The Skulls (Canadian band)
Encyclopedia
The Skulls were an early Vancouver
punk rock
band, whose members would later found two of the area's bands: D.O.A.
and The Subhumans
. They toured heavily and issued a demo
, but never released any albums.
, during the summer of 1977, when the members of rock band Stone Crazy, who played Led Zeppelin covers among others, became interested in punk rock after seeing The Ramones live.
Joey Keithley, a.k.a Joey Shithead, was the singer, Brian Roy Goble
, a.k.a. Wimpy Roy, the bass player, Simon Werner the guitar player and Ken Montgomery
, a.k.a. Dimwit, the drummer. All of them were former members of Stone Crazy except Werner, who replaced Stone Crazy guitar player Brad Kent
. (Kent, however, still played with the Skulls on several occasions).
The Skulls played the (mostly hostile) club circuit in Vancouver and recorded a few songs at Psi-chords Studios, including "Fucked Up Baby", which would later become a D.O.A. song. (This track surfaced years later on Zulu Records' double album
retrospective, Last Call. The demo tape was never released at the time, except to local critics for review). There was not really much a scene yet, however, escept for The Furies (which had Simon Werner's brother Jonathan on bass) and The Dishrags, so The Skulls (without Brad Kent, but with roadie Gerry Useless, who had been in Stone Crazy) decided to move to Toronto. However, the band split up: Joey and Dimwit returned to Vancouver, while Simon Werner and Wimpy moved to London (Wimpy returned to Vancouver a few months later). Joe formed D.O.A., while Dimwit, Wimpy and Gerry Useless formed The Subhumans.
After the Subhumans broke up in 1982, Wimpy joined DOA, which now featured Dimwit on drums, who had just been in the Pointed Sticks
. For the next several years DOA's lineup was a virtual copy of the Skulls lineup, but with Dave Gregg instead of Simon Werner.
Werner was joined in London by Jim Walker, who landed a job with Public Image Ltd.
, appearing on their debut album before quitting. Werner, with his brother Joanathan, formed The Pack, which featured Kirk Brandon
, who later joined Theatre Of Hate
. Jim Walker also joined the Pack, and, upon that band's dissolution, all three met up again in the Straps, with was essentially the same band with another singer. A restrospective CD has now been released.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band, whose members would later found two of the area's bands: D.O.A.
D.O.A. (band)
D.O.A. is a hardcore punk band from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They are often referred to as the "founders" of hardcore punk, along with Black Flag, Bad Brains, Teen Idles, and Minor Threat. Their second album Hardcore '81 was thought by many to have been the first actual reference to...
and The Subhumans
Subhumans (Canadian band)
The Subhumans are a punk band from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada that formed in 1978.Known by pejorative, punk rock nicknames, original members were known simply as "Useless" , "Dimwit" , "Wimpy" and "Normal" .-History:Dimwit quit the band shortly after their first 7" was released to join...
. They toured heavily and issued a demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
, but never released any albums.
Biography
The band started in Burnaby, a suburb of VancouverVancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, during the summer of 1977, when the members of rock band Stone Crazy, who played Led Zeppelin covers among others, became interested in punk rock after seeing The Ramones live.
Joey Keithley, a.k.a Joey Shithead, was the singer, Brian Roy Goble
Brian Roy Goble
Brian Roy Goble, also known as Wimpy Roy or Brian "Sunny Boy Roy" Goble, is a Canadian singer and musician. He played bass for many Vancouver punk bands. First with Stone Crazy, Brian then went to punk rock, playing bass with The Skulls before becoming lead singer for The Subhumans when The Skulls...
, a.k.a. Wimpy Roy, the bass player, Simon Werner the guitar player and Ken Montgomery
Ken Montgomery
Ken Montgomery is a former Australian rules footballer who played for North Melbourne in the VFL.A reliable half back flanker, with an unusual kicking style, Montgomery was a premiership player with North Melbourne in 1977, having missed out on their flag win two years earlier...
, a.k.a. Dimwit, the drummer. All of them were former members of Stone Crazy except Werner, who replaced Stone Crazy guitar player Brad Kent
Brad Kent
Brad Kent played with all of the early Vancouver punk rock bands in one incarnation or another, particularly Victorian Pork, the band which spawned not only D.O.A. but the Pointed Sticks and the Subhumans...
. (Kent, however, still played with the Skulls on several occasions).
The Skulls played the (mostly hostile) club circuit in Vancouver and recorded a few songs at Psi-chords Studios, including "Fucked Up Baby", which would later become a D.O.A. song. (This track surfaced years later on Zulu Records' double album
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
retrospective, Last Call. The demo tape was never released at the time, except to local critics for review). There was not really much a scene yet, however, escept for The Furies (which had Simon Werner's brother Jonathan on bass) and The Dishrags, so The Skulls (without Brad Kent, but with roadie Gerry Useless, who had been in Stone Crazy) decided to move to Toronto. However, the band split up: Joey and Dimwit returned to Vancouver, while Simon Werner and Wimpy moved to London (Wimpy returned to Vancouver a few months later). Joe formed D.O.A., while Dimwit, Wimpy and Gerry Useless formed The Subhumans.
After the Subhumans broke up in 1982, Wimpy joined DOA, which now featured Dimwit on drums, who had just been in the Pointed Sticks
Pointed Sticks
Pointed Sticks are a Canadian punk rock/power pop band from Vancouver. Originally active from 1978 to 1981, they reunited to perform in 2006 and have remained together since then....
. For the next several years DOA's lineup was a virtual copy of the Skulls lineup, but with Dave Gregg instead of Simon Werner.
Werner was joined in London by Jim Walker, who landed a job with Public Image Ltd.
Public Image Ltd.
Public Image Ltd are an English post-punk band formed by vocalist John Lydon , guitarist Keith Levene and bassist Jah Wobble, with frequent subsequent personnel changes. Lydon is the sole constant member of the band....
, appearing on their debut album before quitting. Werner, with his brother Joanathan, formed The Pack, which featured Kirk Brandon
Kirk Brandon
Kirk Brandon is an English musician.-Musical career:Brandon's music career started in 1978, in Clapham, South London, with the formation of punk group The Pack, in which he was the singer/songwriter....
, who later joined Theatre Of Hate
Theatre of Hate
Theatre of Hate were a post-punk band formed in Britain in 1980.Led by singer-songwriter and ex-member of punk band The Pack, Kirk Brandon, the original group also consisted of: guitarist Steve Guthrie, bassist Stan Stammers , saxophonist John Lennard and drummer Luke Rendle from Crisis/The...
. Jim Walker also joined the Pack, and, upon that band's dissolution, all three met up again in the Straps, with was essentially the same band with another singer. A restrospective CD has now been released.
Line-up
- Joey "Shithead" Keithley - Vocals
- Simon Werner - Guitar
- Brian "Wimpy Roy" GobleBrian Roy GobleBrian Roy Goble, also known as Wimpy Roy or Brian "Sunny Boy Roy" Goble, is a Canadian singer and musician. He played bass for many Vancouver punk bands. First with Stone Crazy, Brian then went to punk rock, playing bass with The Skulls before becoming lead singer for The Subhumans when The Skulls...
- Bass - Ken "Dimwit" Montgomery - Drums
- Brad KentBrad KentBrad Kent played with all of the early Vancouver punk rock bands in one incarnation or another, particularly Victorian Pork, the band which spawned not only D.O.A. but the Pointed Sticks and the Subhumans...
- Guitar
Compilation albums
- "Fucked Up Baby" on Last Call : Vancouver Independent Music 1977-1988 (Zulu Records) (1991)