Editing Skinny Puppy (section)

===Formation and first releases (1982–1985)===
Skinny Puppy formed in 1982 as a side project for Kevin Crompton in [[Vancouver]], British Columbia.<ref name="Reed (2013) p. 172">{{harvnb|Reed|2013|p=172}}</ref> Crompton was dissatisfied with the [[Pop music|pop]] direction of the band he was in, [[Images in Vogue]], and began Skinny Puppy with the intention of doing something more compelling and experimental.<ref name=IiVbio>{{cite web|last1=Mercer|first1=Laurie|title=Images in Vogue Biography|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/images-in-vogue-mn0000910004|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=29 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701221852/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/images-in-vogue-mn0000910004|archive-date=1 July 2016}}</ref> Images in Vogue had become a popular act in [[Vancouver]], achieving several radio hits<ref name="GeoStraight">{{cite web|last1=Lucas|first1=John|title=From the Vault: A Vancouver Classic by Images in Vogue|url=https://www.straight.com/blogra/612136/vault-vancouver-classic-images-vogue|website=The Georgia Straight|date=9 January 2016|publisher=straight.com|access-date=29 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916211327/http://www.straight.com/blogra/612136/vault-vancouver-classic-images-vogue|archive-date=16 September 2016}}</ref> and opening for groups such as [[Duran Duran]], [[Depeche Mode]], and [[Roxy Music]].<ref name="PNTinterview">{{cite web|last1=Burnsilver|first1=Glenn|title=Skinny Puppy's Music Was Used for Torture, So They Invoiced the Government|url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/skinny-puppys-music-was-used-for-torture-so-they-invoiced-the-government-6588359|website=Phoenix New Times|publisher=phoenixnewtimes.com|access-date=29 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716204958/http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/skinny-puppys-music-was-used-for-torture-so-they-invoiced-the-government-6588359|archive-date=16 July 2016}}</ref> Crompton had planned Skinny Puppy to be a side project while he continued his work in Images in Vogue; however, when Images in Vogue relocated to [[Toronto]], Crompton made Skinny Puppy his full-time project.<ref name="IIV">{{cite web|url=http://imagesinvogue.ca/history.html|title=A Short History|publisher=The Official Images in Vogue Site|access-date=27 April 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060216221832/http://imagesinvogue.ca/history.html |archive-date=16 February 2006}}</ref> Crompton had already created the name for the project and recorded several songs when he asked Kevin Graham Ogilvie to join. Ogilvie had been a roommate of Images in Vogue member Gary Blair Smith and had met Crompton at a party in late 1982.<ref name="Reed (2013) p. 172" /> To avoid the confusion of having two people named Kevin in one band, the pair created stage names, with Crompton becoming cEvin Key and Ogilvie becoming Nivek Ogre.<ref name="Barclay et al (2011) p. 507">{{harvnb|Barclay et al.|2011|p=507}}</ref>

Using Key's apartment as a studio, the duo began recording songs<ref name="Barclay et al (2011) p. 507" /> and in 1983 with the help of Images in Vogue recording engineer [[Dave "Rave" Ogilvie]] (no relation to Ogre),<ref name="GeoStraight" /> Skinny Puppy released the EP ''[[Back & Forth (EP)|Back & Forth]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Skinny Puppy: Back and Forth (1984)|url=https://www.discogs.com/Skinny-Puppy-Back-Forth/release/209957|publisher=discogs|access-date=29 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508021739/https://www.discogs.com/Skinny-Puppy-Back-Forth/release/209957|archive-date=8 May 2016}}</ref> This was the beginning of a long partnership between Skinny Puppy and Rave, who would serve as their producer until 1993, and again in 1995,<ref>{{cite web|title=Dave Ogilvie: 'Credits'|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/dave-ogilvie-mn0000692141/credits|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=29 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011102631/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/dave-ogilvie-mn0000692141/credits|archive-date=11 October 2016}}</ref> and was occasionally listed as a member of the band in album liner notes.<ref name="Reed (2013) p. 172" /><ref name="SPdiscography">{{cite web|last1=Lim|first1=Stacy|title=Brap...The Skinny Puppy Discography|url=http://prongs.org/brap/SP.html|website=Prongs|publisher=Mythos Press|access-date=29 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618174602/http://prongs.org/brap/SP.html|archive-date=18 June 2016}}</ref> Though only 35 copies were ever printed, the self-released ''Back & Forth'' drew the attention of Vancouver startup label [[Nettwerk]], who signed the band later that year.<ref name="Reed p. 174">{{harvnb|Reed|2013|p=174}}</ref> The first live Skinny Puppy show was held at the Unovis art gallery in Vancouver in February 1984; the British group [[Alien Sex Fiend]] were among the 300 people in attendance.<ref name="Reed p.173">{{harvnb|Reed|2013|p=173}}</ref>

