Stiltskin
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Stiltskin is a post-grunge/rock band who first achieved widespread popularity in the mid-1990s. Currently, Stiltskin's only original member is vocalist Ray Wilson.
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[edit] Career
Stiltskin is a band originally formed by Peter Lawlor in order to perform the music he had written for the British Levi's advert "Creek."[1] The resulting single, "Inside," topped the U.K. Singles Chart in 1994, but the band failed to produce further chart successes of the same kind with the follow-up single "Footsteps" reaching #34. Stiltskin split in 1996, during the recording of their uncompleted second album.
The original lineup released only one album, The Mind's Eye, which achieved "Silver Status" in the U.K., and sold in decent quantities throughout Europe. The band made significant critical inroads in the U.S. music scene, but little was to follow in the way of sales.
All instruments on the band's hit "Inside" were played by Peter Lawlor; this was also the case on the album track "An Illusion." Lawlor and bass player James Finnigan had worked together in various line-ups since the late 1980s, with Ross McFarlane on drums being drafted in later.
The Ambrosian Singers performed Lawlor's choir-like intro vocals to Stiltskin's most successful song, "Inside", in 1994.
Lawlor still works for Water Music Productions - he wrote the music for the BBC One 'Rhythm & Movement' idents and also the theme for the year 2000 Olympic games and the new theme for the English Premier League.
McFarlane went on to work with The Proclaimers and recently achieved another number one in the British Charts. He is currently drumming in Sharlene Spiteri's new band.
The current lineup has released an album She. The band toured Europe during 2006 and 2007, and a live album entitled Stiltskin Live, recorded on October 25, 2006, with material from this tour, was released in April 2007. In 2008, Stiltskin toured across Europe.
[edit] Line-up
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This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (May 2007) |
Before Wilson was given the job, many people were auditioned for the role of lead singer including, oddly, Naomi Cleaver, who is now a successful television presenter. In the region of forty people attended the various auditions at the Primrose Hill studios of Lawlor's company, Water Music Productions.
Stiltskin's original line-up included:
- Ray Wilson - Vocals
- Peter Lawlor - Guitar, mandolin, vocals, drums and bass
- Craig Simister - Bass, organ (Replaced by Aubrey Nunn, subsequently a member of Faithless)
- Ross McFarlane - Drums, handclaps
Stiltskin's initial new lineup included:
- Ray Wilson - Vocals, guitar and bass
- Uwe Metzler - Lead guitar
- Irvin Duguid - Keyboards (in the original live line-up in 1994-95. Quit the band in September 2006)
- Alvin Mills - Bass guitar
- Scott Spence - Lead guitar
- Big J - Drums
- Nir Zidkyahu - Drums
- Henrik Muller - Drums
Stiltskin's current line-up is:
- Ray Wilson - Vocals, guitar
- Uwe Metzler - Lead guitar
- Ali Ferguson - Lead guitar, backing vocals
- Lawrie MacMillan - Bass, backing vocals
- Ashley MacMillan - Drums, percussion
- Big J - Drums
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- 1994 The Mind's Eye (CD/LP/MC) UK #12
- 2006 She (CD)
- 2007 Stiltskin Live (CD)
[edit] Singles
- 1994 Inside (CD/7"/12"/MC) UK #1
- 1994 Footsteps (CD/7"/MC) UK #34
- 1995 Rest In Peace (CD/7"/MC) UK #107
- 2006 She (CD)
- 2006 Lemon Yellow Sun (CD)
[edit] References
- ^ Directed by Vaughan Arnell and Anthea Benton
