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| origin = [[Dublin]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| origin = [[Dublin]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| genre = [[Blues rock]], [[psychedelic rock]]
| genre = [[Blues rock]], [[psychedelic rock]]
| years_active = October 1967 – August 1972<br/>1973 – 1976<br/>2012<br/>2019 – present
| years_active = October 1967 – August 1972<br>1973–1979<br>2012
| label = [[Columbia Records|CBS]]
| label = [[Columbia Records|CBS]]
| associated_acts = [[Thin Lizzy]], [[Michael Schenker Group]]
| associated_acts =
| website =
| website =
| current_members =
| current_members = [[Eric Bell]]<br/>[[Marc Carroll]]<br/>[[Brian Downey (drummer)|Brian Downey]]<br/>[[Gerry McAvoy]]<br/>[[Robin McAuley]]
| past_members = [[Brush Shiels|Brendan "Brush" Shiels]]<br/>[[Gary Moore]]<br/>[[Phil Lynott]]<br/>Noel "Nollaig" Bridgeman<br/>Bernard "Bernie" Cheevers<br/>[[Paul Chapman (musician)|Paul Chapman]]<br/>[[Robbie Brennan]]<br/>[[Kevin McAlea]]<br/>[[Ed Deane]]
| past_members = [[Brush Shiels|Brendan "Brush" Shiels]]<br/>[[Gary Moore]]<br/>[[Phil Lynott]]<br/>Noel "Nollaig" Bridgeman<br/>Bernard "Bernie" Cheevers<br/>[[Paul Chapman (musician)|Paul Chapman]]<br/>[[Robbie Brennan]]
}}
}}


'''Skid Row''' are an [[Dublin]] based [[blues rock]] band, primarily of the late 1960s and early 1970s, and fronted by their bass guitarist [[Brush Shiels|Brendan "Brush" Shiels]]. It is particularly notable for being the band in which both [[Phil Lynott]] and guitarist [[Gary Moore]] first played professionally.
'''Skid Row''' was a [[Dublin]] based [[blues rock]] band of the late 1960s and early 1970s, fronted by bass guitarist [[Brush Shiels|Brendan "Brush" Shiels]]. It is particularly notable for being the band in which both [[Phil Lynott]] and guitarist [[Gary Moore]] first played professionally.


==History==
==History==

===Origins===
===Origins===
The band was formed in August 1967, comprising Brendan 'Brush' Shiels on bass guitar, Noel 'Nollaig' Bridgeman on drums, Bernard "Ben" Cheevers on guitar,<ref>[http://www.irishshowbands.net/bgintruders.htm] {{dead link|date=September 2019}}</ref> and [[Phil Lynott]] on vocals.<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=1997|edition=Concise|isbn=1-85227-745-9|pages=1095/6}}</ref> Shiels and Cheevers had played together in a number of groups in Dublin before forming Skid Row. The band's first gig was in September 1967 in a basement club in Lower Abbey street in Dublin 1.
The band was formed in August 1967, comprising Brendan 'Brush' Shiels on bass guitar, Noel 'Nollaig' Bridgeman on drums, Bernard "Ben" Cheevers on guitar,<ref>[http://www.irishshowbands.net/bgintruders.htm ''The Intruders'']</ref> and [[Phil Lynott]] on vocals. Shiels and Cheevers had played together in a number of groups in Dublin before forming Skid Row. The band's first gig was in September 1967 in a basement club in Lower Abbey street in Dublin 1.
Cheevers left the band in September 1968 to continue working full-time in the electrical industry. Before his departure, the search for a suitably proficient guitarist resulted in Gary Moore joining the band as a fifth member. Moore and Cheevers both played in the band for a short 'hand-over' period. Robbie Brennan temporarily replaced original drummer Bridgeman until June 1969 and Cheevers was replaced by the 16-year-old Gary Moore in mid 1968, and the band recorded a [[single (music)|single]], "New Places, Old Faces" / "Misdemeanour Dream Felicity", for the Irish Song Records label (the only released recording of Lynott with Skid Row).<ref name="Larkin"/>
Cheevers left the band in September 1968 to continue working full-time in the electrical industry. Before his departure, the search for a suitably proficient guitarist resulted in Gary Moore joining the band as a fifth member. Moore and Cheevers both played in the band for a short 'hand-over' period. Robbie Brennan temporarily replaced original drummer Bridgeman until June 1969 and Cheevers was replaced by the 16-year-old Gary Moore in mid 1968, and the band recorded a [[single (music)|single]], "New Places, Old Faces" / "Misdemeanour Dream Felicity", for the Irish Song Records label (the only released recording of Lynott with Skid Row).


