Irrational Anthems, which was released early the following year.
Oui Avant-Garde á Chance was recorded within the space of a year and, like "Irrational Anthems" used a studio/ session drummer. The Answer Machine? followed in 1997 with the band still lacking a permanent drummer, but drummer Jay Graham and guitarist Kevin "Riddler the Fiddler" Ridley (who had previously been the band's producer and singer / guitarist in the punk band Forgodsake
) 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 various reasons, such as financial difficulties or 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 group's lineup instability. Walkyier went on to form The Clan Destined. For many fans, Walkyier's lyrics and delivery style were one of the band's central attractions, and there were fears that his departure spelled the end of the band. After replacing drummer Jay Graham (who left shortly after Walkyier) with drummer Arron Walton, and moving Kevin Ridley onto vocals, the group sprang into action to remedy these fears with 2002's No Daylights... Nor Heel Taps which featured studio recordings of "Irish Pub versions" of Skyclad classics by the new line-up, proceeded by a single, 2001's "Swords of a Thousand Men". The single's title track, a cover tune (originally recorded by Tenpole Tudor
), also appeared on Folkémon as a bonus track, although in a different version. The single featured two recordings of the track, one of them with Ridley on vocals and one with Ridley sharing the microphone with Ten Pole Tudor's vocalist Edward Tudor-Pole
. The single/album release was accompanied by the 'The Same...But Different' tour, the largest Skyclad had undertaken for many years. Also in 2001 the band's former record label released Another Fine Mess, which featured live recordings from 1995 and the contents of the Outrageous Fourtunes EP.
After some unpleasantness between Walkyier and the other band members over copyrights and royalties for his lyrics, as well as the release of tracks featuring him, 2004's A Semblance of Normality marked the band's first new material post-Walkyier. Its style is very much in the vein of previous releases, with Ridley's lyrics making an obvious effort to follow similar themes and styles to Walkyier's whilst retaining an individual identity. The album has probably been the most widely received of their releases, probably due to better distribution and word-of-mouth advertising, 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, much of it aimed at native English speakers), 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
.
Skyclad self-released an EP, Jig-a-Jig
, in 2006. A new album had been planned for the same year but Black Lotus Records
went out of business just a few months after Skyclad had signed to it.
The band's twelfth studio album In The... All Together was released in spring 2009 via Scarlet Records.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band with heavy folk
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
influences in their music. They are considered one of the pioneers of folk metal
Folk metal
Folk metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that developed in Europe during the 1990s. As the name suggests, the genre is a fusion of heavy metal with traditional folk music...
. The etymology behind the term "skyclad" comes from a pagan/wicca
Wicca
Wicca , is a modern Pagan religious movement. Developing in England in the first half of the 20th century, Wicca was popularised in the 1950s and early 1960s by a Wiccan High Priest named Gerald Gardner, who at the time called it the "witch cult" and "witchcraft," and its adherents "the Wica."...
n term for ritual nudity, in which rituals are performed with the participants metaphorically clad only by the sky, as a sign of equality. The name alludes both to the bands' religious leanings and to their social beliefs, as set out in the song "Skyclad" on their first album.
Biography
The band was founded in 1990 by then former SabbatSabbat (band)
Sabbat are a thrash metal band from Nottingham, England, currently consisting of Martin Walkyier , Andy Sneap , Simon Jones , Gizz Butt and Simon Negus . Over the years Sabbat have released three studio albums, four demos, two split singles/compilation albums, two singles and a live VHS...
vocalist Martin Walkyier
Martin Walkyier
Martin Walkyier is an English singer who began his career with thrash metal band Sabbat in the late 1980s, releasing two albums. After leaving Sabbat in 1990 due to differences with other band members, Walkyier teamed up with guitarist Steve Ramsey to form a heavy metal band with strong folk...
and Satan
Satan (band)
Satan are a heavy metal band originating from Newcastle, England in 1979, known as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. " Though generally obscure throughout their career, the band is considered influential for playing a form of proto-thrash metal that was fairly advanced by the...
