Zombina and the Skeletones are an English rock band from Liverpool, formed in 1998 around the nucleus of vocalist Zombina and songwriter Doc Horror.[1][2] As of 2021[update], their last recording was a self-released EP in 2017, and their official website is dismantled.
Zombina met Doc Horror at Calderstones School in 1998. They started a band called The Deformed, producing a demo tape "No Sleep 'Til Transylvania", in early 1999.[2] This tape featured songs that would later be featured on Zombina and the Skeletones albums: "The Grave... And Beyond!", "Braindead" and "Leave My Brain Alone". Since the early years of their formation, the band established a strong B-Movie informed horror theme recalling the early efforts of Misfits and The Cramps.[2]
Career
In 2005, Zombina and the Skeletones were a featured unsigned band on Mark Radcliffe's show on BBC Radio 2. They have also toured the UK with bands such as The Damned, Misfits and The Meteors.[4]
Zombina and the Skeletones have been featured in the UK magazine, Bizarre, and played live at the 2008 "Bizarre Ball" in London.[7][8] They were scheduled to appear at "Abertoir, the Welsh Horror Festival", and performed as part of the festival.
The band was largely in hiatus during 2012, performing only one show (supporting the Primitives). A new EP, That Doll Just Tried to Kill Me, was released at Halloween 2012, with a Halloween show on 3 November 2012 in Liverpool, anticipating an album release in early 2013.
The whole line-up of Zombina and the Skeletones guest-starred in Cuban American singer Voltaire's 2014 album Raised by Bats, providing additional vocals for the track "Oh, My Goth!".
Reviews
The band has received positive reviews from the UK music scene website Drowned in Sound.[9] Their 2005 "Counting on your Suicide" was selected by goth/punk journalist Mick Mercer as one of his "Thirty best goth records of all time".[10]