Later that year Shiels dropped Lynott from the line-up, converting Skid Row to a [[power trio]] by making Sheils the lead vocalist.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517164426/http://www.brushshiels.com/|title=Wayback Machine|date=17 May 2007|website=web.archive.org}}</ref> By way of compensation, Shiels gave him a bass guitar he had bought from former musician [[Robert Ballagh]] for £49 in 1967 while with the Uptown Band, he taught Lynott to play bass and, after a stint with 'Orphanage', Lynott went on to international fame as founder, bassist and vocalist for [[Thin Lizzy]].<ref>''Hot Press: Special Philip Lynott Issue'' (24 February 2011)</ref><ref name="mrdeluxe">{{Cite web|url=http://mrdeluxe.tripod.com/hisbot.htm|title=HIStory of the Brush|website=Mrdeluxe.tripod.com|accessdate=27 September 2019}}</ref> The band recorded a second single for 'Song', "Saturday Morning Man" / "Mervyn Aldridge". These two singles, plus three tracks from a [[BBC]] recording, were issued on the 'Hux' label as ''Live and on Song'' in April 2006. At the end of 2006 a number of Skid Row demo tapes featuring Phil Lynott were discovered. These were his earliest recordings (from 1968) and had been presumed lost for decades.<ref>[http://www.rte.ie/arts/2007/0105/lynottp.html] {{dead link|date=September 2019}}</ref>
Later that year Shiels dropped Lynott from the line-up, converting Skid Row to a [[power trio]] by making Sheils the lead vocalist.<ref>[http://brushshiels.com/ ''A Brief History of Skid Row'' on the Brush Shiels - Skid Row website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517164426/http://www.brushshiels.com/ |date=17 May 2007 }}</ref> By way of compensation, Shiels gave him a bass guitar he had bought from former musician [[Robert Ballagh]] for £49 in 1967 while with the Uptown Band, he taught Lynott to play bass and, after a stint with 'Orphanage', Lynott went on to international fame as founder, bassist and vocalist for [[Thin Lizzy]].<ref>''Hot Press: Special Philip Lynott Issue'' (24 February 2011)</ref><ref name="mrdeluxe">[http://mrdeluxe.tripod.com/hisbot.htm Brush Shiels Tripod page]</ref> The band recorded a second single for 'Song', "Saturday Morning Man" / "Mervyn Aldridge". These two singles, plus three tracks from a [[BBC]] recording, were issued on the 'Hux' label as ''Live and on Song'' in April 2006. At the end of 2006 a number of Skid Row demo tapes featuring Phil Lynott were discovered. These were his earliest recordings (from 1968) and had been presumed lost for decades.<ref>[http://www.rte.ie/arts/2007/0105/lynottp.html Fans' joy as Lynott demos unearthed]</ref>


===''Skid'' and ''34 Hours''===
===''Skid'' and ''34 Hours''===
With the returning Bridgeman, Skid Row played support to some of the great rock groups of the 1960s, including [[Fleetwood Mac]] in January 1970. Moore was influenced by the Fleetwood Mac guitarist [[Peter Green (musician)|Peter Green]], who was in turn impressed by Moore's guitar playing and introduced him to the [[Columbia Records|Columbia/CBS]] record company. A third single, "Sandie’s Gone (Part 1)" / "Sandie’s Gone (Part 2)", was released on the band's new label in April 1970, and a number of sessions and concerts were also recorded for the BBC during this period. The band released its first album ''[[Skid (album)|Skid]]'', in October 1970. A second LP, entitled ''[[34 Hours]]'' - so called because it took them a mere 34 hours to record it - was released in early 1971, preceded by the single "Night Of The Warm Witch" / "Mr. De-Luxe". Skid Row performed on the legendary German TV music show ''Beat Club'' on 18 March 1971. There were short tours of Europe (October 1970, with [[Canned Heat]]) and of the USA (October/November 1970 and August and October 1971).<ref>[http://www.garymoorefc.com/en/tourdates_1971] {{dead link|date=September 2019}}</ref> A widely bootlegged show billed as "The Whiskey, Los Angeles, August 5, 1970", and featuring [[John Bonham]] as a guest, is more likely from August 1971.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://the-discographer.dk/gary-moore-bible.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830181807/http://the-discographer.dk/gary-moore-bible.pdf|deadurl=y|title=''The Gary Moore Bible''|archivedate=30 August 2011}}</ref> A third album was recorded in the Autumn of 1971 but Moore left the band in December 1971 just before another planned US tour.<ref name="Larkin"/> He was temporarily replaced by [[Eric Bell]] (from Thin Lizzy) for some live appearances before [[Paul Chapman (musician)|Paul Chapman]] became the band's full-time guitarist.<ref name="Larkin"/> Moore later played with Thin Lizzy, replacing Eric Bell. Chapman overdubbed Moore's guitar tracks on the unreleased album but neither version was made public for almost twenty years. As the band faltered, Chapman left in July 1972 (later joining [[UFO (band)|UFO]]). Shiels then teamed with drummer [[John Wilson (drummer)|John Wilson]] (ex-[[Them (band)|Them]], [[Taste (band)|Taste]] and [[Stud (band)|Stud]]) and future [[Sparks (band)|Sparks]] guitarist Adrian Fisher to form a band named simply 'Brush'.
With the returning Bridgeman, Skid Row played support to some of the great rock groups of the 1960s, including [[Fleetwood Mac]] in January 1970. Moore was influenced by the Fleetwood Mac guitarist [[Peter Green (musician)|Peter Green]], who was in turn impressed by Moore's guitar playing and introduced him to the [[Columbia Records|Columbia/CBS]] record company. A third single, "Sandie’s Gone (Part 1)" / "Sandie’s Gone (Part 2)", was released on the band's new label in April 1970, and a number of sessions and concerts were also recorded for the BBC during this period. The band released its first album ''[[Skid (album)|Skid]]'', in October 1970. A second LP, entitled ''[[34 Hours]]'' - so called because it took them a mere 34 hours to record it - was released in early 1971, preceded by the single "Night Of The Warm Witch" / "Mr. De-Luxe". Skid Row performed on the legendary German TV music show ''Beat Club'' on 18 March 1971. There were short tours of Europe (October 1970, with [[Canned Heat]]) and of the USA (October/November 1970 and August and October 1971).<ref>[http://www.garymoorefc.com/en/tourdates_1971 Skid Row tour dates, 1971]</ref> A widely bootlegged show billed as "The Whiskey, Los Angeles, August 5, 1970", and featuring [[John Bonham]] as a guest, is more likely from August 1971.<ref>[http://the-discographer.dk/gary-moore-bible.pdf ''The Gary Moore Bible''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830181807/http://the-discographer.dk/gary-moore-bible.pdf |date=30 August 2011 }}</ref> A third album was recorded in the Autumn of 1971 but Moore left the band in December 1971 just before another planned US tour. He was temporarily replaced by [[Eric Bell]] (from Thin Lizzy) for some live appearances before [[Paul Chapman (musician)|Paul Chapman]] became the bands full-time guitarist. Moore later played with Thin Lizzy, replacing Eric Bell. Chapman overdubbed Moore's guitar tracks on the unreleased album but neither version was made public for almost twenty years. As the band faltered, Chapman left in July 1972 (later joining [[UFO (band)|UFO]]). Shiels then teamed with drummer [[John Wilson (drummer)|John Wilson]] (ex-[[Them (band)|Them]], [[Taste (band)|Taste]] and [[Stud (band)|Stud]]) and future [[Sparks (band)|Sparks]] guitarist Adrian Fisher to form a band named simply 'Brush'.


