Get in, Get Fucked and get out, these are the 7 words that prompted the existence of Viking Skull. Realising that many years on the road with Raging Speedhorn had temporarily stopped for a well earned break, assorted members of RSH band and Crew faced the very real prospect of the booze drying up. Roddy Stone, RSHs long time guitar tech reasoned with the rest of Speedhorn, still left in Corby, that all they had to do for the free beer to continue was form a local band and play local clubs. Its gonna be easy he said, All we gotta do is, get in, get fucked and get out.
So, as with many great things in rock music, the impetus for the formation of Viking Skull was alcohol. Free alcohol at that. For Roddy, Darren, Gordon, Frank and Waldie, the lure of a free pint was enough to encourage them to play a few songs at a local jam night, held weekly at the ex-servicemens club in their home town of Corby. Their improvised sessions combined foot-stomping old-school metal riffs with bluesy overtones and elaborate guitar solos. The ex-servicemans club shut down, but that wasn't going to get between these musicians and their beer, and they soon relocated to the jam night at Kettering Town Football Club a few miles away.
As their appearances grew ever-more frequent, the five piece decided that some rehearsal time would give them a chance to fine-tune their style and write some original songs to play, rather than resorting to covers. With more free pints and the eye-catching name of Viking Skull, the bands local notoriety and popularity grew until, in early 2002, they decided to lay down some of their self-penned songs.
Two days in Premier studios in Corby produced six outstanding and ingeniously-titled tracks:
1. Beers, Drugs and Bitches.
2. Wizards Sleeve.
3. Frostbite.
4. Rape, Pillage and Burn.
5. Crazy Trucker.
6. Skull Heaven.
Known simply as ‘CHAPTER ONE’ the e.p. The bands first performances outside of Northamptonshire arrived in October 2002, when Gordon, Frank and Darren found themselves with a double workload as Viking Skull filled the empty support slot on Raging Speedhorns UK tour. It was obvious that the Viking Skull name was beginning to spread. The local shows also continued, including a fated night supporting Dukes of Nothing where the gig was cancelled in the middle of Viking Skulls set because the floor collapsed under the feet of the furiously manic mosh pit.
Increasing interest in the band led the five-piece to take Viking Skull to the next level, with a UK tour followed with support slots with rock icons such as Dio, Him, Clutch, CkY,Sum 41, Wednesday 13, Alice Cooper, Hayseed Dixie,Europe, and Brides of Destruction. However due to a heavy touring schedule and with no label support, cracks started to appear in the unit. The departure of Frank midway through a Wednesday 13 tour meant Roddy had to quickly switch to both guitar and vocals.
In November 2005 they released the full-length album ‘Born in Hell’. After more heavy touring, it all came to a head one night in Köln on the European cKy tour in Aug 2006. The mixture of Jess Margera supplying them with absinthe and a lack of sleep (3 weeks sleeping in a transit van with no cash), the band nearly killed each other…. Viking Skull was no more.
Gordon continued with Raging Speedhorn, Darren gave up bands for good to get a proper job and learn to play the banjo, Waldie just listened to Whitesnake and Roddy never left his flat, living on a diet of beans on toast and continued to write songs.
A few months passed and once Jess Margera heard the news of the split, he called up Roddy to find out what happened and was gutted. Jess then offered his services on drums to keep the band going. Roddy managed to get Waldie back on board and they travelled to Philadelphia to record their 3rd album Chapter Two. This album had Jules Cooper on lead guitar and guest appearances from Reverend Jim of Fireball Ministry, the Brandywine Eel of Gnarkill, Unkle Matt and the Shitbirdz and Chad I Ginsburg of cKy. It was released in 2007 on Filthy Note Digital with a limited CD release in the USA.
An invariable mixture of gratuitous partying, self-indulgent drinking, and flirtation was the catalyst of their first 2 albums Chapter 0ne (03) and Born in Hell (05). However 2007 saw Viking Skull adopt a much more powerful, darker and certainly more sinister approach to their music, with the albums 'Chapter Two' and now ‘Doom, Gloom, Heartache and Whiskey’ produced by Rich Gavalis (the Bloodhound Gang) & featuring new band member Dom. The misery of heartache and countless years on the road touring with a distinct lack of support from a record label forced Stone’s song writing to mature and evolve.
