Group

Skeleton Crew

U.S. experimental band [Frith/Cora/Parkins]

From: United States
Since: 1982–present
Releases: 3

jazz
rock

About

Skeleton Crew was an American experimental rock and jazz group from 1982 to 1986, comprising core members Fred Frith and Tom Cora, with Zeena Parkins joining later. Best known for their live improvisation performances where they played various instruments simultaneously, they also recorded two studio albums Learn to Talk (1984) and The Country of Blinds (1986). The group drew on music and themes from a number of sources, including world music, left-wing politics and pre-recorded tapes.

Writing in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Lee Sherman described Skeleton Crew's sound as "unique and eclectic". In her 1990 book, Sonic Transports: New Frontiers in Our Music, Nicole V. Gagné called the group "one of the hottest and imaginative rock acts I've ever heard." In 2021, Frith said Skeleton Crew's stance was "sorta kinda demented anti-industry and even anti-music".

From Skeleton Crew (band) on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.