===Changing lineups===
===Changing lineups===
Skid Row reformed in Ireland in 1973, initially with Shiels, Wilson, singer Eamonn Gibney (ex-Alyce) and guitarist [[Ed Deane]], later adding keyboard player [[Kevin McAlea]]. The Shiels/Deane/Wilson line-up released the single "Dublin City Angels" / "Slow Down" (in 1971 according to Deane's website, but this seems too early).<ref name="deane">{{Cite web|url=http://www.eddeane.com/discography.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911134715/http://www.eddeane.com/discography.htm|deadurl=y|title=Ed Deane discography|website=Web.archive.org|archivedate=11 September 2008}}</ref> John Wilson was replaced by Paddy Freeney before the band split again in early 1974. For the next few months Shiels played in the 'Bell-Brush Band' with Eric Bell and Timmy Creedon (drums, ex-Orphanage), sometimes joined by Eamonn Gibney. At the end of the year Shiels, Moore and Bridgeman briefly reunited for a series of gigs, and a 1975 line-up of Shiels (guitar/vocals), Bridgeman, Jimi Slevin (lead guitar/vocals, ex-Alyce, ex-Peggy's Leg) (born June 1950, Dublin), Timmy Creedon (second drummer/vocals) and Johann Brady (bass) recorded the Skid Row single "The Spanish Lady" / "Elvira".<ref name="slevin">{{Cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220125531/http://www.jimi-slevin.net/AudioSamples.htm|title=Jimi Slevin: Audio Samples|date=20 February 2012|website=web.archive.org}}</ref> In 1976 Jody Pollard (guitar, ex-Elmer Fudd) replaced Pat O'Farrell in a line-up with Shiels (vocals/mandolin), Bridgeman (drums), John Brady (bass) and Dave Gaynor (drums), recording the Phil Lynott-produced double A-sided single "Coming Home Again" / "Fight Your Heart Out" and unreleased track "Skid Row Flashback".<ref name="pollard">{{Cite web|url=http://www.jodypollard.com/|title=Jody Pollard – Singer Songwriter|website=Jodypollard.com|accessdate=27 September 2019}}</ref> The 1976 double-disc live album of Rock n' Roll standards ''Alive And Kickin'' featured Shiels, Bridgeman, Brady, Pollard, Gaynor and Ian Anderson. In 1978 Pollard rejoined, this time replacing Eric Bell alongside Shiels, Bridgeman, Brady and Joe Staunton (guitar, ex-Orphanage).<ref name="pollard" />
Skid Row reformed in Ireland in 1973, initially with Shiels, Wilson, singer Eamonn Gibney (ex-Alyce) and guitarist [[Ed Deane]], later adding keyboard player [[Kevin McAlea]]. The Shiels/Deane/Wilson line-up released the single "Dublin City Angels" / "Slow Down" (in 1971 according to Deane's website, but this seems too early).<ref name="deane">[http://www.eddeane.com/discography.htm Ed Deane discography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911134715/http://www.eddeane.com/discography.htm |date=11 September 2008 }}</ref> John Wilson was replaced by Paddy Freeney before the band split again in early 1974. For the next few months Shiels played in the 'Bell-Brush Band' with Eric Bell and Timmy Creedon (drums, ex-Orphanage), sometimes joined by Eamonn Gibney. At the end of the year Shiels, Moore and Bridgeman briefly reunited for a series of gigs, and a 1975 line-up of Shiels (guitar/vocals), Bridgeman, Jimi Slevin (lead guitar/vocals, ex-Alyce, ex-Peggy's Leg) (born June 1950, Dublin), Timmy Creedon (second drummer/vocals) and Johann Brady (bass) recorded the Skid Row single "The Spanish Lady" / "Elvira".<ref name="slevin">[https://web.archive.org/web/20120220125531/http://www.jimi-slevin.net/AudioSamples.htm Jimi Slevin website at archive.org (including audio samples of his single with Skid Row)]</ref> In 1976 Jody Pollard (guitar, ex-Elmer Fudd) replaced Pat O'Farrell in a line-up with Shiels (vocals/mandolin), Bridgeman (drums), John Brady (bass) and Dave Gaynor (drums), recording the Phil Lynott-produced double A-sided single "Coming Home Again" / "Fight Your Heart Out" and unreleased track "Skid Row Flashback".<ref name="pollard">[http://www.jodypollard.com/ Jody Pollard website]</ref> The 1976 double-disc live album of Rock n' Roll standards ''Alive And Kickin'' featured Shiels, Bridgeman, Brady, Pollard, Gaynor and Ian Anderson. In 1978 Pollard rejoined, this time replacing Eric Bell alongside Shiels, Bridgeman, Brady and Joe Staunton (guitar, ex-Orphanage).<ref name="pollard" />


