SKIDS, THE

The Scottish art-punk unit {$the Skids} formed in Dunfermline in 1977. Comprised of the dramatic vocalist {$Richard Jobson}, guitarist {$Stuart Adamson}, bassist {$William Simpson} and drummer {$Tom Kellichan}, the group issued the single "Reasons" on their own No Bad label before signing to a Virgin. After two more singles, "Sweet Suburbia" and "The Saints Are Coming," they entered the U.K. Top 10 with "Into the Valley," included on their 1979 debut LP {^Scared to Dance}, a fine document of the anthemic guitar riffs and chant-like vocals which typified the first phase of the group's music. With their second effort, 1979's arty, overreaching {^Days in Europa} (produced by {$Be-Bop Deluxe's} {$Bill Nelson}), {$the Skids} scored a pair of Top 20 hits with "Masquerade" and "Working for the Yankee Dollar." Trouble loomed, however, as {$Jobson's} increasingly grandiose plans for the group's music alienated not only their fans but also their own rhythm section, and both {$Simpson} and {$Kelllichan} were long gone by the time of 1980's {^The Absolute Game}, recorded with bassist {$Russell Webb} and drummer {$Mike Baillie}. By 1981's {^Joy}, only {$Jobson} remained from {$the Skids'} original line-up; prior to recording the album, {$Adamson} quit to form his own group, the internationally-successful {$Big Country}. After {^Joy} failed commercially and critically, {$the Skids} officially disbanded; {$Jobson} soon returned as a solo artist before forming {$the Armoury Show} and beginning a career as a broadcaster. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide