Band of Skulls

Band of Skulls is a rock group from Southampton, United Kingdom, active since 2004. Its core line-up consists of Matthew Hayward, Russell Marsden and Emma Richardson. The band works in alternative rock, blues rock, garage rock, indie rock and rock.

Formation and early work

Russell Marsden, Emma Richardson and Matt Hayward meet at college and form a band together. Before adopting the Band of Skulls name, they record demos under the name Fleeing New York. They play early shows in nightclubs around greater London and take the name Band of Skulls in November 2008.

Albums and singles

Their debut album, Baby Darling Dollface Honey, is distributed by Shangri-La Music. It first appears on the iTunes Store before receiving a wider release. The track “I Know What I Am” is selected as iTunes’ free Single of the Week and also appears in the soundtrack to Friday Night Lights, Volume 2 and in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock. Another song, “Friends”, appears on The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack, and the band later releases the Friends EP, which includes a studio version of the song, a live version and a video. Their second studio album, Sweet Sour, is recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales and produced by Ian Davenport, who also produces the debut album. The first single from that album is “The Devil Takes Care of His Own”. The band later releases the video for “Asleep At The Wheel” from the then-unreleased album Himalayan.

Live activity and appearances

Band of Skulls plays SXSW in early 2010 and tours the US, Canada, the Midwest and England in support of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. They appear on the French television programme Taratata, where they perform a cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil” with John & Jehn. They also support The Dead Weather at the Roundhouse in London, cover Goldfrapp’s “Strict Machine” for Australian radio, open for Muse at Lancashire County Cricket Ground, and play the Rocking The Daisies festival in South Africa. The band later appears at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, where their set is briefly interrupted by rain before they return to finish.

Other releases and media

The band releases the live album Live on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic. Channel 4 also broadcasts a short documentary about the group, covering their progress from local bars in their hometown to larger international audiences.

Line-up change

In 2017, Hayward leaves the band.