When I used to live in Manchester and Liverpool, a band by the name of Zombina and the Skeletones had quite the hardcore following. Their shows would always be full to bursting, often with fans in fancy dress as their favourite band member, and everyone knew all the words to every song.
But, further afield from my old stomping ground, I know that they might not be that well known. However, with their third studio album scheduled for release this month and Halloween creeping steadily closer, there’s never been a more appropriate time to fall in love with a rock-horror band of B-movie-obsessed zombies.
Now, they may look like a novelty act. There’s no getting around that fact, whether they’re dressed in ‘blood’-spattered bandages, face paint, or more sci-fi inspired ensembles (I’ve never seen such fashionable and creative use of silver eyeliner and several rolls of tin foil, but their DIY-aesthetic is part of what makes them so beloved by their fans).
Despite their somewhat eccentric appearance, Zombina and the Skeletones are universally acknowledged as a phenomenal live act. Having toured previously with such acclaimed artists as The Misfits, The Meteors and The Damned, as well as playing at the Bizarre Ball earlier this month; their performances combine musical wizardry with stage presence unmatched by far-more-famous rock stars. And all this without an ounce of arrogance. In the ten years since their formation, the Skeletones and their leading lady have kept their charisma and tongue-in-cheek charm. They’re a much-needed anecdote to the oh-so-serious bland rock posturing that sadly seems so popular these days.
Zombina’s voice oscillates between being angelic and ferocious, and the lyrics are by turns incisive, compelling and hilarious. The Skeletones’ influences vary from garage and punk to rockabilly, ska and doo-wop, whilst Nobody Likes You When You’re Dead is one of the most perfect pop songs that I’ve ever heard. Listen to it, and you’ll know what I mean. Music at its most stomping and zombie-tastic best.
Image via Electric Sheep Magazine