Skids (band)

Skids

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1977 in Dunfermline, Scotland
Founder	Stuart Adamson, William Simpson, Thomas Kellichan, Richard Jobson
Defunct	1982 (first disbandment), 2010 (second disbandment)
Fate	Reunions in 2007, 2009–2010, and 2016–present
Headquarters	Dunfermline , Scotland, United Kingdom
Area served	United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe, Australia
Key people	Richard Jobson (vocals), Stuart Adamson (guitar; deceased), William Simpson (bass), Mike Baillie (drums), Bruce Watson (guitar), Jamie Watson (guitar)
Products	Punk rock and new wave music albums and singles
Number of employees	Band members vary over time

Skids is a Scottish band known for their contributions to punk rock and new wave, formed in 1977 in Dunfermline by Stuart Adamson (guitar, keyboards, percussion, backing vocals), William Simpson (bass, backing vocals), Thomas Kellichan (drums), and Richard Jobson (vocals, guitar, keyboards). Their notable achievements include the 1979 hit single "Into the Valley" and the 1980 album The Absolute Game. In 2016, they announced a UK tour celebrating their 40th anniversary, featuring original vocalist Jobson.

Formation and initial success (1977–1979)

Skids made their first live appearance on 19 August 1977 at Dunfermline’s Bellville Hotel. Within half a year, they released the Charles EP on No Bad records, which caught the attention of BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel nationwide. This led to an opportunity to support the Clash, and Virgin Records signed them in April 1978. Early singles such as "Sweet Suburbia" and "The Saints Are Coming" achieved commercial recognition before "Into the Valley" reached the UK top 10 in early 1979. Their debut album, Scared to Dance, was produced by David Batchelor at The Townhouse Studios in London. During production, Adamson briefly departed before overdubs were completed; session guitarist Chris Jenkins took over these tasks. Adamson returned for the promotional tour supporting the album. The record included "The Saints Are Coming," which was later famously covered as a charity single by U2 and Green Day.

The band maintained chart momentum with singles "Masquerade" and "Working for the Yankee Dollar," both entering the UK top 20. These songs featured on their sophomore album, Days in Europa (1979), produced by Bill Nelson. Before recording began, drummer Kellichan left and was temporarily replaced by Rusty Egan, who also performed during touring. Keyboardist Alistair Moore joined live shows to replicate Nelson’s keyboard parts. In November 1979, Mike Baillie became the permanent drummer, gradually taking over from Egan on tour.

Controversy arose around the album’s original cover art and some lyrics due to apparent Nazi symbolism—depicting an Olympian crowned by an Aryan-looking woman with Gothic-style lettering reminiscent of 1936 Olympics posters. Following the initial release, producer Bruce Fairbairn remixed the album: removing the original artwork and the track "Pros and the Cons," adding "Masquerade," redesigning the sleeve, and rearranging tracks. This revised edition was released in 1980. Additionally, the updated track "The Olympian" was distributed as a flexi-disc single with a March 1980 issue of Smash Hits.

The Absolute Game, Joy period and dissolution (1980–1982)

In February 1980, founding bassist William Simpson left and was succeeded by Russell Webb (bass guitar, backing vocals, keyboards, percussion, guitar). Webb immediately contributed to Skids’ third album, The Absolute Game, released in 1980 and produced by Mick Glossop. This album marked their highest commercial success, reaching the UK Albums Chart top 10 and featuring the modest hit single "Circus Games". The record included various backing vocalists and even a didgeridoo player. Early editions came with a limited second album titled Strength Through Joy, reflecting recurring controversial themes within their work. Jobson attributed this title to Dirk Bogarde’s autobiography Snakes and Ladders.

After touring for The Absolute Game, Baillie departed followed shortly by Adamson, who contributed one final track called "Iona" for their next record. Baillie returned to Scotland while Adamson went on to form Big Country. This left Jobson and Webb to compose and produce Skids’ fourth and final album, Joy, which Webb produced himself. They handled multiple instruments alongside seventeen guest musicians. The band disbanded in 1982; Virgin Records subsequently released a compilation titled Fanfare, containing most singles and B-sides but excluding tracks from the Joy sessions.

Following Skids’ breakup, Jobson and Webb established The Armoury Show, releasing the single Castles in Spain. The group issued one album, Waiting for the Floods (1985), before splitting up. Jobson pursued a solo career encompassing poetry, songwriting, television presenting, and film directing; he released albums through Belgian label Les Disques du Crepuscule and UK’s Parlophone Records. Webb contemplated solo work before joining Public Image Ltd for their final tour in 1992; he currently works as a video game designer.

