Zombina and The Skeletones

Zombina and The Skeletones are a horror punk band from Liverpool, England, formed in 1998 around the nucleus of vocalist Zombina and songwriter Doc Horror. The majority of their tongue-in-cheek lyrical content deals with themes of horror and science fiction, yet their musical style is upbeat and pop-oriented, with elements of garage punk, doo-wop and hard rock. Due to their apparent obsession with B-movies and black humour, their fanbase extends to the gothic rock, deathrock and psychobilly scenes.

History

Formation

Zombina met Doc Horror at Calderstones School in 1998. United by a love of Halloween, horror, 50s rock'n'roll, metal and punk music, they started a band called The Deformed, producing a demo tape; "No Sleep 'Til Transylvania", in early 1999. This tape featured songs that would later become Zombina and The Skeletones staples; "The Grave... And Beyond!", "Braindead" and "Leave My Brain Alone"; and established a strong B-Movie informed horror theme recalling the early efforts of Misfits and The Cramps.

Career

Zombina performs with the band in London in May 2009

In 2005, Zombina and The Skeletones were a featured unsigned band on Mark Radcliffe's showBBC Radio 2. They have also toured the UK with bands such as The Damned, Misfits and The Meteors.^[1]

2006 saw the band headlining Lumous Gothic Festival, Finland.^[2] Then in 2007, they played at the Wave-Gotik-Treffen, the very large goth/alternative festival in Leipzig, Germany.^[3] They have also played the British Whitby Gothic Weekend four times, first in 2004 and most recently in 2013.

They have been featured in the UK magazine, Bizarre, and played live at the 2008 "Bizarre Ball" in London.^[4][5] They were scheduled to appear at Abertoir, the Welsh Horror Festival, and performed as part of the festival.

The band was largely in hiatus during 2012, performing only one show (supporting the Primitives). A new EP, "That Doll Just Tried to Kill Me", was released at Halloween 2012, with a Halloween show on 3 November 2012 in Liverpool, anticipating an album release in early 2013.

The whole line-up of Zombina and The Skeletones guest-starred in Cuban American singer Voltaire's 2014 album Raised by Bats, providing additional vocals for the track "Oh, My Goth!".

Reviews

The band has received much critique, including "Fucking superb" -- Drowned in Sound.,^[6] with their 2005 "Counting on your Suicide" picked by veteran goth/punk journalist Mick Mercer as one of his "Thirty best goth records of all time".^[7]

Members

Current line-up

• Zombina Venus Hatchett - Vocals/Theremin (1999–present)
• Doc Horror - Guitar/Bass/Vocals (1999–present)
• Ben Digo - Drums(2006–present) (ex-The Dangerfields/Bus Station Loonies)
• Kal K'Thulu - Bass(2008–present)
• X-Ray Speck - Saxophone(2008–present)

Past members

• Velma - Backing Vocals (aka Di Booth)
• Tiddles - Backing Vocals
• Grim Outlook - Guitar (1999–2004)
• Taylor Woah - Guitar (2004) (now of The Bendal Interlude)
• Ratt-Lynn Bones aka Kit Shivers
• Kit Shivers - Drums/Guitar (1999–2005)
• Louie Diablo - Guitar/Vocals/Handclaps (2004–2006) (now of The Stig Sound-System)
• Pete Martin - Drums (2006)
• Jonny Tokyo - Keyboard/Bass/Vocals (1999–2008)
• Jettison Dervish - Bass (2005-17 May 2008) (now of Lovecraft)

Discography

Albums

• The Eerie Years (comprises the Love Bites and Silver Bullet EPs)
• Taste the Blood of Zombina and The Skeletones (2002)
• Death Valley High (2006)
• Monsters On 45 (2006) reissued 2009 with extra track
• Out of the Crypt and Into Your Heart (2008)
• Charnel House Rock (2014)

Compilations

• Get Thee Behind Me Santa (Puppy Dog Records 2002) - includes 'Transylvanian Xmas'
• Too Much Horror Business A Tribute to The Misfits - includes 'Misfits Medley'

EPs

• Loves Bites (2000)
• Halloween Hollerin'! (2003) (now available as a download EP with an extra track)
• 7 Song Promo EP (2004)
• 3 Songs vs. Your Brain (2006)
• A Chainsaw For Christmas (download EP) (2006)
• Halloween Party Classics (download EP) (2007)
• That Doll Just Tried To Kill Me (2012)
• In Sinistereo (Part One) (2015)

7" EP Trilogy

• I Was A Human Bomb For The F.B.I. (2004)
• Mondo Zombina! (2005)
• Staci Stasis (2005)

Singles

• Silver Bullet (2001)
• Frankenlady (2002)
• Nobody Likes You When You're Dead b/w Deflesh Mode remix (2002)
• Dracula Blood b/w Deep Vein Thrombosis remix download single (2007)
• Teenage Caveman Beat Gargantua / Futurelife (2011)

Bootlegs

• Dial Z for Zombina (recorded live at Club Useless 14 September 2004)

References

External links

• The Official Zombina and The Skeletones site

• Zombina and the Skeletones Vampirefreaks page