History

The band was formed in 1969 by Dave Bell, Stan Land, and Colin Dawson, but the more recognisable incarnation was formed when Jill Saward joined on vocals in 1970. They performed regularly on the British club circuit in the early 1970s, clocking up over 500 gigs at venues such as the Marquee Club

Marquee Club

The Marquee was a music club first located at 165 Oxford Street, London, England when it opened in 1958 with a range of jazz and skiffle acts.It was also the location of the first ever live performance by The Rolling Stones on 12 July 1962....

 before they eventually split in 1975. Their live performances were flamboyant and Saward's reputation for erotically charged on-stage antics drew both positive and negative publicity.

In 1973, the band were signed by EMI

EMI

The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...

, and released their only album Skeleton in Armour. It contained four long and complex pieces in a progressive rock vein and a shorter single, "When My Mama's Not at Home", together with four short interlude tracks.

The band continued touring, but 1974 saw a series of line-up changes, and eventually lead guitarist and founding member Colin Dawson quit the band at the end of that year. The guitar duties were taken over by Alan Murphy

Alan Murphy

Alan Murphy was an English rock session guitarist, best remembered for his collaborations with Kate Bush and Go West. In 1988 he joined the group Level 42 as a full time band member, and played with them until his death in 1989...

, who subsequently played with Go West

Go West (band)

Go West is an English pop duo, formed in 1982 by lead vocalist and drummer Peter Cox ; and guitarist and vocalist Richard Drummie...

 and Level 42

Level 42

Level 42 are an English pop rock and jazz-funk band who had a number of worldwide and UK hits during the 1980s and 1990s.The band gained fame for their high-calibre musicianship—in particular that of Mark King, whose percussive slap-bass guitar technique provided the driving groove of many of the...

. He played with the band until their final split in mid 1975. Saward sang in several bands and later went on to join Shakatak

Shakatak

Shakatak are an English jazz-funk band, founded in 1980.-Career:Shakatak scored a number of chart entries, including two Top Ten hits in the UK Singles Chart, "Night Birds" and "Down on the Street" plus a further 12 entries in the Guinness book of British Hit Singles...

, with whom she still records and tours.

Skeleton in Armour

• Dave Bell — Drums
  Drum kit
  A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
  
  ; 1969–1975
• Dave Cowell — Bass
  Bass guitar
  The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
  
  ; 1972–1973
• Colin Dawson — Lead guitar
  Guitar
  The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
  
  ; 1969–1974
• Stan Land — Rhythm guitar; 1969–1974
• Jill Saward
  Shakatak
  Shakatak are an English jazz-funk band, founded in 1980.-Career:Shakatak scored a number of chart entries, including two Top Ten hits in the UK Singles Chart, "Night Birds" and "Down on the Street" plus a further 12 entries in the Guinness book of British Hit Singles...
  
   — Vocals, keyboards
  Keyboard instrument
  A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
  
  , flute; 1970–1975

Other members

• Mick Sluman — Bass; 1969–1972
• Paul Jennings — Bass; 1973–1975
• Andy Blamire — Rhythm guitar; 1974
• Alan Murphy
  Alan Murphy
  Alan Murphy was an English rock session guitarist, best remembered for his collaborations with Kate Bush and Go West. In 1988 he joined the group Level 42 as a full time band member, and played with them until his death in 1989...
  
  — Lead guitar; 1975
• Martin Slavinec — Keyboards; 1974

Discography

• Skeleton in Armour

1. "Fanfairy Suite for 1,000 Trampits (Part One)"
2. "Sonata in Z"
3. "Have I Left the Gas On?"
4. "OK Boys, Now's Our Big Chance"
5. "Skeleton in Armour"
6. "When My Mama's Not at Home"
7. "Don't Be Silly, Jilly"
8. "Talk to the Man in the Sky"
9. "Fanfairy Suite for 1,000 Trampits (Part Two)"