Skatt Brothers
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1979 in Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Founder | Sean Delaney |
| Defunct | 1983 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
| Website | www |
The Skatt Bros. (also known as the Skatt Brothers) were a musical group originating from Los Angeles, established in 1979. Their debut album showcased a disco-rock fusion that drew comparisons to the Village People, but with their sophomore release, Rico and the Ravens, which was distributed solely in Australia, they transitioned toward a more rock-centered sound.
History
The band was created in 1979 by Sean Delaney, who was recognized for his collaborations with KISS. They secured a contract with Casablanca Records through executive Neil Bogart. The founding members comprised Delaney, Peter Sweval, Richard Martin-Ross, David Andez, Richie Fontana, and Craig Krampf. Eventually, Andez and Krampf were succeeded by Danny Brant.
Their 1979 album Strange Spirits featured the track "Walk the Night", penned by Andez and Fontana. This song became emblematic of the group and earned cult status, reaching number 9 on the U.S. Billboard charts Dance/Disco rankings.
In 1980, the single "Life at the Outpost" achieved gold certification in Australia, with sales surpassing 50,000 units via Polygram/Mercury's distribution network. Notably, the Australian music video showcased actors miming instead of the band members themselves—a decision that was met with disapproval from both management and fans. Richie Fontana, a former member, confirmed that the band did not appear in this video.
In 2010, Premium Series, a European label, re-released Strange Spirits, advertising it as a "24 bit digitally remastered" edition derived from the original master tapes.
Popular culture
The iconic track "Walk the Night" was included on the official soundtrack of the 2008 video game Grand Theft Auto IV. Rockstar Games placed significant value on this song and even employed a private investigator to locate relatives of Delaney—who passed away in 2003—to obtain licensing rights for its use.
Additionally, "Walk the Night" features in the movie M3GAN, accompanying a memorable dance performed by the titular robotic doll.
The North Queensland Cowboys have adopted "Life at the Outpost" as an unofficial anthem played at North Queensland Stadium after their victories.
Albums
| Year | Title | AUS | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Strange Spirits | 71 | Casablanca Records |
| 1981 | Rico and the Ravens | - | Polygram |
| 2010 | Strange Spirits (reissue) | - | Premium Series |
Singles
| Year | Title | USD | AUS | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | "Life at the Outpost" | - | 13 | Casablanca Records |
| 1980 | "Walk the Night" | 9 | 95 | Casablanca Records |
| 1980 | "Dancin' for the Man" | - | - | Casablanca Records |
| 1981 | "Rain" | - | - | Mercury Records |
| 1981 | "Oh, Those Girls" | - | - | Mercury Records |