/Pariah guitarist Steve Ramsey
Steve Ramsey
Steve Ramsey is a British guitarist who began his career with the British heavy metal band Satan in the early 1980s, releasing a single and an album, a second album under the band name Blind Fury, an EP and another album after changing the band name back to Satan and two more albums after renaming...
, after Walkyier left Sabbat over an argument with guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist Andy Sneap as to the direction of the music. 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
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
costumes, though these concepts were soon dropped). Rounding out the group with another ex-member of Pariah, bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Graeme English, as well as drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
mer Keith Baxter
Keith Baxter (drummer)
Keith Baxter was an English rock drummer. He was born in Morecambe, Lancashire, England.-Biography:As a teenager he became a founder member of folk metal pioneers Skyclad, recording five albums with them before leaving in 1995, to move to London and join 3 Colours Red, with whom he recorded two UK...
, they penned a deal with German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Noise International
Noise Records (Germany)
Noise Records was a German record label founded by German music industry personality Karl-Ulrich Walterbach in 1983 as an expansion of his company Modern Music Records. Noise Records specialized in thrash and melodic speed metal. It was sold to the Sanctuary Records Group in 2001 and ceased any...
and recorded and released The Wayward Sons of Mother Earth in 1991. The album cover was designed by Garry Sharpe-Young.
After a tour with Overkill
Overkill (band)
Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining from the original lineup. Along with Anthrax , the band is one of the most successful East Coast thrash metal...
they added Fritha Jenkins on violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and a second guitarist in the shape of baxter's friend Dave Pugh, allowing for a more Folk
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
-based sound on their follow-up release A Burnt Offering for the Bone Idol in 1992. The group's early output was followed by "Jonah's Ark" in 1993. In 1994 was released Prince of the Poverty Line
Prince of the Poverty Line
Prince of the Poverty Line is the fourth full-length studio album by British folk metal group Skyclad. It is a loose concept album about urban decay in post-Thatcherite Britain....
, record where Cath Howell replaced Fritha Jenkins.
Howell would return to her studies and was replaced by Georgina Biddle for 1995's The Silent Whales of Lunar Sea, after which both Baxter and Pugh left the group. Having a deficit of band-members the band was generally unable to tour, although they replaced, at short-notice, Tiamat on the Black Sabbath "Forbidden" UK tour in 1995. This was whilst recording Irrational Anthems, which was released early the following year.
Oui Avant-Garde á Chance was recorded within the space of a year and, like "Irrational Anthems" used a studio/ session drummer. The Answer Machine? followed in 1997 with the band still lacking a permanent drummer, but drummer Jay Graham and guitarist Kevin "Riddler the Fiddler" Ridley (who had previously been the band's producer and singer / guitarist in the punk band Forgodsake
Forgodsake
-Biography:Forgodsake formed in 1990 by Kevin Ridley, Steve Wallace, Drew Gallon, Gary Binns and Chris McCormack. They recorded a demo and signed to Bleeding Hearts Records, toured with bands such as Girlschool and The Wildhearts, then released their debut album, Blasthead, in 1993...
) 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 various reasons, such as financial difficulties or the bands unwillingness to tour in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
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 group's lineup instability. Walkyier went on to form The Clan Destined. For many fans, Walkyier's lyrics and delivery style were one of the band's central attractions, and there were fears that his departure spelled the end of the band. After replacing drummer Jay Graham (who left shortly after Walkyier) with drummer Arron Walton, and moving Kevin Ridley onto vocals, the group sprang into action to remedy these fears with 2002's No Daylights... Nor Heel Taps which featured studio recordings of "Irish Pub versions" of Skyclad classics by the new line-up, proceeded by a single, 2001's "Swords of a Thousand Men". The single's title track, a cover tune (originally recorded by Tenpole Tudor
Tenpole Tudor
Tenpole Tudor are an English punk band fronted by Edward Tudor-Pole. The band has been active intermittently since 1977.-Origins:Tenpole Tudor formed in 1977 when Tudor-Pole met guitarist Bob Kingston , bassist Dick Crippen, and drummer Gary Long...