===Legacy===
===Legacy===
John Brady was killed in a car accident in the early 1990s, Phil Lynott died of [[septicaemia]] in January 1986 and Gary Moore died from a heart attack in February 2011. Skid Row had little commercial success outside Ireland and the [[United Kingdom|UK]],<ref name="Larkin"/> although ''Skid'' reached No.30 on the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book| first= David| last= Roberts| year= 2006| title= British Hit Singles & Albums| edition= 19th| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London| isbn= 1-904994-10-5| page= 505}}</ref> More of their recorded material was released between 1990 and 2006.
John Brady was killed in a car accident in the early 90s, Phil Lynott died of [[septicaemia]] in January 1986 and Gary Moore died from a heart attack in February 2011. Skid Row had little commercial success outside Ireland and the [[United Kingdom|UK]], although ''Skid'' reached No.30 on the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book| first= David| last= Roberts| year= 2006| title= British Hit Singles & Albums| edition= 19th| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London| isbn= 1-904994-10-5| page= 505}}</ref> More of their recorded material was released between 1990 and 2006.


It was reported that in 1987, [[Jon Bon Jovi]] asked Gary Moore to sell the name 'Skid Row' to the [[United States|American]] [[Skid Row (American band)|heavy metal band]] for $35,000 (Bon Jovi part-owns the music publishing rights of this band). Lead singer [[Sebastian Bach]] recalled,
It was reported that in 1987, [[Jon Bon Jovi]] asked Gary Moore to sell the name 'Skid Row' to the [[United States|American]] [[Skid Row (American band)|heavy metal band]] for $35,000 (Bon Jovi part-owns the music publishing rights of this band). Lead singer [[Sebastian Bach]] recalled,
{{quote|When (Skid Row) got signed to Atlantic, Gary Moore heard about it and said we could have the name for $35,000 U.S. dollars. "We have to pay Gary Moore 35 grand to use the name," and so we, as a band, did buy the name from Gary Moore. We were all glad to do it because it is a great name for a band. I remember saying, "Wow, that's a lot of $, but we gotta do it!"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/BlabberMouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=54571|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213121538/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/BlabberMouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=54571|deadurl=y|title=Sebastian Bach on the BlabberMouth.Net website|archivedate=13 February 2011}}</ref>}}
{{quote|When (Skid Row) got signed to Atlantic, Gary Moore heard about it and said we could have the name for $35,000 U.S. dollars. "We have to pay Gary Moore 35 grand to use the name," and so we, as a band, did buy the name from Gary Moore. We were all glad to do it because it is a great name for a band. I remember saying, "Wow, that's a lot of $, but we gotta do it!"<ref>[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/BlabberMouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=54571 Sebastian Bach on the BlabberMouth.Net website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213121538/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/BlabberMouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=54571 |date=13 February 2011 }}</ref>}}
However, Shiels maintains that Moore simply referred the band to Shiels to discuss the rights to the name, but that it was never followed up.<ref name="jovi">Did Bon Jovi give Skid Row a 'Bad Name'? - ''Examiner'' (17 January 2012)</ref> Shiels has said that he has always been unhappy at the group "stealing their name", and said of their manager [[Doc McGhee]], "he could be [[Dr. Martens|Doc Marten]] for all I know...but he's going to get a kick up the arse".<ref name="mrdeluxe"/> He still occasionally performs as 'Brush Shiels' Skid Row', as recently as February 2005. Bridgeman went on to perform studio work with [[Clannad (musical group)|Clannad]], [[The Waterboys]] and [[Altan (band)|Altan]] and was part of Irish folk singer [[Mary Black]]'s band in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
However, Shiels maintains that Moore simply referred the band to Shiels to discuss the rights to the name, but that it was never followed up.<ref name="jovi">Did Bon Jovi give Skid Row a 'Bad Name'? - ''Examiner'' (17 January 2012)</ref> Shiels has said that he has always been unhappy at the group "stealing their name", and said of their manager [[Doc McGhee]], "he could be [[Dr. Martens|Doc Marten]] for all I know...but he's going to get a kick up the arse".<ref name="mrdeluxe"/> He still occasionally performs as 'Brush Shiels' Skid Row', as recently as February 2005. Bridgeman went on to perform studio work with [[Clannad (musical group)|Clannad]], [[The Waterboys]] and [[Altan (band)|Altan]] and was part of Irish folk singer [[Mary Black]]'s band in the late 1980s and early 1990s.


