Draft:Crossbone Skully
American Rock Band
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Crossbone Skully are an American hard rock band created by Tommy Henriksen (guitarist for Alice Cooper and member of the Hollywood Vampires).
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Crossbone Skully | |
|---|---|
 Crossbone Skully photographed in Los Angeles in 2023 by Enzo Mazzeo. | |
| Background information | |
| Genres | Rock · Hard Rock · Metal |
| Works | |
| Years active | 2022-present |
| Labels | Better Noise Music, Independent |
| Members | Tommy Henriksen
|
| Website | crossboneskully |
The core band consists of Tommy Henriksen (lead vocals), Anna 'Blackthorn' Cara (guitar), Sam 'Bam' Koltun (guitar), Chris Wyse (bass) and Lisa 'Tuesdai' Murgia (drums).[1] On occasion, Alex Boch and Glen Sobel have filled in on drums during music videos and live performances.
In addition to music, the project includes comic books and an animated short film featuring a number of Henriksen's bandmates and collaborators as voice actors including Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, Nikki Sixx, Mark Wilkinson and Kane Roberts.
Biography
Origin
The idea for Crossbone Skully came when Henriksen was on tour with Hollywood Vampires, performing AC/DC songs during soundcheck when he was told by a member of the crew that he was missing a big opportunity not using that distinctive vocal style. While on a break from touring, Henriksen started writing and recording songs in his studios in Switzerland and Los Angeles, which would later become the band's debut album 'Evil World Machine'.[2] Henriksen's voice has been compared to a mixture of Bon Scott, Brian Johnson and Joe Elliot with a touch of Alice Cooper.[3]
Influences and Inspirations
When naming the project, Henriksen drew inspiration from the Aunt Molly Jackson song, Crossbones Scully. Whom he wanted to pay homage to by donating proceeds from the album to several homeless shelters.[2]
Henriksen also notes the 2018 film, Mandy, starring Nicolas Cage and created by one of his favourite film makers Panos Cosmatos, as being a big influence, as he watched the film during songwriting sessions, and wanted the songs to be able to fit the movie visuals.
Production
Henriksen brought in guitarist Tommy Denander to play guitars, co-write and co-produce their debut album 'Evil World Machine'. During the production of this album, Henriksen was introduced by Denander to producer Mutt Lange, famous for his work with AC/DC, Def Leppard, Bryan Adams, The Cars, Shania Twain and more. Although retired, Lange was enamoured with the project and offered to executively produce the album. Lange also wrote 'I'm Unbreakable' and 'The Last Night On Earth' with Henriksen.[4]
Henriksen then called producer Mike Plotnikoff (Aerosmith, Halestorm, My Chemical Romance) to record tracks for 'Evil World Machine' and during this time, Plotnikoff introduced the music to Allen Kovac, founder and CEO of Better Noise Music at the time, who signed Crossbone Skully on the spot.[2]
Evil World Machine also features drummer Glen Sobel and keyboardist Jamie Muhoberac on all tracks. Chris Wyse plays bass on three tracks, 'Ima Bone Machine', 'Sin Eater' and 'I Am The Wolf'.
Artwork
Henriksen was also introduced to illustrator Mark Wilkinson, famously known for his work with Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, who created the project's imagery for the main character 'Crossbone Skully' and designed their band logo. Wilkinson has collaborated with Henriksen throughout the entire project and designed one of the comic book covers and all of the single and album cover artwork to date.
Music
Crossbone Skully released their debut album 'Evil World Machine' on 22nd November 2024 and received high praise from critics and fans. Classic Rock Magazine rated the album 9/10, saying the album is "an AC/Leppard mongrel that's 50% party soundtrack and 50% time travel... gloriously daft, but it's also glorious. Quite right too."[5] Radio stations Rock Antenne and Linea Rock made Evil World Machine their album of the week[6][7] and Metal Talk named their debut as one of the best metal albums of 2024, stating the album is "proper, dirty rock ‘n’ roll with some touches of glam amongst the grit. This latest project by polymathic Alice Cooper/Hollywood Vampires guitarist Tommy Henriksen is the opening chapter of what promises to be an epic journey."[8]
The band's most popular single 'High On You feat. Nikki Sixx' reach number one on the German Rock Radio Charts and was featured in the Top 5 for over 20 weeks in 2025.
In 2024, 'The Boom Went The Boom (feat. Phil Collen)' featured on Subaru of New England's advertising campaign. The TV campaign was in promotion of the 2023 Subaru WRX and aired for three months in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.[9]
Band Formation
In late 2022, Henriksen formed a live band consisting of:
- Anna Cara (guitar)
An English guitarist who is primarily known for her guitar covers on YouTube and Instagram, at just 19 years old, she caught the attention of Henriksen online and asked her to join the band, providing Cara with her first major break.[10]
- Chris Wyse (bass)
Henriksen's fellow band member in Hollywood Vampires and who recorded bass on the tracks 'Ima Bone Machine', 'Sin Eater' and 'I Am The Wolf' from 'Evil World Machine'.