), also appeared on Folkémon as a bonus track, although in a different version. The single featured two recordings of the track, one of them with Ridley on vocals and one with Ridley sharing the microphone with Ten Pole Tudor's vocalist Edward Tudor-Pole
Edward Tudor-Pole
Edward Tudor-Pole is an English musician, singer , TV presenter and actor.- Musical career :Tudor-Pole formed the band Tenpole Tudor in 1974, and eventually came to prominence after appearing in the film The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle as a possible replacement for Johnny Rotten in the Sex Pistols...
. The single/album release was accompanied by the 'The Same...But Different' tour, the largest Skyclad had undertaken for many years. Also in 2001 the band's former record label released Another Fine Mess, which featured live recordings from 1995 and the contents of the Outrageous Fourtunes EP.
After some unpleasantness between Walkyier and the other band members over copyrights and royalties for his lyrics, as well as the release of tracks featuring him, 2004's A Semblance of Normality marked the band's first new material post-Walkyier. Its style is very much in the vein of previous releases, with Ridley's lyrics making an obvious effort to follow similar themes and styles to Walkyier's whilst retaining an individual identity. The album has probably been the most widely received of their releases, probably due to better distribution and word-of-mouth advertising, and has received much critical acclaim, especially in the English-speaking
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
world, where, ironically (given the use of inventive wordplay in their titles and lyrics, much of it aimed at native English speakers), the band is almost unknown. However, in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
and mainland Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
they have been extremely popular for many years, especially in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
Skyclad self-released an EP, Jig-a-Jig
Jig-a-Jig
"Jig-a-Jig" was a UK Top 10 hit single, released in May 1970, by the progressive rock band, East of Eden. It is also the title of a full length album by the band. The piece is actually a set of three traditional reels, not jigs, namely The Ashplant Reel, Drowsy Maggie and Jenny's Chicken...
, in 2006. A new album had been planned for the same year but Black Lotus Records
Black Lotus Records
Black Lotus Records was an independent record label based in Greece that specialized in metal. After licensing an amount of new artists, Black Lotus Records surprised the scene by suddenly filing for bankruptcy and all announced titles are on hold indefinitely....
went out of business just a few months after Skyclad had signed to it.
The band's twelfth studio album In The... All Together was released in spring 2009 via Scarlet Records.
Studio Albums
- The Wayward Sons of Mother EarthThe Wayward Sons of Mother EarthThe Wayward Sons of Mother Earth is the first album by British folk metal group Skyclad, and is thus probably the first ever folk metal album, with the track "The Widdershins Jig" in particular pointing the way for the genre....
(1991) - A Burnt Offering for the Bone IdolA Burnt Offering for the Bone Idol- References :...
(1992) - Jonah's ArkJonah's ArkJonah's Ark is the third full-length album by British folk metal band Skyclad.-Track listing:#"Thinking Allowed?" - 3:54...
(1993) - Prince of the Poverty LinePrince of the Poverty LinePrince of the Poverty Line is the fourth full-length studio album by British folk metal group Skyclad. It is a loose concept album about urban decay in post-Thatcherite Britain....
(1994) - The Silent Whales of Lunar SeaThe Silent Whales of Lunar SeaThe Silent Whales of Lunar Sea is the fifth full-length studio album by British folk metal group Skyclad. Its title is a homophonic pun: when said aloud in a non-rhotic accent it sounds identical to "The Silent Wails of Lunacy".-Track listing:#"Still Spinning Shrapnel" - 4:34#"Just What Nobody...
(1995) - Irrational AnthemsIrrational AnthemsIrrational Anthems is an album by prolific British Folk metal band, Skyclad, released in 1996; their sixth album in as many years.It was released as a digipak and standard CD release.-Track listing:#"Inequality Street" – 4:05#"The Wrong Song" – 3:56...
