Rehearsing with
"The Impala Band"
1975-76
Scranton, PA
On stage at the Ritz
"The Reactors"
Los Angeles 1981-82
From Left:
Rick Linstrom
Bass,Vocals
Bob Forte
Lead Vocals, Guitar
Don Ingle
Lead Guitar, Vocals
Front:
Skip Landis Drums, Vocals
Windfield Gate Flyer
c1982
"It's the Mind"
So California 1984-85
Rehearsing in the studio
Fountain Valley, CA 1995
Robert Forte - Guitar/Vocals
Chris/Guitar - Mark/Bass
"Closed Captioned"
2002-2008
Portland, OR
Skip Landis - Short Music Bio
Born in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Skip started playing guitar at age 12 and drums at age 14.
His first public appearance on drums came when he was 14 years old after some friends invited him to 'sit in'
with their band in a local pub.
Bitten by the performing bug, he went on to form groups such as The Impala Band and Blue Diamond in the mid '70s.
These bands incorporated influences from a variety of English musicians including The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Deep Purple,
Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Genesis, as well as American legends such as Jimi Hendrix and The Doors.
Early rhythmic impressions came from New York City stage shows, most notably 'West Side Story', as well as drummers such as
Louis Bellson, Billy Cobham, Gene Krupa, Mitch Mitchell, Phil Collins, and of course, Buddy Rich.
Rooted in blues and rock drumming, Skip moved to Southern California in 1977, eventually playing in hard-partying bands
such as Flat Broke and hard-rocking Fritz Cadillac.
In 1981-82 he further developed his drumming style, studying the Moeller Method of drumming under the instruction of Rick Steed.
Around that time Skip played and recorded with well-known punk band The Reactors, working many of the top LA area clubs.
During the mid-80s Skip performed in clubs throughout Los Angeles and
Southern California as the driving force behind bands such as Winfield Gate and It's the Mind. In the early 90s he also appeared in both live and recording sessions as an independent musician.
Skip resumed his music career in the Northwest in 2002, playing local shows and doing session work (most notably tracks on Blei's 2005 debut CD "In Day As Dark" - Eternal Records) and live with "Closed Captioned," around the Vancouver,WA/Portland, OR area.
Through 2008 he has been playing and recording with BTSR ("Better Than Street Racket"), and in early 2008 was in a project with guitarist James Goodwin.
LATEST NEWS: Skip has just recently joined Megan James & The Benders. The band is currently in rehearsal for the first show with the new line-up, scheduled for October 31st, 2008 at the Springdale Tavern in Corbett, OR. If you're in the area, come on out and catch the show!
Keep in touch for upcoming news!!!
Contact Skip Here