As the years have passed, Viking skull have lost their minds to alcohol, fought with each other tirelessly, misplaced a few band members and caused chaos and disorder wherever they go. Invariably their shameful antics caught the attention of ‘Jackass’ star Bam Margera after Skull landed the main support of ‘HIM ‘on their 2004 tour. Bam was an instant fan of Viking Skull and later invited the band to appear in his MTV series ‘Bams Unholy Union'. Bam also incorporated the Viking Skull song, The Hidden Flame in the soundtrack for his film ‘Where the fuck is Santa?'. He was also the main director, along with Joe Frantz for 2 of Viking Skull’s videos; Blackened Sunrise and Hair of the Dog. Bam even found the time to make an appearance in Hair of the Dog, which was shot in West Chester USA, immediately after supporting ‘Clutch’ on an East Coast tour of the USA
The music of Viking Skull exudes cool confidence which regularly escalates into arrogance, Mixing Black Sabbaths groove, Deep Purples pulsing rhythms and AC/DCs libido.. New album 'Doom Gloom, Heartache and Whiskey' has been released world wide to critical acclaim through Powerage/Candlelight Records...
Jack comes home from school with a great big smile on his face.
His mom asks him, “Why was he so happy?”
Jack replies, "I just had sex today!"
Well this does not sit well with mom, she immediately begins shouting at Jack, telling him at 14 he has no business having sex! She tells him to go to his room and to wait for his dad to come home. When dad finally arrives, mom fills him in. She asks him to go upstairs and to have a chat with Jack.
He knocks on the door and proceeds to go in.
"Hey Jack, your mom tells me you had sex today?"
"Yes," replies Jack sadly.
Dad looks around the room and whispers to him, "Hey, way to go, son! Your Dad is very, very proud. But if your mom asks what we talked about just tell her it was guy stuff."
The next day, dad shares the news with all his coworkers, bragging that at the age of 14 his son is a man!
When dad goes home that night, he kisses his wife and runs straight upstairs to see Jack. "Hey Jack! Did you have sex today again, son?"
Jack replies "No dad...my ass still hurts from yesterday."
No Sleep Till Saltburn - features that heroic tribe of NWOBHM bands, primarily from the Teesside region of North East England who battled valiantly in the early 80's, but didn't QUITE break out to the big time. Like BLACK ROSE - HOLLAND - SKITZOFRENIK - BRANDS HATCH and ARIZONA. Along with some bands from the famous (and now, hugely collectable) - ROXCALIBUR compilation album.
Added to this, there are stories from the earlier days of one or two outfits who DID go on to make a big impression, like RAVEN, BATTLEAXE, and SATAN. Add to this, a bit of SAXON and DEF LEPPARD and you've got - "No Sleep Till Saltburn". Mark Gregory's affectionate look back at some chaotic adventures into Fanzine Production, Metal Gig Promotion, Band Management, Rock Radio DJ-ing and a brief spell writing freelance for Kerrang!!
ITV Rock Music Historian - Chris Phipps, says: "No Sleep Till Saltburn is an important book, because it tells a previously UNTOLD story, and really captures the humour of that time".
You can order No Sleep Till Saltburn in paperback now at: http://stores.lulu.com/nosleeptillsaltburn
just wanted 2 say uz were awesome at the loft best gig of the year 4 me, hope uz cum up soon xxxxxxxxx luv fae highlands of scotland rock on xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thanx for the add, R'n'R beasts! You simply kick ass!!! My friends and I'd love to see you live in HELLvetia, Italy or Germany...come here! HELLgreetz Jasmine
Thanx for the add You Guys!!! Your new Album is From Hell and Rocking like this!! Hope you come one Time to Switzerland!! Check out my Music when you have time!! Cheers Jo!!!
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