Stiltskin

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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 the follow up singles Footsteps and Rest In Peace. 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, this was also the case on the album track An Illusion. Lawlor and Finnigan had worked together in various line ups since the late 80's and McFarlane was drafted in later. Wilson went on to join Genesis, replacing Phil Collins as frontman releasing the album Calling All Stations in 1997, this reached number 2 in the UK album charts. 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 and a Live Album from this Tour is being released in April 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.

The Current Incarnation of the Band (according to the Myspace page) is:

Ray Wilson - Vocals, Guitar
Uwe Metzler - Lead Guitar
Ali Ferguson - Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Lawrie MacMillan - Bass, Backing Vocals
Ashley MacMillan - Drums, Persussion

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.