Brush Shiels returned to his Skid Row legacy once more releasing ''Mad Dog Woman'' (originally titled ''Skid Row Revisited'') - an album of new material and re-recordings of Skid Row songs - through his website in June 2009. He also thanked the other Skid Row "for the generosity of spirit in acknowledging the contribution of the original Skid Row" by using the name.<ref>[http://www.myspace.com/brushshielsmusic] {{dead link|date=September 2019}}</ref> In January 2012, Shiels issued a public request to [[Jon Bon Jovi]] via [[YouTube]] to contact him about the use of the name 'Skid Row'. This was connected to Shiels having recently recovered the rights to his own songs recorded with the original Skid Row.<ref name="jovi" />
Brush Shiels returned to his Skid Row legacy once more releasing ''Mad Dog Woman'' (originally titled ''Skid Row Revisited'') - an album of new material and re-recordings of Skid Row songs - through his website in June 2009. He also thanked the other Skid Row "for the generosity of spirit in acknowledging the contribution of the original Skid Row" by using the name.<ref>[http://www.myspace.com/brushshielsmusic Brush Shiels on MySpace Music]</ref> In January 2012 Shiels issued a public request to [[Jon Bon Jovi]] via [[YouTube]] to contact him about the use of the name 'Skid Row'. This was connected to Shiels having recently recovered the rights to his own songs recorded with the original Skid Row.<ref name="jovi" />


They were managed in the 1970s by [[Oliver Byrne]].
They were managed in the 1970s by [[Oliver Byrne]].


==Band members==
==Band members==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===Main===
* [[Eric Bell]] – Lead guitar <small>(1971, 2019–present)</small>
* [[Marc Carroll]] – Keyboards <small>(2019–present)</small>
* [[Brian Downey (drummer)|Brian Downey]] – Drums <small>(2019–present)</small>
* [[Gerry McAvoy]] – Bass guitar <small>(2019–present)</small>
* [[Robin McAuley]] – Lead vocals <small>(2019–present)</small>
{{col-break}}
===Former===
*[[Brush Shiels|Brendan "Brush" Shiels]] - Bass, Vocals (1967–1972, 1973–1976, 2012)
*[[Brush Shiels|Brendan "Brush" Shiels]] - Bass, Vocals (1967–1972, 1973–1976, 2012)
*Noel "Nollaig" Bridgeman - Drums (1967, 1969–1972, 1975–1976)
*Noel "Nollaig" Bridgeman - Drums (1967, 1969–1972, 1975–1976)
*Bernard "Bernie" Cheevers - Guitars (1967)
*Bernard "Bernie" Cheevers - Guitars (1967)
*[[Phil Lynott]] - Vocals (1967–1968; died 1986)
*[[Phil Lynott]] - Vocals (1967–1968)
*[[Gary Moore]] - Guitars, Vocals (1968–1971; died 2011)
*[[Gary Moore]] - Guitars, Vocals (1968–1971)
*[[Robbie Brennan]] - Drums (1968; died 2016)
*[[Robbie Brennan]] - Drums (1968)
⚫
*[[Eric Bell]] - Guitars (1971)
*[[Paul Chapman (musician)|Paul Chapman]] - Guitars (1971–1972)
*[[Paul Chapman (musician)|Paul Chapman]] - Guitars (1971–1972)
*Eamonn Gibney - Vocals (1973–1974)
*Eamonn Gibney - Vocals (1973–1974)
Line 74: Line 66:
*Pat O’Farrell - Guitars (1976)
*Pat O’Farrell - Guitars (1976)
*Jody Polland - Guitars (1976)
*Jody Polland - Guitars (1976)
{{col-end}}

===Line-ups===
{| class="toccolours" border=1 cellpaaing=2 cellspacing=0 style="float: width: 375px; margin: 0 0 1em em; border- collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #E2E2E2;" width=99%
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1967
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1968
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1969 – 1971
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1972
|-
| valign=top |
* '''[[Brush Shiels]]''' – bass
* '''Noel Bridgeman''' – drums
* '''[[Phil Lynott]]''' – guitar, vocals
* '''Bernard Cheevers''' – guitar
| valign=top |
* '''Brush Shiels''' – bass
* '''Phil Lynott''' – guitar, vocals
* '''[[Gary Moore]]''' – guitar
* '''[[Robbie Brennan]]''' – drums
| valign=top |
* '''Brush Shiels''' – bass, vocals
* '''Noel Bridgeman''' – drums
* '''Gary Moore''' – guitar
⚫
* '''[[Eric Bell]]''' – guitar
* '''[[Paul Chapman (musician)|Paul Chapman]] – guitar
| valign=top |
* '''Brush Shiels''' – bass, vocals
* '''Noel Bridgeman''' – drums
* '''Paul Chapman''' – guitar
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1973
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1974 – 1975
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1975 – 1976
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25% | 1976
|-
| valign=top |
* '''Brush Shiels''' – bass, vocals
* '''Eamonn Gibney''' – vocals
* '''[[Ed Deane]]''' – guitar
* '''John Wilson''' – drums
* '''[[Kevin McAlea]]''' – keyboards
| valign=top |
* '''Brush Shiels''' – bass, vocals
* '''Kevin McAlea''' – keyboards
* '''Ed Deane''' – guitar
* '''Paddy Freeney''' – drums
| valign=top |
* '''Brush Shiels''' – bass, vocals
* '''Paddy Freeney''' – drums
* '''Johann Braddy''' – bass
* '''Jimi Slevin''' – guitar
* '''Noel Bridgeman''' – drums
* '''Timmy Creedon''' – drums
| valign=top |
* '''Brush Shiels''' – bass, vocals
* '''Dave Gaynor''' – drums
* '''Pat O'Farrell''' – guitar
* '''Jody Polland''' – guitar
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25%| 1976 – 2012
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25%| 2012
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25%| 2012 – 2019
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" valign=top width=25%| 2019 – present
|-
| valign=top |
'''Disbanded'''
| valign=top |
* '''Brush Shiels''' – bass, vocals
| valign=top |
'''Disbanded'''
| valign=top |
* '''[[Eric Bell]]''' – guitar
* '''[[Marc Carroll]]''' – keyboards
* '''[[Brian Downey (drummer)|Brian Downey]]''' – drums
* '''[[Gerry McAvoy]]''' – bass
* '''[[Robin McAuley]]''' – vocals, guitar
|}


