Stiltskin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stiltskin were a post-grunge band of the mid-1990s.
[edit] Career
They came to fame through providing music to a Levi's advert in the UK. The resulting single, "Inside", topped the UK singles chart in 1994, but they failed to produce further chart successes of the same kind, despite a couple of follow-up singles. They split in 1996, during the recording of their uncompleted second album.
They produced only one album, The Mind's Eye, which achieved silver status in the UK, and sold in decent quantities throughout Europe. The band made significant critical inroads into the U.S. music scene, but little was to follow in the way of sales.
In reality all instruments on the band's hit "Inside" were played by Lawlor. Finnigan and McFarlane were drafted in purely for the video. Wilson went on to join Genesis, replacing Phil Collins as frontman. Lawlor now works as a composer, for example on the BBC 'Rhythm & Movement' idents. MacFarlane went on to work with The Proclaimers.
At present, Ray Wilson has formed a totally new band using the name "Stiltskin" and has an album, She, out now. The band are touring Europe during 2006/2007.
[edit] Line-up
The line-up on the The Mind's Eye album was:
- Ray Wilson - Vocals
- Peter Lawlor - Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals, Drums and Bass
- James Finnigan - Bass and Organ (replaced by Aubrey Nunn, subsequently a member of Faithless)
- Ross McFarlane - Drums, handclaps
The new line-up for the new album She was:
- Ray Wilson - Vocals, Guitar and Bass (track 10)
- Uwe Metzler - Lead Guitar
- Irvin Duguid - Keyboards (who quit the band in September 06)
- Alvin Mills - Bass Guitar
- Nir Z - Drums
- Scott Spence - Lead Guitar (tracks 2 & 11)
- Henrik Muller - Drums (track 10)
Irvin was in the live line-up in 1994/1995, along with Brian McFie, ex-Big Dish guitarist.
Many people were auditioned for the role of lead singer including, oddly, Naomi Cleaver who is now a successful TV Presenter. In the region of forty people attended the various auditions at the Primrose Hill studios of Lawlor's company, Water Music.
Wilson was one of only two candidates, who responded to an advertisement in Melody Maker.
