How it all started

How it all started

Skutch was formed in 1991 by Mark Howard (Howie) and Paul Oswald (Ozzie). `We started out making music on a Thursday night. From the start it was Cover style songs which we loved. Ozzie & I had such different tastes.' In 1997 the name Skutch was taken as our band name and we had about 12 songs for our first CD `Long time coming'. We entered the studios and introduced ourselves to Ian Pritchett who owned Noisegate studios. `I said G'day to Ian and apologized for what we were about to make him record.' But he was a great person and the recording went well. After a big learning curve we finally got the CD together. Ian also regularly plays Bass guitar for us on our new music.

Around 1998 Howie started to write an immense amount of new lyrics and melodies. `I remember hearing the song Rain for the first time. It was just me and Howie and he had this aweful zoom effects pedal which gave an eerie delay. I was playing the drums and the sound scape was very inspiring.' The second album came together in August 1998 and was finished in the end of Summer 1999. `Spinning around in Jupiter' was a Rock opera. `I wrote all the songs to form a story of a little boy growing up as an Orphan.' The melodies and different styles of music were prolific throughout the CD and this style is what the Skutch music is reflecting from our personal tastes. Ben Price came to play with us as a lead guitarist. `I had known Benjie for a long time since he had started guitar and was so impressed by how much he had learned in the few years he had been playing'. Another person we admired was Craig McGregor who also played lead guitar and Violin for Seattle Sound. `I asked Craig if he could add some colour to some of my songs and he blew me away. Craig and Paulo could play off each other lick for lick. It was so exciting to see the construction of my songs and the partnership added so much'.

With the third album under way at the end of 1999 we recruited Matthew Gogarty to do the drums for the `Sun Sex Sand and Charlie Chan' album. `I used to watch this young bloke (Human metronome) play drums for Seattle sound and thinking he is the best drummer I have ever seen. We had Gogo's come for a Thursday night jam and it changed the whole structure of our music. It became tight and surreal'. The third album had 15 songs and was recorded live to maintain the live feeling in the music. Triple M Sydney picked up `Wasted Peace of Mind' as the homegrown song and finally Skutch had Radio play in Sydney.

In 2000 Craig had three songs that took our fancy and the `Another moment of weakness' EP was recorded. `Each time we played A moment of weakness we were in another world. I could see it on everyones faces. We would just close our eyes and play. We did this song subliminally and recorded it the same way.' Howie approached John and Mal from Seattle Sound to record the vocals for two of the songs which came out really nicely and gave Skutch a broader sound which was needed at the time.

With some new influences 2001 saw the start of the new album `Sympathy love & religion have taught me Fear' our fourth studio effort. `The music I was listening to was so R & B. Sort of jazz fusion with 80's melody lines. I had a couple of new riffs and set out to make an album with a new Skutch sound'. What followed was 12 new songs from fully orchestrated Plastic ships to the R&B sounds of I'm on my own again. `The songs took off on MP3.com and I'm on my own again held the No:1 spot for a couple of weeks.' Howie laid down all the songs in a personal effort and at band practice each week would play them for the rest of the guys to aquaint themselves with the new style. `One of the songs, Howie asked this lady from Sydney called Sally Cooper to sing. The Hooker song gave us new people to play with and the song was huge'.

The Winter of 2002 came more new sounds. `I was listening to a lot of grunge style music on the radio and I loved going along to see my friends play at the Tav in Sydney. Only cause I could get to sing a few covers with them. But a lot of the bands I liked were heavy but warm in the melody line. Sort of heavy with great changes in the sub-verses. Craigo had this warm up riff and he kept saying `Smoove' just after he'd finish playing it. I started to write a lot of music in Db tuning and we came up with the title and a whole lot of songs for the sixth studio album for Skutch.' Together with the main content which Howie wrote Craigo came up with a pearler A time for courage.`It was really nice for me to write this song. I had the melody and changes but had never really thought about words. I sat down one night and within ten minutes had a whole page full which I emailed to howie. The next thing I knew we were playing the song at Band practice and now it's recorded.'

Summer of 2003 and Howie started the financial planning for `Spinning around in Jupiter'. This `Rock Opera' based on the story concept of `Sean Jupiter' and Howies original recordings. The cast and story is now been developed and produced with 22 songs. The musical score for the pit orchestra is being developed by ex CBS A&R chief and Julliard trained Sven Libaek. `I can't wait and see the opening show and the attention the show attracts. There is a huge need for a new original musical journey and we are developing the show right now.' Howie

In 2005 the demo tracks for `Sympathy Love & Religion Have taught me Fear' were laid down and this album has continued into 2007 with a release date now I hope for 2011

As Worlds collide we all strayed for around two years, still together but homeless. Our band room disappeared and we found our direction deepen, to a more relaxed stage. but still fulfilling as music is everything when you have nothing.

2010 started well with a reincarnation of the space we all loved so much, and Paul's brother has set us up in his factory: like riding a surf board or a bike we started playing again, with many more Children and even Grandchildren, we are still kids ourselves, but again our main focus is Thursday nights and having the best night of our lives each week. The Skutch web site now has focus on Worldly issues and the music is being downloaded Internationally with around 15000 hits a months. Patricia has written a collaborative set of lyrics and the Patience album will be underway over the next two years. "We both think, Yoko and I, that the next album should be for the people and only made on LP vinyl" such a trend is happening with old memorabilia, cars, and LP records was a growth industry throughout the Global financial crisis. I'm focused for this album as the lyrics are great, meaningful and sensitive, on real musicians playing real instruments and recording the album live: and releasing it only on vinyl.