{{Listen|filename=Skinny Puppy-Assimilate (1985).ogg|title="Assimilate"|description=Assimilate went on to become one of the most popular Skinny Puppy songs. This track is from ''[[Bites (album)|Bites]]''.}}
Ogre has said that Skinny Puppy acted as an escape for Key, who wished to distance himself from Images in Vogue: "He was looking for something to break out of [Images in Vogue], and maybe I was it". Key would continue to drum for Images in Vogue until the group relocated to Toronto in 1985. Key's concept behind Skinny Puppy came from the group's first song ever recorded, "K-9". The idea, according to Key, was to create music which explored "life as seen through a dog's eyes".<ref name="Barclay et al (2011) p. 507" /><ref name=Gilmore /> Skinny Puppy also incorporated the use of "B-grade horror movie visuals", including fake blood and props, into their live performances.{{sfn|Barclay et al.|2011|p= 510}} Key justified these "shock gore" antics with the following:

<blockquote>What we're presenting isn't much different from what [the audience] is subjected to in everyday life. For example, a commercial is a very plastic view of existence and reality. When you watch a TV show and see a world with picture-perfect endings, all you have to do is switch the station and watch the news.<ref name="Barclay p.511">{{harvnb|Barclay et al.|2011|p=511}}</ref></blockquote>
[[File:20160305-Frontline-Assembly-E-tropolis-Oberhausen-5668.jpg|thumb|right|alt=A photo of Bill Leeb in 2016|Bill Leeb contributed to several early Skinny Puppy recordings]]
Having scored a record deal with Nettwerk and with interest surrounding the ''Back & Forth'' EP growing, Skinny Puppy was invited to Vancouver's [[Mushroom Studios]] to work on new material.<ref name="Reed p.173" /> It was here that the group recruited [[Bill Leeb]] to perform bass synth and backing vocals.<ref name="Reed p.173" /><ref name="Barclay p.511" /> Like Ogre and Key before him, Leeb created a stage name, Wilhelm Schroeder; "my real name is Wilhelm" said Leeb, "Schroeder we picked out from the guy playing the piano in the [[Charlie Brown]] cartoon".<ref name="eklectiqueinterview">{{cite web | url=http://www.darkwaver.com/eklectique/two/frontline.html | title=Front Line Assembly | work=Eklectique Magazine | last=Porter | first=Alicia | date=8 November 1998 | access-date=30 June 2016 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213519/http://www.darkwaver.com/eklectique/two/frontline.html | archive-date=3 March 2016 }}</ref> Skinny Puppy released their second EP, ''[[Remission (EP)|Remission]]'' in December 1984, almost a year following ''Back & Forth''.

''Remission'' marked the first time Skinny Puppy would collaborate with artist [[Steven R. Gilmore|Steven Gilmore]], who created the album artwork.<ref>{{cite web|title=Skinny Puppy 'Remission': Credits|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/remission-mw0000235047/credits|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=30 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011102659/http://www.allmusic.com/album/remission-mw0000235047/credits|archive-date=11 October 2016}}</ref> The EP was initially only released in [[Gramophone record|vinyl]], but was later given a [[compact Cassette|cassette]] release in 1985.<ref name="SPdiscography" /> According to Nettwerk VP of A&R and Marketing George Maniatis, ''Remission'' "grabbed everybody by the you-know-whats" and, for Nettwerk Records, brought with it an association with [[industrial dance music]].<ref name="Bessman1989">{{cite magazine|last1=Bessman|first1=Jim|title=Nettwerk Dances to a Different Beat: Canadian Indie's Product goes Beyond Industrial Sounds|magazine=Billboard|date=4 March 1989|volume=101|issue=9|page=31|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Billboard-IDX/IDX/80s/1989/BB-1989-03-04-OCR-Page-0050.pdf#search=%22skinny%20puppy%20remission%22|access-date=30 June 2016}}</ref> The EP was supported by music videos for the songs "Far Too Frail" and "Smothered Hope",<ref name="Barclay p.511" /> the latter of which being the closest thing to a hit song any North American industrial act had achieved at the time.<ref name="Reed p. 174" />

