Skeleton Key
Encyclopedia
Skeleton Key is a rock
band
based in New York City
. The band is the brainchild of bassist and singer Erik Sanko, who is the only constant member of the band. His vision was to create a sound "luxurious, yet affordable," using antique microphones, primitive guitars, and unconventional percussion.
said "shows how pop culture and high culture can bring everyone to the same place." Soon after, they inked a deal with Capitol Records
and put out the critically acclaimed Fantastic Spikes Through Balloon in 1997, which was nominated for a Grammy
for its artwork, that featured a booklet with holes punched through it in a grid pattern. The band then toured the US and Europe with a diverse assortment of acts including The Melvins
, Girls Against Boys
, Cibo Matto
, The Jesus Lizard
, They Might Be Giants
, Morphine
, Brainiac
, and Primus
before headlining their own US tour. After 2 grueling years on the road and a half-finished album recorded, original members Chris Maxwell and Rick Lee departed, leaving the future of Skeleton Key in jeopardy.
The band, which had been reduced to a lone Sanko, signed with Mike Patton
's Ipecac Recordings
to release Obtainium
in 2002. With a revamped lineup including drummer Matthias Bossi and percussionist Tim Keiper, the band hit the road again, playing several successful tours with bands such as Tomahawk
, The Melvins
, Alien Ant Farm
, Cessation Bustle and Sleepytime Gorilla Museum
. After touring in support of Obtanium, Bossi left the group to join Sleepytime Gorilla Museum
and Keiper departed as well. Sanko and LeBlang recruited members Benjamin Clapp
and Sean Sankey and the band released a five song EP
, titled The Lyons Quintette on Do Tell Records. In fall 2007, Skeleton Key had yet another member change and premiered new drummer Bob Vaccarelli on tour in support of U.S.S.A.
and Chemlab
.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The band is the brainchild of bassist and singer Erik Sanko, who is the only constant member of the band. His vision was to create a sound "luxurious, yet affordable," using antique microphones, primitive guitars, and unconventional percussion.
History
In 1996 the band released an eponymous EP on Motel Records that Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
said "shows how pop culture and high culture can bring everyone to the same place." Soon after, they inked a deal with Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
and put out the critically acclaimed Fantastic Spikes Through Balloon in 1997, which was nominated for a Grammy
Grammy Awards of 1998
The 40th Grammy Awards were held on February 25, 1998. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. Rock icon Bob Dylan, Alison Krauss, and R...
for its artwork, that featured a booklet with holes punched through it in a grid pattern. The band then toured the US and Europe with a diverse assortment of acts including The Melvins
The Melvins
The Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's constant members...
, Girls Against Boys
Girls Against Boys
Girls Against Boys are an indie rock/post-hardcore band, originally forming in Washington, D.C. in 1988 and currently based in New York City.-Career:...
, Cibo Matto
Cibo Matto
Cibo Matto are a New York City-based band formed by two Japanese women, Yuka Honda and Miho Hatori, in 1994...
, The Jesus Lizard
The Jesus Lizard
The Jesus Lizard was an American alternative rock and noise rock band formed in 1987 in Austin, Texas. They were "a leading noise rock band in the American independent underground…[who] turned out a series of independent records filled with scathing, disembowelling, guitar-driven pseudo-industrial...
, They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
, Morphine
Morphine (band)
Morphine was an American alternative rock group formed by Mark Sandman and Dana Colley in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1989. They disbanded in 1999 after frontman Sandman died of a heart attack....
, Brainiac
Brainiac (band)
Brainiac was an American synthpunk band formed in 1992, and disbanded after the sudden death of lead singer Tim Taylor in 1997.-Biography:...
, and Primus
Primus (band)
Primus is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by Lane, though the latter two departed...
before headlining their own US tour. After 2 grueling years on the road and a half-finished album recorded, original members Chris Maxwell and Rick Lee departed, leaving the future of Skeleton Key in jeopardy.
The band, which had been reduced to a lone Sanko, signed with Mike Patton
Mike Patton
Michael Allan "Mike" Patton is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and actor, best known as the lead singer of the metal/experimental rock band Faith No More. He has also sung for Mr...
's Ipecac Recordings
Ipecac Recordings
Ipecac Recordings is an independent record label based in California. It was founded on April 1, 1999 by Greg Werckman and Mike Patton Ipecac Recordings is an independent record label based in California. It was founded on April 1, 1999 by Greg Werckman (ex-label manager of Alternative Tentacles,...
to release Obtainium
Obtainium
Obtainium is an album by Skeleton Key, released in 2002 by Ipecac Recordings. The image on the CD is a representation of the bones of the inner ear, including the Cochlea.-Track listing:All tracks written by Skeleton Key.# "Sawdust" – 3:39...
in 2002. With a revamped lineup including drummer Matthias Bossi and percussionist Tim Keiper, the band hit the road again, playing several successful tours with bands such as Tomahawk
Tomahawk (band)
Tomahawk is an experimental alternative metal/alternative rock supergroup from the United States. They formed in 2000 when Fantômas, ex-Mr. Bungle and Faith No More singer/keyboardist Mike Patton and ex-The Jesus Lizard guitar player Duane Denison started swapping tapes with the intention of...
