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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZSKIDS, TheScottish new wave group formed in Dumferline '77 from hard rockers Tattoo, whose guitarist Stuart Adamson, bassist Bill Simpson linked with drummer Tom Kellichan, singer Richard Jobson to ride punk wave, made single "Charles' on own No Bad Label '78, signed with Virgin for Scared To Dance '79, with hit singles "Into The Valley', "Masquerade'. Added ex-Visage drummer on Days Of Europa '79, prod. by Bill (Bebop Deluxe) Nelson, befitting Nelson's axe-hero past, with Adamson's droning bagpipe-like guitar chords a trademark; hits "Charade', "Working For The Yankee Dollar' incl. in double-single pack with cover of Mott The Hoople's "All The Young Dudes', showing glam infl. of David Bowie and T-Rex. After an acrimonious tour Jobson and Adamson picked up new rhythm section of Russell Webb from Zones and Mike Baillie from Insect Bites; The Absolute Game '80 was top 10 LP; Zones drummer Kenny Hyslop replaced Baillie. But only "Circus Games' of the next four singles made top 40; the freshness had gone: Adamson departed to form Big Country, further developing his distinctive guitar sound and reflecting frustration at Jobson's second career as media darling: he became actor, recorded poetry The Ballad Of Etiquette '81 for Nelson's Cocteau label. Webb and Jobson made folky Joy '81 as the Skids, then split; later attempted comeback as The Armoury Show with ex- Siouxsie guitarist John McGeoch (LP Waiting For The Floods '85) without much success. The Skids were a refreshing regional variation on guitar-based postpunk new wave music; critics of Big Country pointed to banal lyrics, suggesting that Adamson's guitar and Jobson's poetic licence went well together. |