Skeletal Family interview: ‘One day it’s goth, the next it’s cold wave’
Skeletal Family interview: 'One day it’s goth, the next it’s cold wave'
(Interview by Seba Dolimont) Skeletal Family are a cult English rock band formed in Keighley, West Yorkshire, in 1982. The band was formed from the remaining members of an earlier group called The Elements, and took their name from the title of the David Bowie song “Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family”…
After touring with The Sisters Of Mercy, the success of their charting “Promised Land’ single in 1985 definitely put them on the top of the wave scene for the many years to come. While the original singer Anne-Marie Hurst is nowadays active again under the Ghost Dance moniker, the majority of the original Skeletal Family line-up is still there in full force and gave us the honor to be part of our “Resurgence” compilation box with a stunning song from their new album “Light From The Dark”.
We had a quick chat with the 3 original members of the band, evoking the past, present and future: Stan Greenwood (guitar), Roger “Trotwood” Nowell (bass) and Ian “Karl Heinz” Taylor (keyboards/saxophone).
This interview is part of an ongoing interview series that we do in collaboration with Spleen+ / Alfa Matrix for the massive 7CD post-punk / coldwave / minimal electro boxset “Resurgence”. You can order this fine set as a 7CD set or as a download via Bandcamp. This release will NOT be available on Spotify or any other service, except for Bandcamp.
S+. You guys have an impressive musical career under the belt… Could you each of you introduce yourselves again?
Trotwood: bass guitar for Skeletal Family (+ Elements), also guitar tech with Paul Weller and Culture Club. Have been in the music business most of my working life, from 1978. From Keighley West York.
Karlheinz: Keys, Sax for Skeletal Family. Started in the Elements with Trotwood and Stan, prior to that I was training as a classical clarinet player. I’m now on my 3rd spell with Skeletal Family outside of that I’ve had a few shortlived bands playing guitar, bass and singing. Various genres from synth pop to death rock. I’ve also done some solo work ranging from neo classical through electronica to avante garde.
Stan: Prolific live & session guitar player, a founder member of Skeletal Family who
achieved UK and international success in the late 1980s / 1990s and founded local bands The 1960 Four & The Big Bang, also playing guitar for the eighties new wave icon Lene Lovich Band, all bands still playing nationally and internationally to this day.
S+. Tell us more about your current music-related priorities in 2025?
Trotwood: Hopefully more tours and gigs with Skeletal Family between tours with Boy George, Culture Club and Paul Weller
Karlheinz: More shows and more new songs!
Stan: Promoting our latest Skeletal Family album “Light From The Dark”. Writing new songs for the next Skeletal Family album. Writing and recording new songs with other artistes & playing them live to a hopefully appreciative audience.
S+. What do terms like “post punk”, “cold wave”, “new wave”… mean for you in your own musical career?
Trotwood: Skeletal Family have been regarded as Post Punk, Dark Wave , Goth, new wave and cold wave. We get many tags usually depending where we are playing or what era. We have had a long and ongoing career. People like labels, it helps sell you I suppose. Though I don’t think we ever set out to belong to any one genre. We like to keep changing and challenging ourselves.
Karlheinz: I’ve never consciously tried to make music that fits a label. We’ve always liked to mix it up style wise from pop to punk and goth to funk and other stuff thrown in for good measure.
Stan: I’m not really into musical categories, in my opinion they are an hindrance rather than an asset, I play how I play and it’s up to other if they want to define.
S+. According to you, which elements made these good old days so special?
Trotwood: The Elements were good old days good times, where cut our teeth before becoming Skeletal Family.
Karlheinz: Tomorrow’s good old days are happening right now!
Stan: There was a lot of camaraderie in the early eighties amongst bands which I was glad to be a part of. I feel that with the advent of the internet that seems somewhat diluted.
S+. And what are for you the main similarities and differences between today’s alternative music scene anno 2025 and what it used to be back then in the late 70’s/early 80’s?
Trotwood: Gigs and recording have changed over time with technology. Basics are the same.
Karlheinz: All you need is a laptop and an imagination. Imagination sometimes seen as optional.
Stan: It’s great that there still is interest in the music we play. It’s especially fulfilling that
there appears to be a lot of younger people attending our recent gigs who seem to both know and like our new material but also have listened to and enjoy our back catalogue.
I think the main difference is due to the emergence of the internet in the late 90’s
that gave many more people access to our music.
S+. If you could describe this musical movement with only a few words only, what would you say?
Trotwood: Nowadays alternative music is more acceptable. The internet has made major changes to everything in the world, music included!
Karlheinz: Always the same, always different.
Stan: Innovative, original, entertaining, enjoyable
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