ANNE MARIE HURST (Ghost Dance / Skeletal Family)

Event information

Anne-Marie's involvement with Skeletal Family began in mid 1982. Along with founder members Stan Greenwood (Guitars), Roger "Trotwood" Nowell (Bass), Steve Crane (Drums), and Ian "Karl Heinz" Taylor (Keyboards), the Keighley-based band quickly gained a sizeable local following, producing the self-funded single "Trees", released through the Leeds-based Luggage label. Through regular airings of the single on Radio One's John Peel late evening show, the band bypassed the usual route of playing the small pub circuit; making their London debut at the Fulham Greyhound to an enthusiastic audience. Also encouraging was the review from the now defunct national music paper "Sounds", which secured the band other prestigious support slots with Sex Gang Children and Play Dead.

With a Radio One session booked at John Peel’s request for March 1983, the band recorded their single "She Cries Alone", enlisting the services of Southern Death Cult guitarist Ian "Buzz" Burrows as co-producer. "She Cries Alone" gave Anne-Marie and the band their first major mark in the independent charts, and armed with this success, plus the even more successful follow up single "So Sure" commenced the recording of the debut album "Burning Oil". Now playing to much larger receptive audiences, and with a month long support slot on the Sisters Black Oktober 1984 tour, the avid reaction ensured that when released, "Burning Oil" reached number-one in the UK indie charts; topping both The Smiths & New Order in the process.

With a now much more conspicuous profile and two further Radio One sessions, the band toured Europe and Britain, more than once selling out London's prestigious Marquee club. For the follow up album "Futile Combat", the band chose Cult/Gene Loves Jezebel producer John Brand, aided by Waterboys saxophonist Anthony Thistlewaite and Graham Pleeth on synths. The band achieved a more refined sound, a marked improvement on the previous offering. Live favourite "Promised Land" was chosen as the first single off the album, and on release reached the top three of the National Indie charts. The band ended the turbulent year with special guest appearances with Siouxsie & The Banshees at Brixton Academy, plus Spear of Destiny at London's Lyceum.

Although from the outside everything was looking bright, tensions within the band were taut; which, following various internal squabbles, culminated in both Anne-Marie and drummer Martin leaving. With legal commitments for a nationwide tour still standing, Anne-Marie was persuaded to rejoin, with Gene Loves Jezebel drummer Dik replacing Martin on drums. Although the tour was a huge success, communications within the band were still strained, greatly affecting the band's relationship.

Already being in communication with Sisters Of Mercy founder Gary Marx, Anne-Marie laid the seeds to form Ghost Dance, (they had toured together when Skeletal Family supported the Sisters on their Black Oktober tour in 1984). Rehearsals and song-writing promptly ensued, and in late 1985, Ghost Dance played their first gig at North East London Polytechnic, the early sets featured, amongst others, glam rock cover versions and Skeletal Family / Sisters songs "She Cries Alone" & "Poison Door"!! April 1986 saw "River Of No Return" form the debut 12” single, on the Karbon label, and a flurry of activity followed, with three 12” singles released in 1986, all performing extremely well in the independent charts.

Coupled with this success, the band managed to achieve a more settled line-up, which, along with Anne-Marie, consisted of Gary Marx (Guitars (Ex Sisters Of Mercy)), Richard Steel (Guitars), Etch (Bass), and John Grant (Drums). By now, the band were actually gaining their own faithful following that weren’t interested in past Sisters and Skeletal Family glories. Known as the "Spook Squad", this following ensued every concert was not just a "gig", but an event not to be missed. At the same time, a collection of the early singles and B-sides which had been released on the Karbon label were released as a compilation album, "Gathering Dust".

Then in 1989, in an eerily similar situation to Skeletal Family, (who had earlier signed to Chrysalis records with new vocalist Katrina), Ghost Dance now put their signatures on a major-labels' dotted line, culminating in the recording / release of their debut studio album of new material, "Stop The World". Upon release at the end of September 1989, the album outlined the potential capabilities of the band and was well received, denting the lower reaches of the National charts, despite only being available in specialist shops.Therefore it came as a surprise, that a couple of days into a prestigious tour of Europe supporting the Ramones, Chrysalis announced they were not taking up their option on further recording projects with the band (further reflecting the fate that had already fallen on Skeletal Family!) After playing what was to unknowingly be their final gig in Amsterdam on December 4th 1989, Anne Marie & Gary began demoing album worth of songs, which upon reflection both deemed to have no real place in the Ghost Dance repertoire and their enthusiasm waned.

Anne-Marie was approached by various management teams and began working on a batch of songs with glam rock seventies band The Sweet, these rare demos outline the more pop / rock direction being undertaken at the time. The years followed, with Anne-Marie doing the odd local solo performance, but her main commitments at this time were with growing family affairs. However, at the start of the new millennium, and the much renewed younger market interest in the old school gothic movement, which coupled with the proliferation of the internet, interest in both Skeletal Family, Ghost Dance and particularly Anne-Marie greatly increased.

As a result, in 2002 Skeletal Family were approached to reform to play a one off gig at Leeds Cockpit. Despite an initial photo session and provisional meetings, problems arose where Anne-Marie had to back out due to family commitments. The sell-out gig was completed by vocalist Katrina graciously flying in from New York.
Seven years later, and with a renewed vigour, Anne-Marie contacted Skeletal Family guitarist Stan on the off-chance possibility of again working together. The idea being to write and play new material in an acoustic setting. These initial sessions have worked well, with new material now written, rehearsed, and ready to perform. To augment the sound, the duo are currently enlisting the services of other musicians, with a definite view to releasing new material / performing live in the near future. Early 2009 saw the pair participating in numerous rehearsals / song writing sessions, leading to a collection of songs the duo were eager to perform. The problem then lay, what to play next? Despite an initial unwritten agreement between the pair that no Skeletal Family / Ghost Dance material was to be involved, suggestions led to an attempt on a few of the old numbers. Despite not playing them together for 25 years, the reaction from both audience and performers alike to the ramshackle renditions was amazing. Inspired, and cajoled by the favourable response, a rehearsal was set up with drum machine and bass sequencer. Due to a combined bout of technophobia and impatience this was quickly jettisoned in favour of human musicians. The result, a five piece band, playing songs from both Ghost Dance & Skeletal Family that have not been aired for two decades, plus new original material. Having already played 3 live gigs in Bradford, Keighley and London, Anne-Marie is again eager to perform in front of audiences and as such is in the process of arranging live performances for 2010.

With a back catalogue of three studio albums, numerous compilation cd’s and a plethora of top independent charting singles, including “Promised Land”, “The Grip Of Love”, and “River Of No Return”, an influential queen from the vanguard of “Old Skool” Goth Rock returns.

Web: www.annemariehurst.com