==Discography==
==Discography==

===Albums===
===Albums===

====Studio====
====Studio Albums====
*''[[Skid (album)|Skid]]'' ([[Columbia Records|CBS]], October 1970) Reached No.30 in the UK Album Chart
*''[[Skid (album)|Skid]]'' ([[Columbia Records|CBS]], October 1970) Reached No.30 in the UK Album Chart
*''[[34 Hours]]'' (CBS, 1971)
*''[[34 Hours]]'' (CBS, 1971)
*''Bon Jovi Never Rang Me'' (Bruised Records, 2012)
*''Bon Jovi Never Rang Me'' (Bruised Records, 2012)


====Live====
====Live albums====
*''Alive and Kicking'' (RRL, June 1976)
*''Alive and Kicking'' (RRL, June 1976)


====Compilation====
====Compilations====
*''Skid Row (a.k.a. 'Dublin Gas Comy.')'' (CBS, 1983), CBS demos recorded early 1970
*''Skid Row (a.k.a. 'Dublin Gas Comy.')'' (CBS, 1983), CBS demos recorded early 1970
*''Skid Row (a.k.a. 'Gary Moore/Brush Shiels/Noel Bridgeman')'' (Castle, 1990), Gary Moore version of the unreleased third album recorded late 1971
*''Skid Row (a.k.a. 'Gary Moore/Brush Shiels/Noel Bridgeman')'' (Castle, 1990), Gary Moore version of the unreleased third album recorded late 1971
Line 173: Line 89:
*"Sandie’s Gone (Part 1)" / "Sandie’s Gone (Part 2)" ([[Columbia Records|CBS]], April 1970)
*"Sandie’s Gone (Part 1)" / "Sandie’s Gone (Part 2)" ([[Columbia Records|CBS]], April 1970)
*"Night Of The Warm Witch" / "Mr. De-Luxe" (CBS, April 1971)
*"Night Of The Warm Witch" / "Mr. De-Luxe" (CBS, April 1971)
*"Living One Day At A Time" / "Girl from Dublin City" (CBS, February 1972)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.irish-showbands.com/Bands/skidrow.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929125644/http://www.irish-showbands.com/Bands/skidrow.htm|deadurl=y|title=Skid Row|archivedate=29 September 2011|website=Irish-showbands.com|accessdate=27 September 2019}}</ref>
*"Living One Day At A Time" / "Girl from Dublin City" (CBS, February 1972)<ref>[http://www.irish-showbands.com/Bands/skidrow.htm ''Skid Row'' at Irish Showbands.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929125644/http://www.irish-showbands.com/Bands/skidrow.htm |date=29 September 2011 }}</ref>
*"Dublin City Girls" / "Slow Down" (1973?)<ref name="deane" />
*"Dublin City Girls" / "Slow Down" (1973?)<ref name="deane" />
*"The Spanish Lady" / "Elvira" (1975?)<ref name="slevin" />
*"The Spanish Lady" / "Elvira" (1975?)<ref name="slevin" />
*"Coming Home Again" / "Fight Your Heart Out" (1976?)<ref name="pollard" />
*"Coming Home Again" / "Fight Your Heart Out" (1976?)<ref name="pollard" />
*"House Of The Rising Sun" / "Buckfast Tonic" / "Let It Roll" (1981)<ref name="rate">{{Cite web|url=https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/skid_row_f1|title=Skid Row discography|website=RateYourMusic.com|accessdate=27 September 2019}}</ref>
*"House Of The Rising Sun" / "Buckfast Tonic" / "Let It Roll" (1981)<ref name="rate">[http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/skid_row_f1 ''Skid Row'' discography]</ref>
*"Mr. Diablo" / "Bring Them Back Alive" (1989)<ref name="rate" /><ref name="The Great Rock Discography">{{cite book
*"Mr. Diablo" / "Bring Them Back Alive" (1989)<ref name="rate" /><ref name="The Great Rock Discography">{{cite book
| first= Martin C.
| first= Martin C.
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[[Category:Musical groups established in 1967]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1967]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1972]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1972]]
[[Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2019]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Dublin (city)]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Dublin (city)]]

Revision as of 21:31, 27 September 2019

This article is about the Irish rock band. For the American heavy metal band, see Skid Row (American band).

Skid Row
OriginDublin, Ireland
GenresBlues rock, psychedelic rock
Years activeOctober 1967 – August 1972
1973–1979
2012
LabelsCBS
Past membersBrendan "Brush" Shiels
Gary Moore
Phil Lynott
Noel "Nollaig" Bridgeman
Bernard "Bernie" Cheevers
Paul Chapman
Robbie Brennan

Skid Row was a Dublin based blues rock band of the late 1960s and early 1970s, fronted by bass guitarist Brendan "Brush" Shiels. It is particularly notable for being the band in which both Phil Lynott and guitarist Gary Moore first played professionally.

