Skeletal Family
No doubt influenced by the emergence of gothic punk in the early '80s, the Skeletal Family emerged from Bingley in Yorkshire towards the end of 1982. Early demos recorded in September and December comprised Anne Marie (lead vocals), Trotwood (bass), Stan Greenwood (guitar), Steve Crane (drums) and Karl Heinz (synthesizer). But after a debut single, Just A Friend on the Luggage label, in March 1983, the band signed to Yorkshire's established indie label Red Rhino, by which time Howard Daniels had taken over on drums and …. The Night shared the same influences championed by the band's ‘goth’ counterparts—the Cramps, Bauhaus and the Birthday Party. Alone She Cries in January 1984, featured the new drummer Martin, and So Sure in June, alongside RECOLLECT, a 12-inch EP comprising early demos. By the time of BURNING OIL in August, the Skeletal Family had attracted a sizeable following, supporting the Sisters Of Mercy. This ascent continued with Promised Land in February 1985, where they were aided by Graham Pleeth on synthesizer, backed by a cover of Ben E. King's Stand By Me. FUTILE COMBAT fared well in the UK independent charts, securing a deal with Chrysalis, but singer Anne Marie had left to join Ghost Dance. Recruiting drummer Kevin Phillips and Katrina on vocals, it was a new, more commercial Skeletal Family that issued Restless in March 1986 and Just A Minute in August, but neither made significant headway and the band were soon dropped, a fate that Ghost Dance would soon come to share.