The end of 2010 sees an end of another decade for Skutch. Our band does have some good history I should endorse, like one of the first Aussie bands on the internet and since it started, having many number one indie chart spots in the '90's whilst we could participate with MP3.com which was Alanis Morissette's baby I'm led to believe: we had been number one for weeks and the charts showed bands like Greenday when they first started, Linkin Park and Pearl Jam and nobody in Australia knew we existed, bliss, but the internet was in its infancy. Wasted Peace of Mind was downloaded a million or more times, Triple M played it on Homegrown and we had produced a musical although that still has to happen, its just so very exciting. We are the luckiest Muso's in the World.

What will the future hold for the Band Skutch ? Well we have always had enough Ballads and the inclination, and having collected many sweet tunes over the years with Ozzie and myself that were not produced or released to make the and album we have already named "When its aged this way". I know that we are getting better with age and that I am so excited to wonder of the songs and maybe other shows and people and muso's that will come along in the future. The new horizons to discover are endless in music, it could never end what ever dimension the Universe becomes. I do know one thing, our musicianship is on a curve going right towards walking sticks and soft chairs and the skills we are developing as songwriters have become complex and an interesting journey for ourselves. The one thing Paul & I have been very lucky with, is the Artists and talented People we have met, it has been a true fairy story, we enjoy and love what we do, but better still to be surrounded by people who love to listen, play and bathe in music which the whole world can enjoy if they choose.

Howie - Founder of Skutch since 1991. I just love for writing words, playing simple melodies and creating rich lyrics. `Howie has the ability to create music what ever instrument or can or tom or stick; anything he touches, there is always a good vibe when he is around. Some of the best nights I've had are when he is in his own little world. I can only try to follow.' Oz `I love to sing and play Guitar more than anything else. I could enjoy myself anywhere as long as I can sing and make some noise; Good noise of course! ' The people I have been luck enough to be associated with and get to play with each week are the most talented and gifted musicians I have ever met and I love each one of them like family. If I never achieve anything else in life I will die a very happy man. Each Thursday night is the best night of my life. I was influenced by Rock music and Midnight Oil is my fav. band. Having said that I like classical and Latino styles too.

Ozzie - A fantastic guitar player. Played guitar since he was ten. Influences are his personal collection of bands from King Crimson through to XTC. Ozzie Plays drums for the first Skutch recording, bass on the second and plays with all the instruments in our room each Thursday night. If there is anyone missing from the band then Paul can do that part; music is Paul's passion. `My brother in music and the nicest guy you could ever meet. I think the hospital took him away from me at birth, cause I'm sure he is a part of me.'

Ian - Did I mention the EOR the Eraser! Thank you EOR you are the Greatest engineer and Bass player. He has played recorded and engineered many international and festival gigs as well as putting time aside for the Skutch movement of improvised rock and engineered all of our albums. He was so patient with us on the first Cd Long Time Coming it really kept Ozzie and my nerves down. He is a good producer and takes his role with passion. Ian has owned and operated Noisegate studios for 15 years odd and he has an enviable reputation with artists like The Beautiful Girls, Haley & Lewis, Regurgitator and many others. He received a gold record this year for Haley & Lewis first album at Noisegate which has gone platinum recently. I could not thank him enough for his friendship and direction.

Pat - What a bloke! Great grooves and a dam fine drummer. You have got to see this guy play it is inspirational. did I mention Mr. 2003 - 4! We are so lucky to have this guy. The rhythm section in Skutch is just a blow out! We all feel like we are talking to Pat through telepathy when we play. Some of the best nights have been when Pat comes in, We change, We change again, We slow it down, We pick it up and then we have a huge finale. I have never played with anyone who had that ability till I met Pat. Go Patto

Simo - Simon has been a musician all his life and I want to especially thank him. As in life the ebb & Flow gives the highs and the lows. I think I can safely say that we have helped each other in music, personal emotions and Karma. Simon is a consummate drummer but loves the Bass and what a rig he has. He is also a collector of Guitars and a die hard rock star. He is influenced by Matt Finish, Midnight Oil and other Australian bands. He is a true hero.

Craigo - Trained at the Conservatorium of music Sydney in Violin. An awesome guitarist. Craig always makes sure we know our stuff when we play live. A very colourful musician and a perfectionist. `I remember the first night we recorded together. It was for the song Timber of the Long Time Coming album. He played the second time perfectly and then said `Fuck' and made this incredible string of off the wall notes.' I said that is the take and he looked at me really strange. I said to him That was fantastic and that's what I want. To this day that song gives me the chills with the brilliance from a fine musician.

Frosty - Frosty is a recent addition to the Skutch line up. Frosty has measured up to the members in a huge way adding so much to the overall sound quality of the band by adding another flavour. His history is from Lismore band Claymores, Sydney band Shimmer and loves the Skutch live and theatre commitments. He is a cool dude and we look forward to many more nights with Frosty the edge.

Marciej - Said `Marchett' Aria award winner for mastering and mixing. A good friend of the band and a great bloke. He got married recently (August 2003) and I can't wait to see him for our next mastering session. There is rarely a person who is this passionate about music.