History

Origins

The band was formed in August 1967, comprising Brendan 'Brush' Shiels on bass guitar, Noel 'Nollaig' Bridgeman on drums, Bernard "Ben" Cheevers on guitar,[1] and Phil Lynott on vocals. Shiels and Cheevers had played together in a number of groups in Dublin before forming Skid Row. The band's first gig was in September 1967 in a basement club in Lower Abbey street in Dublin 1. Cheevers left the band in September 1968 to continue working full-time in the electrical industry. Before his departure, the search for a suitably proficient guitarist resulted in Gary Moore joining the band as a fifth member. Moore and Cheevers both played in the band for a short 'hand-over' period. Robbie Brennan temporarily replaced original drummer Bridgeman until June 1969 and Cheevers was replaced by the 16-year-old Gary Moore in mid 1968, and the band recorded a single, "New Places, Old Faces" / "Misdemeanour Dream Felicity", for the Irish Song Records label (the only released recording of Lynott with Skid Row).

Later that year Shiels dropped Lynott from the line-up, converting Skid Row to a power trio by making Sheils the lead vocalist.[2] By way of compensation, Shiels gave him a bass guitar he had bought from former musician Robert Ballagh for £49 in 1967 while with the Uptown Band, he taught Lynott to play bass and, after a stint with 'Orphanage', Lynott went on to international fame as founder, bassist and vocalist for Thin Lizzy.[3][4] The band recorded a second single for 'Song', "Saturday Morning Man" / "Mervyn Aldridge". These two singles, plus three tracks from a BBC recording, were issued on the 'Hux' label as Live and on Song in April 2006. At the end of 2006 a number of Skid Row demo tapes featuring Phil Lynott were discovered. These were his earliest recordings (from 1968) and had been presumed lost for decades.[5]

Skid and 34 Hours

With the returning Bridgeman, Skid Row played support to some of the great rock groups of the 1960s, including Fleetwood Mac in January 1970. Moore was influenced by the Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green, who was in turn impressed by Moore's guitar playing and introduced him to the Columbia/CBS record company. A third single, "Sandie’s Gone (Part 1)" / "Sandie’s Gone (Part 2)", was released on the band's new label in April 1970, and a number of sessions and concerts were also recorded for the BBC during this period. The band released its first album Skid, in October 1970. A second LP, entitled 34 Hours - so called because it took them a mere 34 hours to record it - was released in early 1971, preceded by the single "Night Of The Warm Witch" / "Mr. De-Luxe". Skid Row performed on the legendary German TV music show Beat Club on 18 March 1971. There were short tours of Europe (October 1970, with Canned Heat) and of the USA (October/November 1970 and August and October 1971).[6] A widely bootlegged show billed as "The Whiskey, Los Angeles, August 5, 1970", and featuring John Bonham as a guest, is more likely from August 1971.[7] A third album was recorded in the Autumn of 1971 but Moore left the band in December 1971 just before another planned US tour. He was temporarily replaced by Eric Bell (from Thin Lizzy) for some live appearances before Paul Chapman became the bands full-time guitarist. Moore later played with Thin Lizzy, replacing Eric Bell. Chapman overdubbed Moore's guitar tracks on the unreleased album but neither version was made public for almost twenty years. As the band faltered, Chapman left in July 1972 (later joining UFO). Shiels then teamed with drummer John Wilson (ex-Them, Taste and Stud) and future Sparks guitarist Adrian Fisher to form a band named simply 'Brush'.

Changing lineups

Skid Row reformed in Ireland in 1973, initially with Shiels, Wilson, singer Eamonn Gibney (ex-Alyce) and guitarist Ed Deane, later adding keyboard player Kevin McAlea. The Shiels/Deane/Wilson line-up released the single "Dublin City Angels" / "Slow Down" (in 1971 according to Deane's website, but this seems too early).[8] John Wilson was replaced by Paddy Freeney before the band split again in early 1974. For the next few months Shiels played in the 'Bell-Brush Band' with Eric Bell and Timmy Creedon (drums, ex-Orphanage), sometimes joined by Eamonn Gibney. At the end of the year Shiels, Moore and Bridgeman briefly reunited for a series of gigs, and a 1975 line-up of Shiels (guitar/vocals), Bridgeman, Jimi Slevin (lead guitar/vocals, ex-Alyce, ex-Peggy's Leg) (born June 1950, Dublin), Timmy Creedon (second drummer/vocals) and Johann Brady (bass) recorded the Skid Row single "The Spanish Lady" / "Elvira".[9] In 1976 Jody Pollard (guitar, ex-Elmer Fudd) replaced Pat O'Farrell in a line-up with Shiels (vocals/mandolin), Bridgeman (drums), John Brady (bass) and Dave Gaynor (drums), recording the Phil Lynott-produced double A-sided single "Coming Home Again" / "Fight Your Heart Out" and unreleased track "Skid Row Flashback".[10] The 1976 double-disc live album of Rock n' Roll standards Alive And Kickin featured Shiels, Bridgeman, Brady, Pollard, Gaynor and Ian Anderson. In 1978 Pollard rejoined, this time replacing Eric Bell alongside Shiels, Bridgeman, Brady and Joe Staunton (guitar, ex-Orphanage).[10]

Legacy

John Brady was killed in a car accident in the early 90s, Phil Lynott died of septicaemia in January 1986 and Gary Moore died from a heart attack in February 2011. Skid Row had little commercial success outside Ireland and the UK, although Skid reached No.30 on the UK Albums Chart.[11] More of their recorded material was released between 1990 and 2006.

