Skeletal Family

Skeletal Family
The band performing in 2005
Background information
Origin	Keighley, West Yorkshire, England
Genres	Gothic rock
Years active	1982–1986, 2002–present
Labels	Red Rhino, Chrysalis
Associated acts	Ghost Dance, The Batfish Boys
Members	Stan Greenwood Roger "Trotwood" Nowell Anne-Marie Hurst
Past members	Ian "Karl Heinz" Taylor Steve Crane Howard Daniels Martin Henderson Richard "Dik" Hawkins Kevin Hunter John Clarke Katrina Phillips Claire Bannister

Skeletal Family are an English gothic rock band which was formed in Keighley, West Yorkshire, in December 1982. The band was formed from the remaining membership of an earlier group, called The Elements, and took its name from the title of the song "Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family" from the 1974 David Bowie album, Diamond Dogs.

The original lineup of the band was Anne-Marie Hurst (vocals), Stan Greenwood (guitar), Roger "Trotwood" Nowell (bass guitar), Ian "Karl Heinz" Taylor (keyboard/saxophone), and Steve Crane (drums). In 1983, after their first single, the band signed to independent record label Red Rhino Records. They recorded their first single for Red Rhino, "The Night", shortly after losing their original drummer Crane, who was replaced by Howard Daniels. Daniels soon left, joining My Pierrot Dolls, and was replaced by Martin Henderson (formerly of The Last Laugh). Skeletal Family's first album, Burning Oil, recorded in four days at a cost of £640, was released by Red Rhino in August 1984. It topped the UK Independent Chart, staying in the top 10 until the end of the year. The band began touring with The Sisters of Mercy during the Sisters' First and Last and Always tour. Skeletal Family released the Futile Combat album in 1985, along with the "Promised Land" single.

The group then signed with Chrysalis Records and released two 1986 singles, "Restless" and "Just a Minute". Hurst and Henderson left the band to develop new projects. Hurst eventually teamed up with Gary Marx in Ghost Dance. Henderson joined former March Violets vocalist Simon Denbigh to create The Batfish Boys. Former Colourfield backing vocalist Katrina Phillips replaced Hurst, while Kevin Hunter replaced Henderson. The remaining members of the group soon disbanded after being dropped by Chrysalis. Trotwood and Hunter formed a new band, Say You.