Rollerskate Skinny

All Music Guide:

Named in honor of a turn-of-phrase in the J.D. Salinger classic Catcher in the Rye, the noise-pop band Rollerskate Skinny was formed in Dublin, Ireland in 1992 by vocalist/guitarist Ken Griffin, guitarist Ger Griffin (no relation) and bassist Stephen Murray. After debuting with the 1992 EP Novice, the group released the ten-inch Trophy before swelling to a quartet with the addition of guitarist Jimi Shields, the younger brother of My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields. After signing to Beggars Banquet, Rollerskate Skinny issued their 1994 debut LP Shoulder Voices, followed by the EP Threshold; upon Shields' departure to form Lotus Crown, the remaining trio signed to Warner Bros. and delivered the excellent Horsedrawn Wishes in 1996.

Wikipedia:

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

History [edit]

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:

"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. 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.

Legacy [edit]

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. 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 begun recording again under the name 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 in the cards.

Rollerskate Skinny remains influential on the Irish music scene. In 2004, Hot Press magazine readers voted Horsedrawn Wishes No. 14 on a list of the 100 greatest Irish albums, and The Irish Times named it No. 7 in a similar list in 2008 (with My Bloody Valentine's Loveless taking the No. 1 spot).