Skin (UK band)

Skin
Skin appearing live at Download Festival, 2009
Background information
Origin	United Kingdom
Genres	Hard rock
Years active	1992–1998, 2009–2011, 2012–2013
Labels	Parlophone Snapper Music
Associated acts	Schism, Deccatree, Kooga, Jagged Edge, The Red White And Blues, Hand Of Dimes
Website	Official Skin Website
Members	Neville MacDonald (Vocals/Guitar) Myke Gray (Guitar) Dicki Fliszar (Drums) Andy Robbins (Bass)
Past members	Colin McLeod (Keyboards)

Skin were a UK hard rock band active during the 1990s who reformed in 2009, only to disband again in 2013.

Skin were formed in the early 1990s by ex-Jagged Edge members Myke Gray (born 12 May 1968, Fulham, London) and Andy Robbins (also formerly of Tokyo Blade & Shogun) along with former Kooga vocalist Neville MacDonald (b.Ynysybwl, Pontypridd, Wales) and drummer Dicki Fliszar, formerly of Bruce Dickinson's touring band and band Vamp. Originally called Taste, they went through a number of names (Obsession, Bad For Good, Phoenix) as they played a smattering of small club dates throughout 1992. The band showed enough quality on these dates to be offered a management deal with Sanctuary Management, who also handled Iron Maiden and, ultimately, a record deal with Parlophone. Through Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson, the band came to the attention of noted American producer Keith Olsen who offered to produce their debut at his 'Goodnight LA' Studio. During 1993, the band flew to LA and began recording. Once the sessions were finished, the band listened to the finished product and decided more was needed so another three songs were recorded with Shay Baby producing.

Prior to the release of the album, the band finally decided upon the name Skin (someone had written it down on a wall) and embarked upon a 14 date UK tour supporting Little Angels. Another support tour, this time with Thunder helped swell their growing fan base and, in 1993, they released their debut single The Skin Up EP. This was followed by House of Love before their first UK chart single "Money", which peaked at no 18. The debut album, entitled Skin sold even better, breaking into the top 10 and peaking at no 9. Another single from the album, Tower of Strength which was backed with live material from their Donington Monsters of Rock appearance, also broke into the top 20 and reached no 19.

1995 saw Skin consolidating their fan base by recording and releasing Live at the Borderline. A very limited edition CD of classic rock cover versions given away free with Kerrang! magazine, only 50 were available and it has become one of the most prized collectors items among Skin fans although a Japanese import version was released shortly after. In order to capitalize upon their appearance at Gateshead Stadium supporting Bon Jovi, the band also recorded and released Take Me Down to the River as a double CD along with some of the Borderline cuts. The Bon Jovi appearance marked a high and low point in the career of Skin. A gig that would potentially give excellent exposure was marred by a fault with the band equipment as a voltage converter was incorrectly installed to USA settings by a stage tech which resulted in blowing Myke's guitar amp and Colin's hammond organ.