Tim Skold: Then and Now

Before there was Crashdiet...

Before there was Vains of Jenna...
Before there was Hardcore Superstar...

There was Shotgun Messiah. Formally Kingpin, the band moved from Sweden to Los Angeles in the early 1980s and changed their name to Shotgun Messiah. From the beginning, bassist Tim Skold was the star of the band, but he wasn't the original singer -- that was reserved for Zinny J. Zan.

After the debut, Zinny J. Zan left the band and Tim Skold took over singing duties. It was during this era that the band released the album Second Coming. After this album, the band -- and especially Tim Skold -- moved in a more industrial direction. A handful of years later, Skold found himself working with Taime Downe of The Newlydeads, and later in his current gig with Marilyn Manson.

Here's the most successful single from Second Coming: "Heartbreak Blvd."

Now, I ask you: how does such a beautiful, blonde man chop his hair and decide to go goth? Is Skold chasing trends, or is this another example of true musical evolution?

Tim Skold never had a glam voice in the vein of Sebastian Bach or even Bret Michaels. Rather, he was always more closely aligned with Taime Downe. Perhaps the gritty voice opened the doors for a successful industrial - and later - goth career?

For my money, Tim Skold did his best work with Shotgun Messiah, but that doesn't mean I don't think he's a talented musician. In fact, he's a great producer and he can play multiple instruments. Plus, there are some good qualities to Marilyn Manson, but it's just not my cup of tea.

Here's Tim Skold with Marilyn Manson:"This is The New Shit" from the album The Golden Age of Grotesque.

So, do you prefer Tim Skold with Shotgun Messiah or Marilyn Manson?

Comments

[Mikeal]

I prefer Skold's solo work to Manson. I loved his stuff with Sascha from KMFDM. Loved the first 2 Shotgun Records, and still listen to Violent New Breed weekly.

It's all metal....

[Axl Rosenberg]

I was never a huge fan of Shotgun Messiah, but I think Skold is an awesome guitar player and songwriter and pretty much saved Manson's career (in terms of creativity if not record sales).

However, given that Skold has said that his "yellow jumpsuit" got him out of Sweden (e.g., that he never really believed in the "look")... I have to imagine that the switch to Goth theatrics is just trend-chasing. But perhaps I'm overly cynical.

[Christian Graus]

Shotgun Messiah - I loved those guys.

"(e.g., that he never really believed in the "look")... "

Yeah, it's sad how many bands from the 80s started to claim they hated 'having' to dress the way they did.

[aXe mAn]

I am a big Shotgun Messiah fan. For me, Skold's best work was definately with Shotgun Messiah. I still think he is a talented musician now, but by going "goth", he is just following trends. And I agree Allyson, Manson is not my cup of tea either.

[glam rocker]

shotguns first 2 cds kicked ass 2 bad they jumped on the grunge wave and ruined a good band and yes i do think he just follows trends , 80's rock, grunge, now this shit

[bob_vinyl]

I can't say I'm crazy about either, but I could stomach his earlier work much easier than Marilyn Manson, who I find to be dull and irrelevant. To me, Marilyn Manson is kinda like the Howard Stern of rock n roll, relying on shock rather than talent. The only thing that shocks me though is that the records sell.

[Christian Graus]

But Bob, he's so, like, DANGEROUS, and stuff. Didn't you get the memo ? :P

Alice Cooper calls people like that his 'disobedient children'.

[Metal Mark]

I think I had the debut and Second Coming on cassette and thought both were alright. I heard a cd by Zinny Zan's band Zan Clan not long ago and it was pretty good.

[Krazy Kat]

Does ANYONE know where I can get the Second Coming CD from Shotgun Messiah?? Seriously I busted mine and I need a new one

[drugstore bassist]

metal mark.... chris laney from zan clan is a great friend of mine he also is the guitarist for ANIMAL and just produced some tracks for europe

[danny]

You can get the Second Coming cd from Amazon.com.
Really, shotgun messiah kicked ass and everything skold has done since that has been of a lower caliber.
Wished Tim Skold and Harry Cody got back together.

[Cisca]

Shotgun Messiah ROCKS!! I remember them... they were so HOT!! Now that would be an awesome band if they could get it all together to regroup.If Skold stays where he is then he's insane. Shotgun Messiah reforming now would be the best thing he could ever hope for.

As for Manson - I suppose the old saying "If you can't say something nice don't say anything at all" should apply here but I can't do that. I'm not that nice.

I can't STAND Manson and really think it's a freak. It's not a him or a her - seriously. It's just a freak with no talent for anything. So why Skold would want to be around something like that is beyond anyone's understanding.

[Randy]

Ican't believe I missed this article. I LOVE Shotgun Messiah. Second Coming is, in my opinion, the most overlooked album of all time. I still blast this album a few times a week. Someone always asks, "Who is this? It's great." Their version of the Dolls' "Babylon," is better than the original, which is hard to beat.
Even the follow-up, "Violent New Breed," was great. I think it's my favorite industrial album ever.

Tim Skold, or Tim Tim, can be accused of trend jumping, but seeing that he has stayed with the goth-industrial schtick... I'd say he's found a home. So, I would just call it evolution. The format really didn't exist when he was doing Shotgun. He's not a pioneer of industrial, he's just better at it than most.
As far as Manson goes, I dig it. He's good at what he does and when everybody was being grunge and humble, he was a cocky rock star. He's an industrial/glam/cock rock hybrid. No, he's not for everyone, but I like him. He is responsible for Quiet riot getting back together.

Back to the main topic... Tim Skold is cool. Now that he left Manson, let's hope Shotgun Messiah rides again.

[Richie]

I like Shotgun Messiah very much, but I'm also a big Manson fan. I liked him very much with Manson. So I think I prefer him with Manson. He's really good on stage with Manson, I saw him live, he was right in front of me, really great!

[Nina]

SHOTGUN MESSIAH EVER!!!!!!!!!!1

Skold's best work.

[george lolson]

I like KMFDM! His voice suits that band.. well it sounds good in shotgunmessiah too but I'm not really into glam. Why do pretty much every single girl that has seen Tim think he is hot? not saying I disagree but it's pretty wierd that so many girls like the same look.

[george lolson]

I recommend you all to search: kmfdm - anarchy,-today and -save me.. shit I'm new to KMFDM so I haven't really heard so much.

[trent g]

i personaly think he did better in his band skold they had kind of a techno beat and really cool beat

[pslam 2:25]

i like hs voice in shotgun messiah.. but i like most is style in marylin manson....
i think he can became when he combine his old and new style

[Siewert]

With M.Manson, no doubts.