Donald Ross Skinner

Donald Ross Skinner
Birth name	Donald Skinner
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Guitar, bass, drums, omnichord
Years active	1984–present
Associated acts	Julian Cope Freight Train Prolapse Fiji Kiosk Love Amongst Ruin Amp

Donald Skinner is a guitarist, songwriter and producer primarily known for his work with Julian Cope. Skinner is commonly known by the name Donald Ross Skinner with the addition of the middle name of Ross attributed to him by Cope after Glenn Ross Campbell, the pedal steel player from The Misunderstood. He is currently a guitarist for Love Amongst Ruin and DC Fontana.

Skinner played in a number of Tamworth bands including The Fretz, DHSS (named after the Department of Health and Social Security) and Freight train.

After the split of The Teardrop Explodes Julian retreated to his home town of Tamworth and the 18-year-old Skinner visited the singer's home on a number of occasions. Skinner was subsequently invited to join Cope's band and to play on a Kid Jensen radio session. Skinner played on the Fried album and was Cope's main collaborator on the 4 albums subsequently released on Island Records. Skinner was a mainstay in Cope's touring band throughout this period.

For the Peggy Suicide and Jehovahkill albums Skinner switched to bass and keys (whilst Cope played lead guitar) and he is also credited as co-producer. Both of these albums are regarded as high points in the singer's solo career.

A disagreement between Cope and the guitarist meant that the 1994 album Autogeddon was the last time they collaborated on record (although Skinner is credited on the 20 Mothers album).

Skinner returned to play on two further tours with Cope, first with the pair backed by a drum machine in 2000 and in a full band line up in 2004.

In 1996 Skinner contributed soundtrack music to manga series Mad Bull 34 and The Legend of the Four Kings.

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