It was reported that in 1987, Jon Bon Jovi asked Gary Moore to sell the name 'Skid Row' to the American heavy metal band for $35,000 (Bon Jovi part-owns the music publishing rights of this band). Lead singer Sebastian Bach recalled,

When (Skid Row) got signed to Atlantic, Gary Moore heard about it and said we could have the name for $35,000 U.S. dollars. "We have to pay Gary Moore 35 grand to use the name," and so we, as a band, did buy the name from Gary Moore. We were all glad to do it because it is a great name for a band. I remember saying, "Wow, that's a lot of $, but we gotta do it!"[12]

However, Shiels maintains that Moore simply referred the band to Shiels to discuss the rights to the name, but that it was never followed up.[13] Shiels has said that he has always been unhappy at the group "stealing their name", and said of their manager Doc McGhee, "he could be Doc Marten for all I know...but he's going to get a kick up the arse".[4] He still occasionally performs as 'Brush Shiels' Skid Row', as recently as February 2005. Bridgeman went on to perform studio work with Clannad, The Waterboys and Altan and was part of Irish folk singer Mary Black's band in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Brush Shiels returned to his Skid Row legacy once more releasing Mad Dog Woman (originally titled Skid Row Revisited) - an album of new material and re-recordings of Skid Row songs - through his website in June 2009. He also thanked the other Skid Row "for the generosity of spirit in acknowledging the contribution of the original Skid Row" by using the name.[14] In January 2012 Shiels issued a public request to Jon Bon Jovi via YouTube to contact him about the use of the name 'Skid Row'. This was connected to Shiels having recently recovered the rights to his own songs recorded with the original Skid Row.[13]

They were managed in the 1970s by Oliver Byrne.

Band members

  • Brendan "Brush" Shiels - Bass, Vocals (1967–1972, 1973–1976, 2012)
  • Noel "Nollaig" Bridgeman - Drums (1967, 1969–1972, 1975–1976)
  • Bernard "Bernie" Cheevers - Guitars (1967)
  • Phil Lynott - Vocals (1967–1968)
  • Gary Moore - Guitars, Vocals (1968–1971)
  • Robbie Brennan - Drums (1968)
  • Eric Bell - Guitars (1971)
  • Paul Chapman - Guitars (1971–1972)
  • Eamonn Gibney - Vocals (1973–1974)
  • Ed Deane - Guitars (1973–1974)
  • John Wilson - Drums (1973)
  • Kevin McAlea - Keyboards (1973–1974)
  • Johann Braddy - Bass (1975–1976)
  • Paddy Freeney - Drums (1974–1975)
  • Timmy Creedon - Drums (1975)
  • Dave Gaynor - Drums (1976)
  • Jimi Slevin - Guitars (1975)
  • Pat O’Farrell - Guitars (1976)
  • Jody Polland - Guitars (1976)

Discography

Albums

Studio Albums

  • Skid (CBS, October 1970) Reached No.30 in the UK Album Chart
  • 34 Hours (CBS, 1971)
  • Bon Jovi Never Rang Me (Bruised Records, 2012)

Live albums

  • Alive and Kicking (RRL, June 1976)

Compilations

  • Skid Row (a.k.a. 'Dublin Gas Comy.') (CBS, 1983), CBS demos recorded early 1970
  • Skid Row (a.k.a. 'Gary Moore/Brush Shiels/Noel Bridgeman') (Castle, 1990), Gary Moore version of the unreleased third album recorded late 1971
  • Live And On Song (Hux, 2006), Both sides of Skid Row's first two singles on the Song label recorded 1969, plus a BBC 'In Concert' recording from 1971

Singles

  • "New Places, Old Faces" / "Misdemeanour Dream Felicity" (Song Records, 1969)
  • "Saturday Morning Man" / "Mervyn Aldridge" (Song Records, 1969)
  • "Sandie’s Gone (Part 1)" / "Sandie’s Gone (Part 2)" (CBS, April 1970)
  • "Night Of The Warm Witch" / "Mr. De-Luxe" (CBS, April 1971)
  • "Living One Day At A Time" / "Girl from Dublin City" (CBS, February 1972)[15]
  • "Dublin City Girls" / "Slow Down" (1973?)[8]
  • "The Spanish Lady" / "Elvira" (1975?)[9]
  • "Coming Home Again" / "Fight Your Heart Out" (1976?)[10]
  • "House Of The Rising Sun" / "Buckfast Tonic" / "Let It Roll" (1981)[16]
  • "Mr. Diablo" / "Bring Them Back Alive" (1989)[16][17]
  • "Comin' Home Again" / "Flight Of Earls" (1990)

References

  1. ^ The Intruders
  2. ^ A Brief History of Skid Row on the Brush Shiels - Skid Row website Archived 17 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Hot Press: Special Philip Lynott Issue (24 February 2011)
  4. ^ a b Brush Shiels Tripod page
  5. ^ Fans' joy as Lynott demos unearthed
  6. ^ Skid Row tour dates, 1971
  7. ^ The Gary Moore Bible Archived 30 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ a b Ed Deane discography Archived 11 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ a b Jimi Slevin website at archive.org (including audio samples of his single with Skid Row)
  10. ^ a b c Jody Pollard website
  11. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 505. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  12. ^ Sebastian Bach on the BlabberMouth.Net website Archived 13 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ a b Did Bon Jovi give Skid Row a 'Bad Name'? - Examiner (17 January 2012)
  14. ^ Brush Shiels on MySpace Music
  15. ^ Skid Row at Irish Showbands.com Archived 29 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ a b Skid Row discography
  17. ^ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. p. 887. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Skid Row (Irish band).
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