Skid Row Biography: The Irish Rock Band That Gave Us Gary Moore and Phil Lynott
Long before the American heavy metal band of the same name came along, Ireland had its own Skid Row. Formed in Dublin in 1967 by bassist Brush Shiels, the blues-rock outfit featured two musicians who would become Irish rock legends, Phil Lynott and Gary Moore. They never quite achieved the success they deserved, but their place in Irish rock history is hard to ignore.
Formation
Skid Row was formed in Dublin in August 1967 by Brendan 'Brush' Shiels, a bassist and songwriter who wanted to move beyond the beat music dominating the Irish scene. The original lineup featured Brush on bass, Bernard Ben
Cheevers on guitar, Noel Nollaig
Bridgeman on drums and a young Phil Lynott on vocals, several years before he found fame with Thin Lizzy.
The band quickly became part of Dublin's growing underground rock scene, playing a mixture of blues, psychedelic rock and their own material. Brush was very much the driving force, writing songs and pushing the group in different musical directions. Lynott, meanwhile, was developing his stage presence and distinctive singing style, although his time with Skid Row would turn out to be relatively short.
Gary Moore Joins Skid Row
In 1968, teenage guitarist Gary Moore arrived from Belfast and joined Skid Row, initially playing alongside Cheevers before taking over as lead guitarist. Despite being only 16, Moore was already an exceptional player, heavily influenced by blues guitarists such as Peter Green. His arrival gave the band a much harder edge, with his powerful guitar playing becoming a major part of their sound.
New Places, Old Faces / Misdemeanour
In 1969, Skid Row released their debut single, New Places, Old Faces
, backed with Misdemeanour Dream Felicity
, on the Irish Song Records label. It was the only officially released Skid Row single to feature Phil Lynott, who sang lead on the A-side. The record wasn't a commercial breakthrough, but it remains a fascinating piece of Irish rock history, capturing Lynott before Thin Lizzy.
Phil Lynott Dropped
Brush Shiels had become increasingly interested in the power of three-piece bands, particularly Cream, featuring Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, and the Jimi Hendrix Experience. He liked the freedom a trio offered, with guitar, bass and drums able to stretch out and improvise. With Gary Moore now firmly established, Brush decided that Skid Row could work better as a three-piece.
Unfortunately for Phil Lynott, that decision meant his days in Skid Row were numbered. Lynott had also been experiencing problems with his voice, and while he was recovering, Brush decided to take over lead vocals. Despite dropping him from the band, Brush remained supportive and taught Lynott how to play bass, a decision that would have a huge impact on Thin Lizzy's future.
Skid and 34 Hours
With Lynott gone, Skid Row settled into the classic trio of Brush Shiels, Gary Moore and Noel Bridgeman. The band began spending more time in London, secured a deal with CBS Records and released their debut album, Skid
, in 1970. It reached No. 30 in the UK charts and was followed by 34 Hours
in 1971, named after the remarkably short time it took to record.
Gary Moore Leaves
Despite the band's growing reputation and tours across Britain, Europe and America, Gary Moore became increasingly frustrated with Skid Row's musical direction. He wanted to explore other possibilities and eventually left in December 1971 to pursue his own career. It was a major blow for Brush and the band, although Moore would go on to enjoy enormous success as a solo guitarist and with Thin Lizzy.
Later Years
Skid Row continued after Moore's departure, although the lineup changed considerably over the following years. Guitarists including Paul Chapman and Eric Bell were among those who passed through the band, while Brush remained the one constant presence. The group continued recording and performing throughout the 1970s, but without Moore, they struggled to regain the momentum of their earlier years.
Brush Shiels never completely walked away from Skid Row or music. Over the decades, he has revived the band with different musicians, performed live and continued to champion its place in Irish rock history. He has also built a reputation as one of Irish rock's more colourful characters, never particularly shy about speaking his mind or reminding people of the band's achievements.
The Singles
Skid Row never had a major hit single, but they released several interesting records, including New Places, Old Faces
, Saturday Morning Man
, Sandie's Gone
and Night of the Warm Witch
. Later releases included Dublin City Girls
and their version of The Spanish Lady
. Their music was generally better suited to albums and live performances, where the musicians could really stretch out.
The Albums
Skid Row's best-known albums remain Skid
(1970) and 34 Hours
(1971), both featuring Gary Moore's impressive guitar work. The band later released Alive and Kickin'
in 1976, while archival recordings have also appeared over the years. These include Live and on Song
, which brought together their early singles and a 1971 BBC concert, offering another glimpse of the band's raw musical talent.
The Name
One of the stranger chapters in Skid Row's history involves the American hard rock band that adopted the same name in the 1980s. Brush Shiels has repeatedly challenged their right to use it, disputing claims that Gary Moore had sold the name for $35,000. The American band has denied any wrongdoing, leaving a long-running disagreement over a name that Irish rock fans knew decades earlier.
Final Verdict
Skid Row might never have become a household name, but their influence on Irish rock is undeniable. Brush Shiels helped create a band that gave Phil Lynott and Gary Moore an important early platform, while also pushing Irish blues-rock in a more adventurous direction. Without Skid Row, the story of Thin Lizzy and Irish rock music might have been very different. Not bad for a band formed in Dublin back in 1967.
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