SKELETAL FAMILY
Skeletal Family is a gothic rock band which formed in Keighley, West Yorkshire, England in December, 1982. The band formed from the remaining membership of an earlier group, called The Elements, and took their name from the title of the song “Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family” from the 1974 David Bowie album, Diamond Dogs.
Skeletal Family is the only group that sprang up from Keighley, West Yorkshire in the early 1980s. The original lineup was Anne-Marie Hurst (vocals), Stan Greenwood (guitar), Roger ‘Trotwood’ Nowell (bass), Ian “Karl Heinz” Taylor (keyboard/sax), and Steve Crane (drums). In 1984, the band signed on to indie label Red Rhino and recorded their first single for Red Rhino, “The Night,” just after losing their original drummer Steve Crane. Crane was replaced by Howard Daniels. Daniels was soon replaced by Martin Henderson (formerly of The Last Laugh). Skeletal Family’s first album “Burning Oil” was released by Red Rhino in the autumn of 1984. The band began touring with the likes of The Sisters of Mercy during the Sisters’ First and Last and Always tour. The group released “Futile Combat” in 1985 along with the “Promised Land” single.