, The Melvins
The Melvins
The Melvins are an American band that formed in 1983. They usually perform as a trio, but in recent years have performed as a four piece with two drummers. Since 1984, singer and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been the band's constant members...
, Alien Ant Farm
Alien Ant Farm
Alien Ant Farm is an American alternative rock band that formed in Riverside, California, in 1995. Their name comes from an idea original guitarist Terry Corso had about aliens and the earth: "I was daydreaming at my dull desk job with my feet up, and I thought to myself, 'Wouldn't it be cool if...
, Cessation Bustle and Sleepytime Gorilla Museum
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum is an American experimental rock band, formed in 1999 in Oakland, California. The band fuses classical, industrial, and art-rock themes throughout their music...
. After touring in support of Obtanium, Bossi left the group to join Sleepytime Gorilla Museum
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum is an American experimental rock band, formed in 1999 in Oakland, California. The band fuses classical, industrial, and art-rock themes throughout their music...
and Keiper departed as well. Sanko and LeBlang recruited members Benjamin Clapp
Benjamin Clapp
Benjamin Clapp is an American musician from Boise, Idaho. He has performed, composed, and recorded music with numerous artists, most notably Jim Breuer, Jesse Blaze Snider and Baptized By Fire, Tom Marshall and Amfibian, Kronos Quartet, Erik Sanko and Skeleton Key, Dee Snider , David Peel , and...
and Sean Sankey and the band released a five song EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, titled The Lyons Quintette on Do Tell Records. In fall 2007, Skeleton Key had yet another member change and premiered new drummer Bob Vaccarelli on tour in support of U.S.S.A.
U.S.S.A.
U.S.S.A. are a rock music group formed by bassist/programmer/producer Paul Barker and guitarist/composer Duane Denison...
and Chemlab
Chemlab
Chemlab is a coldwave and industrial rock band formed in Washington D.C., USA, in 1989 by Dylan Thomas More, Joe Frank , and Jared Louche . Influenced by the pioneers of the industrial genre, such as Throbbing Gristle, Chemlab mixed experimental sounds with rock and metal, which they dubbed...
.
Current members
- Erik SankoErik SankoErik Sanko is a bass player from New York who has played in The Lounge Lizards and currently active in Skeleton Key.-Biography:In the past he also worked with notable musicians like Marc Ribot, John Cale, Yoko Ono, Jim Carroll, Gavin Friday, They Might Be Giants, The Melvins, James Chance and the...
– Bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Craig LeBlang – GuitarGuitarThe 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...
- Benjamin ClappBenjamin ClappBenjamin Clapp is an American musician from Boise, Idaho. He has performed, composed, and recorded music with numerous artists, most notably Jim Breuer, Jesse Blaze Snider and Baptized By Fire, Tom Marshall and Amfibian, Kronos Quartet, Erik Sanko and Skeleton Key, Dee Snider , David Peel , and...
– "Junk" percussion - Bob Vaccarelli – Drum kitDrum kitA 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 ....
Former members
- Chris Maxwell – Guitar
- Rick Lee – "Junk" percussion
- Matthias Bossi – Drum kit
- Abraham Briones - Manager
- Sean Sankey – Drum kit
- Tim Keiper – "Junk" percussion
- Steve CalhoonPretendoPretendo is a New York City-based indie rock trio formed in 2004 of ex-/present members of Enon, Skeleton Key, Creedle, The Rugburns, Mono Puff, Morricone Youth, Little Jack Melody and The DaoSon For. Guitarist/vocalist Devon E. Levins and bassist/vocalist John Castro were childhood friends...
- Drum kit/Junk percussion
Discography
- Human Pin Cushion Single (1995, Dedicated Records)
- Skeleton Key EP (1996, Motel Records)
- Fantastic Spikes Through Balloon (1997, Capitol RecordsCapitol RecordsCapitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
) - ObtainiumObtainiumObtainium is an album by Skeleton Key, released in 2002 by Ipecac Recordings. The image on the CD is a representation of the bones of the inner ear, including the Cochlea.-Track listing:All tracks written by Skeleton Key.# "Sawdust" – 3:39...
(2002, Ipecac RecordingsIpecac RecordingsIpecac Recordings is an independent record label based in California. It was founded on April 1, 1999 by Greg Werckman and Mike Patton Ipecac Recordings is an independent record label based in California. It was founded on April 1, 1999 by Greg Werckman (ex-label manager of Alternative Tentacles,...
) - The Lyons Quintette EP (2005, Do Tell Records)