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Rollerskate Skinny was an Irish band that enjoyed its greatest success during the 1990s.

Contents 1 History 2 Legacy 3 Discography 3.1 Albums 3.2 Singles and EPs 4 External links

Founded as "The Hippyshakes" in the 1980s, the band became "Shake" and was characterised by a strawberry logo. In 1991, Jimi Shields joined the band and suggested a name change to "Rollerskate Skinny", chosen from a line in The Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger:

She's quite skinny, like me, but nice skinny, rollerskate skinny.

Rollerskate Skinny consisted of Ken Griffin, Ger Griffin (no relation), Jimi Shields and Steve Murray. Shields wrote material and played guitar & drums for much of the band's history but left due to constant media references to his brother, Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine which threatened to distract from the band itself.

After the release of "Shoulder Voices" in 1993, to much stateside critical acclaim,^{[citation needed]} Rollerskate Skinny's four original members signed with the Sire imprint of Warner Bros. Records. Following Shields' departure The album Horsedrawn Wishes was recorded and subsequently released in February, 1996 to a great deal of praise, particularly in the Irish music press.^{[citation needed]}

All of those involved with Rollerskate Skinny have gone on to other musical projects: Ken Griffin moved to New York City and formed the band Kid Silver, releasing the album Dead City Sunbeams in 1999. In 2004 Ken joined members of the former Philadelphia band, Aspera, to form his current band, Favourite Sons who are signed to Vice Records. Since Rollerskate Skinny, Ger and Steve worked on the project Walker. Stevie since started the band Empire, now known as The Radio, which released its debut album in 2005 to positive reviews^{[citation needed]}. Jimi Shields, having worked with such artists as Suzanne Thorpe (Mercury Rev), J Mascis and Martina Topley-Bird, will next be heard on new MBV material.

Rollerskate Skinny's music remains highly influential on the Irish music scene—in 2004, Hot Press magazine readers voted "Horsedrawn Wishes" #14 on a list of the 100 greatest Irish albums.

Echoes of the Rollerskate Skinny sound, first established on "Shoulder Voices" and later developed on "Horsedrawn Wishes", can currently be heard in bands as diverse as Irish band Bell X1 (formerly Juniper featuring Damien Rice)- especially recent single "Rocky Took a Lover", - and the Canadian art rock collective Broken Social Scene.

• 1994 Shoulder Voices

Shoulder Voices, was the debut album by Rollerskate Skinny. The album, clearly viewed as an essential RSS collector's item judging by Amazon prices, received much critical acclaim in the US, including CMJ magazine album of the month. With it the band won many an influential fan, leading to many impressive guest appearances alongside the likes of Mercury Rev, The Flaming Lips, Smashing Pumpkins, Hole, Mazzy Star, Pavement, The Verve, The Lemonheads and of course My Bloody Valentine.

The band also appeared on the 1994 lollapalooza tour leading to a recording contract with the seminal Sire label.

• 1996 Horsedrawn Wishes

• 1992 Novice

NME top ten new bands of the year, 1992.

• 1993 Trophy

NME single of the week.

The band recorded a Peel Session around this time, 29-05-93.

• 1994 Threshold
• 1996 Speed To My Side EP

• Profile at Irish Music Central
• Hot Press Magazine: The 100 Greatest Irish Albums

• Favourite Sons
• The Radio
• Trouser Press entry