(1996) - Oui Avant-Garde á ChanceOui Avant-Garde a ChanceOui Avant-Garde á Chance is the seventh full-length album British folk metal band, Skyclad. It contains 8 original tracks, 2 remixes and 2 covers: "Come On Eileen" and "Master Race" ....
(1996) - The Answer Machine?The Answer Machine?The Answer Machine? is the eighth full-length album by British folk metal band Skyclad.-Track listing:#"A Clown of Thorns" - 1:36#"Building a Ruin" - 3:55#"Worn out Sole to Heel" - 3:59#"Single Phial" - 6:07#"Helium" - 4:24...
(1997) - Vintage WhineVintage WhineVintage Whine is the ninth full-length album by British folk metal band Skyclad.-Track listing:#"Kiss My Sweet Brass" - 0:31#"Vintage Whine" - 4:26#"On with Their Heads!" - 4:51#"The Silver Cloud's Dark Lining" - 3:21...
(1999) - FolkémonFolkémonFolkémon is the tenth studio album by the British folk metal band Skyclad. It is the last album the band recorded with Martin Walkyier as vocalist...
(2000) - A Semblance of NormalityA Semblance of NormalityA Semblance of Normality is the eleventh studio album by the British folk metal band Skyclad, released in the year 2004. It is the first "new" album the band recorded with Kevin Ridley as vocalist since this album's predecessor No Daylights.....
(2004) - In the... All TogetherIn the... All TogetherIn the... All Together is the twelfth studio album by the British folk metal band Skyclad, released in the year 2009. According to the :"This album was recorded completely by the band members. There are no 'guests' or orchestras etc...
(2009)
Compilations and live albums
- Old RopeOld Rope (album)Old Rope is a compilation album by British folk metal band Skyclad, composed of tracks from the band's first five albums.-Track listing:#"The Widdershins Jig"#"Skyclad"#"Spinning Jenny"#"Alone in Death's Shadow"#"Thinking Allowed?"...
Compilation (1996) - Poetic WisdomPoetic WisdomPoetic Wisdom is a compilation album by British folk metal band Skyclad, released as promo during the tour in Greece in 2001.-Track listing:#"A Well Beside The River"#"Cancer Of The Heart"#"Something To Cling To"#"Worn Out Sole To Heel"...
Compilation (Limited tour Greek edition) (2001) - Another Fine Mess Live Album (2001)
- Live at the DynamoLive at the DynamoLive At The Dynamo is the second major live release by British folk metal band Skyclad. It contains some of the same tracks as Another Fine Mess but was distributed in a different market.-Track-listing:#Intro - 1:57#Another Fine Mess - 4:37...
Compilation/Live Album (2002) - History LessensHistory LessensHistory Lessens is the second compilation or "best of" album by British folk metal band Skyclad. Its full title is History Lessens – An Introduction to the Artist.-Track listing:#Penny Dreadful - 3:10...
Compilation (2002) - No Daylights... Nor Heel TapsNo Daylights... Nor Heel TapsNo Daylights... Nor Heeltaps is the eleventh studio album by British folk metal band Skyclad and the band's first recording to feature Kevin Ridley as the main vocalist. It is described as an "Irish Pub Album" with semi-acoustic versions of older Skyclad classics...
Compilation/Re-Recording (2002)
Singles and EPs
- "Tracks from the WildernessTracks from the WildernessTracks From The Wilderness is an EP by British folk metal band Skyclad. It contains two new tracks, three live tracks and a cover of "Emerald" by Thin Lizzy...
" EP (1992) - "Thinking Allowed?Thinking Allowed?Thinking Allowed? is the first single by British folk metal band Skyclad. A music video has been made for the song....
" Single (1993) - "Outrageous FourtunesOutrageous FourtunesOutrageous Fourtunes is a limited edition acoustic EP by British folk metal band Skyclad. It was first released as a bonus CD for special edition copies of the band's album The Answer Machine?. Remaining copies were then sold at concerts and at select online retailers...