Reunion performances and Burning Cities

In 2007, Richard Jobson, William Simpson, and Mike Baillie joined forces again with Bruce Watson (guitar and backing vocals), Jamie Watson (guitar), Brian Jobson (backing vocals), and Jane Button (backing vocals) for a trio of concerts commemorating the 30th anniversary of the band's inception and paying tribute to Stuart Adamson, who passed away in 2001. These events were held on 4 and 5 July at Glen Pavilion in Dunfermline, followed by a show on 7 July at the T in the Park festival.

Skids made a comeback on 28 November 2009 as the headline act for Homecoming Live at Glasgow's SECC, celebrating Scotland's Year of Homecoming. This reunion featured the same lineup as in 2007, with additional contributions from The Gospel Truth Choir on selected songs.

The group performed again on 5 March 2010 at Glasgow's ABC venue, supported by The Law and Bruce & Jamie Watson. Their appearances concluded with a concert on 6 March at Dunfermline's Alhambra Theatre, where Beatnic Prestige and Bruce & Jamie Watson provided support. This final performance was part of a week-long celebration highlighting Richard Jobson’s artistic contributions during The Fifer Festival 2010.

In 2017, Skids embarked on an extensive reunion tour across the UK and Ireland to mark their 40th anniversary, headlining the Rebellion Festival. This lineup included Richard Jobson, Bill Simpson, Mike Baillie, Bruce Watson, and Jamie Watson.

Their 2018 release, Burning Cities, featured four tracks co-written with Martin Metcalfe from Goodbye Mr Mackenzie. The album achieved a peak position of number 28 on the UK Albums Chart.

Songs from a Haunted Ballroom

Following an acoustic project released in 2019, Skids returned in 2021 with Songs from a Haunted Ballroom, a covers album that included Bruce and Jamie Watson. This record was created as an homage to Dunfermline’s Kinema Ballroom—a historic music venue now functioning as a restaurant—and contains renditions of songs originally by The Clash, The Adverts, Sex Pistols, Magazine, and Ultravox!, along with new versions of their own classics "The Saints Are Coming" and "Into the Valley".

Destination Düsseldorf

Announced in March 2023, the album Destination Düsseldorf was released on vinyl LP and CD on 30 June 2023 through Last Night From Glasgow records (Cat No. LNFG117).

On 27 September 2023, Richard Jobson revealed that Bruce and Jamie Watson would be stepping down to concentrate on Big Country. Their spots were filled by longtime collaborators Martin Metcalfe and Fin Wilson (The Filthy Tongues), both of whom contributed to recent albums Burning Cities and Destination Düsseldorf. Nick Hernandez continues on drums, while Connor Whyte has taken over guitar responsibilities.

These changes in personnel allowed the band to proceed with scheduled tours across the UK, Australia, and Europe.

Band members

Current members

• Richard Jobson – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards (1977–1982, 2007–2010, 2016–present)
• Nick Hernandez – drums (2022–present)
• Connor Whyte – guitar (2023–present)
• Peter Byrchmore – bass (2025–present)
• Martin Metcalfe – guitar, backing vocals (2023–present)

Former members

• Stuart Adamson – guitar, backing vocals, keyboards (1977–1981; deceased 2001)
• William Simpson – bass, backing vocals (1977–1980, 2007–2010, 2016–2022)
• Tom Kellichan – drums (1977–1979)
• Rusty Egan – drums (1979)
• Mike Baillie – drums, backing vocals, percussion (1979–1980, 2007–2010, 2016–2019)
• Russell Webb – bass, backing vocals, keyboards, guitar, percussion (1980–1982)
• Bruce Watson – guitar, backing vocals, bass, drums (2007–2010, 2016–2023)
• Jamie Watson – guitar, backing vocals, bass (2007–2010, 2016–2023)
• Fin Wilson – bass (2023–2024)

Discography

• Scared to Dance (1979)
• Days in Europa (1979)
• The Absolute Game (1980)
• Joy (1981)
• Burning Cities (2018)
• Peaceful Times (2019)
• Songs from a Haunted Ballroom (2021)
• Destination Düsseldorf (2023)

See also

• List of punk bands from the United Kingdom
• List of 1970s punk rock musicians
• List of new wave artists