Four decades after they formed, in the summer of 1977, Scottish band Skids are back, and they’re coming to Chester in June.
Described as ‘post-punk pioneers’, Skids are currently on a comeback tour, and will be heading to Chester’s Live Rooms on 21st June following the release their long awaited fifth album ‘Burning Cities’.
Burning Cities (produced by Verve and Primal Scream studio legend Youth) re-unites founder members Richard Jobson on vocals and Bill Simpson on bass with Mike Baillie on drums.
Stepping in for the late Stuart Adamson is his long-time Big Country band mate Bruce Watson. Additional guitar duties are provided by Jamie Watson.
Richard commented: “I’m incredibly excited about this album. This music is at the heart of everything our band is about: truth, revolution, loud guitars and a refusal to keep quiet as the establishment tries to smother chances for anyone other than its own.”
The album release coincides with the fortieth anniversary of the first-ever Skids record, the ‘No Bad’ EP, which introduced the group to a whole new audience courtesy of one of their biggest fans, Radio 1’s legendary new music champion John Peel.
Skids signed to Virgin Records in May 1978 and that same month the band recorded a session for John Peel that included songs such as ‘The Saints Are Coming’, ‘Of One Skin’ and ‘Contusion’.
The band’s debut album ‘Scared To Dance’ was released in February 1979 and included ‘Into The Valley’ which gave the band their first top 10 hit.
In the summer of last year, to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the first-ever Skids gig, the reunited band set out on tour, selling out iconic venues such as London’s Roundhouse, Glasgow’s ABC and Nottingham’s Rock City.
“In 1977, we were singing songs about what we saw as a world in crisis,” recalls Jobson.
“Today that message is more relevant than ever. ‘Burning Cities’ is packed full of punk rock protest songs. It’s an album we’re very proud of – and we can’t wait to share it.”
Tickets for the show are available here: www.the-skids.com/tour