" Limited Edition EP (1998) - "Classix ShapeClassix ShapeClassix Shape is a limited edition Picture disc released by British folk metal group Skyclad. Due to a printing error, the actual track-listing differs from that on the sleeve.-Track listing:#"Vintage Whine"#"Inequality Street"#"Constance Eternal"...
" Limited Edition EP (1999) - "Swords of a Thousand Men" Single (2001)
- "Jig-a-JigJig-a-Jig (EP)Jig-a-Jig is British folk metal group Skyclad's third limited edition EP. According to the band's official website it will be sold through the band's website and at gigs only...
" Limited Edition EP (2006)
Line-up
- Steve RamseySteve RamseySteve Ramsey is a British guitarist who began his career with the British heavy metal band Satan in the early 1980s, releasing a single and an album, a second album under the band name Blind Fury, an EP and another album after changing the band name back to Satan and two more albums after renaming...
(GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) since 1990 (Also in: SatanSatan (band)Satan are a heavy metal band originating from Newcastle, England in 1979, known as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. " Though generally obscure throughout their career, the band is considered influential for playing a form of proto-thrash metal that was fairly advanced by the...
, Pariah, Blind FuryBlind FuryBlind Fury is a 1989 samurai/action film directed by Phillip Noyce. It is a loosely based, modernized version of Zatoichi Challenged, the 17th film in the Japanese Zatoichi film series. The film stars Rutger Hauer as Nick Parker, a blind, sword-wielding Vietnam War veteran, who returns to the...
) - Graeme "Bean" English (BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
) since 1990 (Also in: SatanSatan (band)Satan are a heavy metal band originating from Newcastle, England in 1979, known as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. " Though generally obscure throughout their career, the band is considered influential for playing a form of proto-thrash metal that was fairly advanced by the...
, Pariah, Blind FuryBlind FuryBlind Fury is a 1989 samurai/action film directed by Phillip Noyce. It is a loosely based, modernized version of Zatoichi Challenged, the 17th film in the Japanese Zatoichi film series. The film stars Rutger Hauer as Nick Parker, a blind, sword-wielding Vietnam War veteran, who returns to the...
) - Georgina Biddle (ViolinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
) since 1994 - Kevin Ridley (VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
since 2001, GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
since 1998, ProducerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
since 1990) - Arron Walton (drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
) since 2001
Former members
- Jay Graham (drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
) 1998-2001 - Martin WalkyierMartin WalkyierMartin Walkyier is an English singer who began his career with thrash metal band Sabbat in the late 1980s, releasing two albums. After leaving Sabbat in 1990 due to differences with other band members, Walkyier teamed up with guitarist Steve Ramsey to form a heavy metal band with strong folk...
(VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, lyricsLyricsLyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
) 1990-2000 (Also in: The Clan Destined, SabbatSabbat (band)Sabbat are a thrash metal band from Nottingham, England, currently consisting of Martin Walkyier , Andy Sneap , Simon Jones , Gizz Butt and Simon Negus . Over the years Sabbat have released three studio albums, four demos, two split singles/compilation albums, two singles and a live VHS...
) - Nick Acons (GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, ViolinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
) 1997 - John Leonard (FluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, MandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, ...) 1997 - Mitch Oldham (drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
) 1997 - Dave Moore (Session-GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) 1996 (Ex-Velvet Viper) - Paul A.T. Kinson. http://www.pillarboxmedia.co.uk/kinson (drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
) 1996 - Paul Smith (drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
) 1996 - Dave Ray (GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) 1995 - Jed Dawkins (drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
) 1995 - Keith BaxterKeith Baxter (drummer)Keith Baxter was an English rock drummer. He was born in Morecambe, Lancashire, England.-Biography:As a teenager he became a founder member of folk metal pioneers Skyclad, recording five albums with them before leaving in 1995, to move to London and join 3 Colours Red, with whom he recorded two UK...
(drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
) 1990-1995 - Dave Pugh (GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) 1991-1995 - Fritha Jenkins (ViolinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, MandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
& Keyboards) 1991-1993 - Cath Howell (ViolinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
) 1993-1994 - Danny Porter (Session-GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) 1991