Band of Skulls, from Southampton, England, has been called “one of the UK’s best guitar bands”. At ten years old, guitarist Russell Marsden and drummer Matt Hayward’s parents were friends and would often tell them to keep busy (and out of trouble) by writing music together. In 2004, they formed Fleeing New York with a revolving cast of other musicians.

Once they finalized their lineup as a power trio with bassist Emma Richardson, they recorded a demo in a studio set up in Hayward’s father’s shed, changing their name to Band Of Skulls in 2008. The name was likely inspired by a monthly event they ran titled Club Skulls. Their debut album Baby Darling Doll Face Honey was released March 2009, but the band “didn’t have an audience at all” for months. However, after unexpectedly learning their unused demo “Friends” was included on the chart-topping Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack later that year, the band began to gain traction and sell out clubs as far away as Vancouver, Canada by the end of the year. In response, the band released “Friends” as a two-track EP the following March.

It wasn’t until “I Know What I Am” became iTunes' first ever Single Of The Week that the band reached the top 5 on the UK Indie Singles chart – almost a full year after their debut album’s release. A few months later “Death By Diamonds And Pearls” found similar chart success. The album charted modestly in Belgium and The Netherlands in the summer of 2010 and Entertainment Weekly named Band Of Skulls as “Your Next Favorite Band”.

After two years of ‘constant touring’, writing sessions for their sophomore album were unproductive until the band returned to their home studio in Southampton. They signed with Vagrant Records and entered the studio, but before finishing the recording of Sweet Sour, they road-tested new songs in the US with sets at Beachside Festival (San Diego) and Bonnaroo (Tennessee). Soon after, the title track became their second iTunes Single of the Week, helping the album debut at #14 in the UK and chart in five more countries including the US in the spring of 2012. A BBC documentary showcased their journey from playing local Southampton bars to touring the globe.

The band embarked on a US Tour to coincide with the album’s release, also performing on The Late Show with David Letterman while abroad. A tour with Red Hot Chili Peppers came next followed by dates with Muse in early 2013. During this time, they scored spots on many festivals including Coachella, SXSW, Musikfest, Lollapalooza, Musilac, Bilbao BBK Live, T In The Park, Hove Festival, Evolution Festival and Isle Of Wight Festival.

A stint with Queens Of The Stone Age wrapped up their 2013 year of touring as “Asleep At The Wheel” – the lead single of their third album Himalayan – dropped that November. The album came out spring 2014 and reached #21 in the UK, #24 in Australia, and found modest chart success in several other countries including a #55 peak in the US, as the band toured Europe and the US.

Their fourth album By Default was preceded by the March 2016 release of its lead single “Killer”. The album only charted in the UK and Belgium, but the band found continued success touring globally from April to November that year. Hayward left the band in early 2017 to pursue other musical ventures, so their 2019 album Love Is All You Love features a mix of electronic percussion combined with live drums performed by Julian Dorio (Eagles Of Death Metal) who had filled in on live dates the prior summer.