It cannot be said that Skin Yard was known in wide circles. But the musicians became the pioneers of the style, which later became known as grunge. They managed to tour in the USA and even Western Europe, having an important impact on the sound of the bands-followers. Soundgarden, Melvins, Green River.
Creative Activities Skin Yard
The idea to start a grunge band came up with two guys from Seattle, Daniel House and Jack Endino. In January 1985, they teamed up, deciding to make a new project. Oddly enough, the idea for the name was suggested by a member who joined the bassist and guitarist a little later. The nosebleeds needed to find a drummer, and House remembered an old friend.
Matthew Cameron was well known to Daniel, because they once played together in the instrumental power trio Feedback, where the third was Tom Herring - Nerm. It was Matthew who came up with the phrase Skin Yard, which actually means nothing. It just sounds beautiful. And everyone else agreed with this choice.
The musicians recorded two singles in 1986, which were included in the Deep Six compilation. He later became legendary. Music lovers heard early grunge for the first time. And the first song "Bleed" was included in the album, named the same as the group.
In April, their trio became a quartet with the addition of singer Ben McMillan. The musicians began to intensively rehearse together, and already at the beginning of the summer they performed as the opening act for the U-Men.
Over the 8 years of the existence of a heavy metal band, the guys managed to release 5 albums. In the summer of 1992, Skin Yard disbanded. The fifth album was presented after the closing of the band.
In the future, another attempt was made to revive the project. In 2002, having collected unreleased rare singles that had not previously been recorded on CDs, the musicians released their sixth album, Start at the Top. And in the circles of critics, he received the name "posthumous."
Trivia with drummers
Even in 8 short years, there were reshuffles in the team. So, after a year and a half of work, Matt Cameron refused to cooperate with Skin Yard. I had to be content with random drummers in search of a new permanent face. Two concerts were played by Steve Weed, who later became a member of the rock band Tad. Greg Gilmour didn't last long either, changing three more bands after that.
In the fall of 1986, Skin Yard was replenished with Jason Finn. But this musician did not stay long. After 8 months, he left in an unknown direction, without even explaining what happened. He had problems with his personal life. Apparently, this is the reason for the departure from alternative rock.
In May 1987, a new member came Scott McCallum, who later took the pseudonym Norman Scott. Once Cameron sat down a colleague. Scott was going to be the drummer for Soundgarden, but Matt called to offer his services. So in the end they just took him. Now Norman has taken his place at Skin Yard.
The US tour in 1989 turned out to be so difficult that Scott could not stand "this hell" and left his comrades in May.
The metalheads had to pause for a long 14 months, during which they were looking for a new drummer. They became Barret Martin, who can be seen in the future in other musical projects: Screaming Trees, Mad Season, Tuatara, Wayward Shamans. The problem with the drummer was finally solved once and for all. Martin remained at Skin Yard until the very end.
In March 1991, one of the founders of the rock band ran out of patience. Daniel House became a father and did not want to miss important moments in the life of his baby. He was replaced by Pat Pedersen. After the demise of the alternative metal project, he played with Sister Psychic.
Pat and Barret worked on the side. But the fifth album "1000 Smiling Knuckles" was nevertheless brought to its logical conclusion. Then in the summer of 1992 they said goodbye to their fans.
What are ex-members of Skin Yard doing now?
Life does not stand still. And the musicians continued their activities in other projects. With Skin Yard's fate decided, Ben formed a new band called Gruntruck, recruiting drummer Scott and poaching guitarist Tommy from Accüsed. But she didn't last long either. The musicians recorded only two albums plus one EP. Unfortunately, Ben MacMillan is no longer alive - he died of diabetes back in 2008.
Jack Endino decided to release a solo album "Endino's Earthworm", inviting comrades Pat Pederson and Barrett Martin to cooperate. After that, he released two more albums. After that, he mastered a related specialty, becoming a sound engineer. But the grunge style did not betray, working with Soundgarden and Mudhoney. He has collaborated with other rockers, for example, with Hot Hot Heat and ZEKE.
Having become the owner of C / Z Records, Daniel House paid tribute to his former creativity. It was thanks to him that the sixth album was born, made up of old Skin Yard recordings.
Barrett Martin was invited to Screaming Trees. Together with a rock band, he participated in the work on two albums. But by 2000, the team ceased to exist. Martin made an attempt to create his own band Mad Season. He even picked up the musicians with whom they prepared the release of the debut album. But more spirit was not enough.
Jason Finn didn't betray alternative rock either. Collaborated with the post-grunge group The Presidents of the United States of America. The team was closed in 1998. But on Valentine's Day in 2014, the musicians reunited again, and the last album, Kudos to You!, was born.