- Sam 'Bam' Koltun (guitar)
An American guitarist who plays with Dorothy, Faster Pussycat and Budderside.
- Lisa 'Tuesdai' Murgia (drums)
A long time collaborator of Henriksen's, who has also featured in his solo music videos.
Due to Murgia's unavailability to film music videos in 2024, Alex Boch featured as 'The Other Drummer' in 'Everyone's On Dope', 'High On You', 'Let's Bust The Trust' and 'The Last Night On Earth'.
Live performances
Crossbone Skully performed two sold out debut shows at The Viper Room in Los Angeles on November 21st and 22nd 2024 to celebrate the release of their debut album. The live band consisted of Tommy Henriksen (lead vocals), Anna Cara (guitar), Chris Wyse (bass), Sam 'Bam' Koltun (guitar) and Glen Sobel (drums). Sobel filled in as Murgia and Boch were unable to perform.[11]
Discography
| Title | Release Date | Album Length | Track Listing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evil World Machine | 22nd November 2024 | 51:31 |
|
'Evil World Machine' Critical Reception
"What Crossbone Skully have produced is more than just a musical experience. They are aiming for a complete immersive event, involving comic books and spectacular merchandise, the whole journey has been meticulously planned. The music is strong, and has a very Classic rock, big riff, hard vocal vibe."
- Fireworks Rock and Metal Magazine
"Like the best barroom band on Sunset Strip, Crossbone Skully play rock ‘n’ roll with a glint in their eyes and dirt under their fingernails. With the involvement of production legend Mutt Lange this was going to be good, but this is a hard rocking treat that will have you smiling for days."
- Metal Planet Music[12]
"This album was honestly the biggest surprise of the year. A series of singles preceded this album and while they were great individually, this debut makes its maximum impact felt when enjoyed as a full album. Crossbone Skully created a monster of a great album that is influenced by a heavy dose of Bon Scott era AC/DC, Pyromania era Def Leppard, small amounts of Alice Cooper, as well as having some surprises of their own musically. I play this album a lot."
- The Rockpit[13]
| Title | Release Date | Album |
|---|---|---|
| Evil World Machine | November 18th 2022 | Evil World Machine |
| The Boom Went The Boom (feat. Phil Collen) | October 6th 2023 | Evil World Machine |
| I'm Unbreakable | November 17th 2023 | Evil World Machine |
| Money, Sex, or God | May 10th 2024 | Evil World Machine |
| Everyone's on Dope | July 19th 2024 | Evil World Machine |
| High On You (feat. Nikki Sixx) | September 27th 2024 | Evil World Machine |
| Let's Bust The Trust | November 22nd 2024 | Evil World Machine |
Non-Album Singles
- I Am The Wolf was released on 23rd April 2024 as a music video only on YouTube and teased the release of Crossbone Skully's upcoming single 'Money, Sex, or God' released in May 2024.[14]
- 'The Last Night On Earth' was released on 13th June 2025 as a music video only on YouTube.[15]
- 'We're L.O.S.T.' was released on 27th February 2026 distributed by Deko Entertainment, and signifies the end of the Evil World Machine saga.[16]
Comic Book and Animated Film
Story
The character of Crossbone Skully is a self-proclaimed time-travelling extraterrestrial in love with Earth's rock 'n' roll. The comic "Thing #1" is the first instalment of the Crossbone Skully story.[17] On one of Skully's visits to Earth, he meets a human, Piper, and gives her a lock and key (the Lockitron), promising that if she is ever in need, to put the key in the lock and he will come.
While Crossbone Skully is travelling, he is notified by the Crooked Crow that the Lockitron has been activated. Using his trusted sources, Skully confirms The Sorcerer is trying to conquer Earth so enlists the help of his friends and alien nation, The Misfits of the Universe, to fight against evil and save the planet. When he reaches Earth, Skully visits Piper and realises the Lockitron was not activated by her, but by his son, Kyd who as a human-alien hybrid has powers that have yet to be revealed.[18]
Crossbone Skully shared a Thing #1 Sneak Peek[19] on their official Youtube channel, however the release date for the full length animated short film has not been confirmed.
Characters
- Crossbone Skully - unknown
- The Sorcerer - Johnny Depp
- The Bringer of Light - Alice Cooper
- Big Bad Bone Crusher - Joe Perry
- The Crooked Crow - Nikki Sixx
- Alpha Watchman - Kane Roberts
- Sir Bloodwing - Mark Wilkinson
- Madame Guillotine - Sheryl Cooper
- Kyd - Finn Cooper Henriksen
- Piper - Sandra Henriksen
- Intruder Alert - Tommy Denander
Credits
- Story - Tommy Henriksen
- Writer - Joshua Werner
- Animator (film) - Riley O'Donohue
- Interior Artist - Stan Yak
- Colorist - Colin Johnson
- Color Assist - Joshua Werner and Scotty Schleuter
- Letterer and Designer - Dave Lentz
- Cover Art - Mark Wilkinson
- Character Designs - Tommy Henriksen, Mark Wilkinson, Riley O'Donohue
- Publisher - Source Point Press