From the Garage to Abbey Road: Russell Marsden from Band of Skulls Reflects on 15 Years of Sound | The Sharp Notes Interview

The Sharp Notes with Evan Toth

In an era when the term "rock band" can feel like a nostalgic nod to a fading archetype, Band of Skulls has always stood as the real deal: gritty, authentic, and unrelentingly driven. With their forthcoming retrospective box set Cold Fame, frontman Russell Marsden digs deep into the band’s archives to illuminate the long, winding, and often unpredictable road that led to their breakout debut Baby Darling Doll Face Honey. In our conversation, Marsden reflects not only on the music but on the memories, the missteps, and the near-mystical moments that have defined their journey.

More than just a collection of rarities and reissues, Cold Fame offers fans a window into the band’s early incarnation and the evolution that followed. Marsden shares stories of impromptu opportunities, DIY demos made with chopsticks and saucepans, and surreal full-circle moments like recording in the very studio that inspired one of their biggest songs. His insights reveal the band's determination, resourcefulness, and refusal to chase trends.

What emerges from this retrospective is not only a celebration of Band of Skulls' past but a powerful testament to persistence, reinvention, and the timeless appeal of rock and roll. Marsden, now the sole original member forging ahead with a new band, discusses how returning to his sonic roots has shaped his upcoming music. If the past is any indication, what comes next won’t just revisit familiar territory, it’ll reassert Band of Skulls’ place in the lineage of great British rock.