Skinny Puppy released its first full-length album, ''[[Bites (album)|Bites]]'', in 1985 and was produced by Key and Dave Ogilvie. [[Tom Ellard]] of the Australian electronic act [[Severed Heads]] lent a hand to the production of ''Bites'', acting as a producer and performing various sampling and mixing duties.<ref name="BitesCredits">{{cite web|title=Skinny Puppy 'Bites': Credits|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/bites-mw0000191740|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=30 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625060144/http://www.allmusic.com/album/bites-mw0000191740|archive-date=25 June 2016}}</ref> Described by ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' magazine as "techno dance ... a la [[Kraftwerk]]",<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Reviews: Skinny Puppy 'Bites'|magazine=Billboard|date=5 October 1985|volume=97|issue=40|page=64|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Billboard-IDX/IDX/80s/1985/BB-1985-10-05-OCR-Page-0070.pdf#search=%22skinny%20puppy%20bites%22|access-date=30 June 2016}}</ref> ''Bites'' yielded the underground hit "Assimilate".<ref name="Barclay p.511" /> Key and Ogre opened for [[Chris & Cosey]] on their 1985 Canadian tour as [[Bites (album)|Hell 'O' Death Day]]; some of the material the duo had performed would appear on ''Bites'' as bonus tracks.<ref name="PowerforLiving">{{cite web|last1=Clark|first1=Ron|title=Skinny Puppy Interview, December 1985 (Power For Living Magazine)|url=http://litany.net/interviews/pfl85.html|website=Litany: Interview Archive|publisher=litany.net|access-date=30 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509230611/http://litany.net/interviews/pfl85.html|archive-date=9 May 2013}}</ref> One of these bonus tracks, a song called "The Centre Bullet", featured lyrics by [[The Legendary Pink Dots|Legendary Pink Dots]] founder [[Edward Ka-Spel]].<ref name="SPdiscography" /><ref name="Neville1994">{{cite web|last1=Neville|first1=Leigh|title=TEARGARDEN: White Coats and Haloes [appeared in Music From the Empty Quarter #9, March 1994]|url=http://www.brainwashed.com/lpd/archives/interviews/empty94.txt|website=Brainwashed: Interview Archives|publisher=brainwashed.com|access-date=30 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061110192933/http://www.brainwashed.com/lpd/archives/interviews/empty94.txt|archive-date=10 November 2006}}</ref>

While Skinny Puppy had become well received by underground audiences in most major urban areas, due in part to their anti-consumerist themes and [[The Cure|Cure]]-like aesthetics, not everyone was friendly to the group. Key described Skinny Puppy as the antithesis of "the [[Bruce Springsteen]] mentality of music", rejecting "Top 40 conformity".<ref name="Barclay p.512">{{harvnb|Barclay et al.|2011|p=512}}</ref> Toronto-based music journalist and DJ Greg Clow recalled [[Michael Williams (Canadian TV personality)|Michael Williams]], who was a [[VJ (media personality)|VJ]] for [[Muchmusic]],<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cowie|first1=Del F.|title=Former MuchMusic VJ Michael Williams (October 29, 2009)|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/former_muchmusic_vj_michael_williams|work=Exclaim!|access-date=30 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918062605/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/former_muchmusic_vj_michael_williams|archive-date=18 September 2016}}</ref> introducing him to Skinny Puppy, describing them as "Canada's answer to [[Depeche Mode]].<ref name="Barclay p.511" />