Anne-Marie Hurst - Skeletal Family

Skeletal Family

Anne-Marie's involvement with Skeletal Family began in mid 1982.

Along with founder members Stan Greenwood (Guitars), Roger "Trotwood" Nowell (Bass), Steve Crane (Drums) and Ian "Karl Heinz" Taylor (Keyboards), the Keighley-based band quickly gained a sizeable local following, producing a self funded single "Trees" released through the Leeds based Luggage label.

Through regular airings of the single on Radio One's John Peel late evening show, the band by-passed the usual route of playing the small pub circuit, making their London debut at the Fulham Greyhound to an enthusiastic audience. Also encouraging was the review from the music paper Sounds, which secured the band other prestigious support slots with Sex Gang Children and Play Dead.

With a Radio One session booked at John Peel’s request for March 1983, the band recorded their single "She Cries Alone", enlisting the services of Southern Death Cult guitarist Ian "Buzz" Burrows as co-producer. "She Cries Alone" gave Anne-Marie and the band their first major mark in the independent charts and, armed with this success plus the even more successful follow up single "So Sure", commenced the recording of the debut album "Burning Oil".

Now playing to much larger receptive audiences the band supported The Sisters Of Mercy on their Black October 1984 tour. Their "Burning Oil" album reached number one in the UK indie charts. With a now much more conspicuous profile and two further Radio One sessions, the band toured Europe and Britain, more than once selling out London's prestigious Marquee club.

For the follow-up album "Futile Combat" the band chose Cult/Gene Loves Jezebel producer John Brand, aided by Waterboys saxophonist Anthony Thistlewaite and Graham Pleeth on synthesizers. Live favourite "Promised Land" was chosen as the first single off the album, and on release reached the top three of the UK Indie charts. The band ended the year with a guest appearances with Siouxsie & The Banshees at Brixton Academy and Spear of Destiny at London's Lyceum.

Although from the outside everything was looking bright, tensions within the band were taut, which following various internal squabbles culminated in both Anne-Marie and drummer Martin leaving. With legal commitments for a nationwide tour still standing, Anne-Marie was persuaded to rejoin with Gene Loves Jezebel drummer Dik replacing Martin on drums. Although the tour was a huge success, communications within the band were still strained greatly affecting the band's relationship.