Biography

Named after the poem "The Skunkhour" by Robert Lowell, the Australian band Skunkhour successfully mixed their eclectic influences, which stretched from ska, funk, rock, jazz, and hip-hop to reggae. Forming in 1991, they quickly became a popular act around Sydney and, after supporting U.K. act Galliano on their 1993 Australian tour, issued their debut self-titled album. The EP, Booty Full, followed in September, and keyboardist Paul Searles joined the lineup. In 1994, Skunkhour released two acclaimed EPs: State (May) and McSkunk (October). The band's second album, Feed (April 1995), produced two EPs, Up to Our Necks In It (April) and Sunstone (July). The band then signed an international deal with U.K. label Acid Jazz, which issued the Feed album in Europe. Rapper Del Larkin left the band in February 1996 and percussionist Chris Simms joined for live shows as Skunkhour toured overseas during 1996. Their third album, Chin Chin, was released in July 1997 and hit number 34 on the national Australian charts. It produced the singles "Breathing Through my Eyes" (May), "Weightlessness" (August), and "Morning Rolls" (November). "Weightlessness" was voted number 93 on the youth radio network Triple J's 1997 Hottest 100 list. Another single, "Tomorrow's Too Soon for Goodbye," was released in August 1998, followed by "Stadium," which appeared on the original soundtrack to of the Australian film Two Hands in June 1999. Their next single, "Home" (October 1999), also charted on the 1999 Triple J Hottest 100 list at number 82. Their final album, The Go, was critically well received, but the band felt their record company, Universal Music Australia, wasn't giving them the support they deserved and Skunkhour decided to break up in November 2001. ~ Brendan Swift, Rovi