Rollerskate Skinny

The noise-pop outfit Rollerskate Skinny took its name from an expression appearing in J.D. Salinger’s celebrated novel Catcher in the Rye. Ken Griffin on vocals and guitar, fellow guitarist Ger Griffin (unrelated), and bassist Stephen Murray launched the group in Dublin, Ireland in 1992. Their opening release was the EP Novice that year, followed by the ten-inch Trophy; the addition of guitarist Jimi Shields—younger brother of My Bloody Valentine’s Kevin Shields—then expanded the lineup to a quartet. Beggars Banquet signed them and put out the 1994 debut album Shoulder Voices along with the EP Threshold. After Shields exited to start Lotus Crown, the remaining trio moved to Warner Bros. and issued the excellent Horsedrawn Wishes in 1996.