NYC-based noise-
rock band started in
1994 when bassist
Erik Sanko decided he wanted to recreate the clanking
junkyard noises that were the background for his
internal monologue. He recruited
Chris Maxwell on
guitar,
Steve Calhoon on
drums and
Rick Lee on
junk percussion and together they made loud, melodic, distorted music for the ages. They released an
LP,
Fantastic Spikes Through Balloon (now out of print), as well as a self-titled
EP with two album tracks and additional tracks "
Solitaire," "
You Might Drown," "
Hoboerotica" and "
The Spreading Stain."
In early
1999, they broke up.
Then Erik decided he wanted the band to go on, but everyone else was unavailable, so he was joined by
Chapel Hill expats
Nic Brown on percussion and
Alec Ferrell on guitar. Skeleton Key played its first gig in two years in early
February 2001 at the
Village Underground, and it seems that they're here to stay.
They have a new official website at
skeletonkey.org.