San Francisco Metal band created in 1994 and previously known as DEFIANCE. SKINLAB include drummer Paul Hopkins, previously with ex-FORBIDDEN and TESTAMENT guitarist Glen Alvelais outfit BIZARRO. The band originally made its entrance with a line-up comprising of Hopkins, vocalist / bassist Steve Esquivel and guitarist Adam Albright. The latter would be supplanted by the guitar duo of Mike Roberts and former RELEASE man Gary Wendt. MACHINE HEAD's Robb Flynn helped SKINLAB prepare for the recording of their debut album. The debut album production was handled by former SABBAT guitarist Andy Sneap.

Extensive roadwork followed its release including three European tours with MACHINE HEAD, EXODUS and, in June, GRIP INC. before American shows guesting for EXODUS, STUCK MOJO and SKREW. One European trek found Nick St. Denis standing in for Roberts on a temporary basis, the former being taken ill. Subsequently both guitarists Mike Roberts and Gary Wendt made their exit with Roberts would then depart for an unsuccessful audition for MACHINE HEAD before forging PRIMATE. Original guitarist Adam Albright would be re-enrolled to complete the touring schedule until new guitarists Snake, previously with SKREW and ex-LÄÄZ ROCKIT, WREKKING MACHINE and KILLING CULTURE man Scott Sargeant took over Whilst on the road the 1998 'Eyesore' EP, limited to 5000 copies, was issued which included a BRUJERIA cover and live cuts.

The band's second album, once more produced by Sneap prompted touring in 1999 which included European support shows to ENTOMBED then dates in America with NAPALM DEATH. In early 2001 Sargeant would bow out delaying recording of a projected album. The band would draft Glen Telford of Los Angeles act WIRED SHUT.

In support of the May 2002 Steve Evetts produced album 'ReVolting Room' SKINLAB issued the single 'Slave The Way' to radio. The album itself, which included a cover version of the SMASHING PUMPKINS' 'Bullet With Butterfly Wings', numbered guest appearances from members of UNJUST, 36 CRAZY FISTS and VILE. The band would support Phil Anselmo's SUPERJOINT RITUAL on their nationwide American tour commencing in Atlanta, Georgia on the 7th of June.

Ex-SKINLAB man Adam Albright unveiled his new band DOPESICK, a union with erstwhile KILLING CULTURE singer Marcus Payton, would issue an EP 'Vendetta', produced by Juan Urteaga and Scott Sargeant, in July. The following month SKINLAB touring guitarist Nick St. Denis, now involved with ex-member Mike Roberts PRIMATE, temped for DOPESICK too. Meantime SKINLAB would have two tracks, 'Slave The Way' and 'Scapegoat' recorded at the Hollywood Roxy in September 2001, including on the Century Media tenth anniversary DVD release.

By August of 2002 Sargeant would be revealed as working up a new project billed as MURDER LEAGUE ALL-STARS in league with the M.O.D. pairing of controversial frontman Billy Milano and Tim McMurtrie on bass.

The band would be back on the road in the UK during October with SOIL and support coming from LABRAT and FREEBASE. The band's name would form up a package billing for an extensive series of North American dates throughout November and December of 2002 together with PRIMER 55, DOPE and SOCIETY 1. However, Steev Esquivel suffered nerve damage to his right hand on the British dates causing SKINLAB to reluctantly pull out. Band members indulged themselves in side ventures during the early part of 2003, Steev Esquivel, with DEF IGNITION in alliance with ex-UNDER and VICE guitarist Jack Cargile, former DEFIANCE and UNDER bassist Mike Kaufmann with ex-UNDER drummer Hugo. Meantime, ARMAGETITON incorporated SKINLAB drummer Paul Hopkins.

SKINLAB announced they were to go into hiatus commencing July of 2003. Despite this the band, pulling in former member Scott Sargeant on guitar as substitute for Glen Telford, put in a short run of August West Coast dates. By August Esquivel was apparently out of his DEF IGNITION venture, having founded a fresh act in union with SKINLAB guitarist Steve Green and the PISSING RAZORS rhythm section of bassist Rick Valles and drummer Eddy Garcia. However, DEF IGNITION would then be back in the picture, Esquivel announcing he had found a singer to work with in the form of Travis Neal, formerly of San Diego outfit PUSHED.

Ex-SKINLAB guitarist Adam Albright was announced as uniting with BACH TIGHT 5 in September, the new band formation assembled by former SKID ROW singer SEBASTIAN BACH. Steev Esquivel unveiled an all new look DEF IGNITION (subsequently switched to RE: IGNITION) for 2004 to be fronted by ex-MINDBENDER vocalist Dave Moore and rounded out by erstwhile FUELED, SACRILEGE B.C. guitarist Tim Howell, ex-43 and IMPLANT bass player Johnny Montanio and the TECHNOCRACY and TORQUE credited Mark Hernandez on the drums. The band would demo in January of 2004. SKINLAB frontman Steev Esquivel cut guest vocals on the track 'Show Me The Road' for Russian Metal band HOSTILE BREED's The Second Cut' album.

In celebration of SKINLAB's decade long career Century Media Records issued a double disc compilation retrospective entitled 'Nerve Damage' during April. This set comprised 34 tracks, including two new cuts 'Losing All' and 'Beneath The Surface', alongside previously unreleased demo tracks, alternate mixes, a cover version of SMASHING PUMPKINS 'Bullet With Butterfly Wings', video clips and the long deleted 'Eyesore' EP. The band suffered a blow in April of 2004 with the exit of both guitarist Scott Sargeant and drummer Paul Hopkins.

Snake would join guitarist Steev Esquivel's RE: IGNITION in May as bass player. That August former SKINLAB guitarist Glen Telford announced a new band union, dubbed THE MISERABLES, in alliance with the ex-40 GRIT trio of guitarist Chris Anderson, bass player Ryan Healy and drummer Andy Green. Steev Esquivel would be announced as stand in frontman for Thrash veterans EXODUS on their October South American gigs. SKINLAB's confusing evolution continued apace in December as both guitarist Mike Roberts and drummer Paul Hopkins rejoined the ranks in preparation for new album recordings.

Gary Wendt made a comeback with fresh act THE GHOST NEXT DOOR in October 2005. SKINLAB reunited in September 2006, comprising vocalist / bassist Steev Esquivel, guitarists Snake and Glen Telford with Paul Hopkins on drums.

SKINLAB was on the lookout for a new label in April, announcing "Century Media has honored our request to be released from the label.". 2007 North American dates, commencing May 5th at The Kennel Club in Sacramento, saw support slots going out to WILL HAVEN, ANKLA, HOSTILITY, APIARY and PAIN PRINCIPLE. SKINLAB released a live album, 'SkinnedAlive!', in April 2008 via BCD Music Group, these tracks being recorded on 3rd June 2007 at The Metro in Oakland, California.

The band signed with Cleveland, Ohio's Stand and Deliver Records in early 2009 for a new album, 'The Scars Between Us', recorded with producer Juan Urteaga. The first taster for this new set came with the online airing ofthe track 'Amphetamine Gods'. The album saw release on 15th September.