Metal Bulletin Zine: Keith Baxter (1971-2008)

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Keith Baxter (1971-2008) - drummer for Skyclad

Keith Baxter (19 February 19, 1971 – 4 January 4, 2008) [Wikipedia] (February 19, 1971 - Jan 7, 2008) [Metal Archives]

Keith Baxter was the drummer for folk metal pioneers Skyclad (U.K.). He was involved in other bands, but I do not know that music, so I won't comment on something that I do not know. Keith was with Skyclad from 1990–1995 for the first five albums. In my experience, Skyclad was the first band that played folk metal as a self-aware genre. There was only a tiny glimpse of folk metal in the thrash of the previous band, Sabbat, for which Martin Walkyier was the vocalist. Martin formed the band with guitarist Steve Ramsey from the band Satan (U.K.), a band that is not associated with folk metal but rather with traditional heavy metal. Below, I am including both the information from Wikipedia and Blabbermouth for Keith.

Personally, I am well acquainted with the first three albums. At the time, those albums sounded pretty different and were interesting for the type of melodies in them. In those early days, the thrash, heavy metal, and folk elements were there in abundance, and the music sounded like metal music. Later on, of course, folk metal branched out in various directions. Skyclad was there in the early days of the genre and showed the way to do folk metal. In my opinion, they are a fundamental part of the history of the genre.

Wikipedia: As a teenager he became a founder member of Lancaster thrash metal & drinking professionals, Aphasia, before leaving for folk metal pioneers Skyclad, recording five albums with them before leaving in 1995, to move to London and join 3 Colours Red, with whom he recorded two UK Top 40 albums (Pure and Revolt) and six Top 40 singles. Following the split of the band in 1999, Baxter formed the band Elevation with former bandmate from 3 Colours Red, Pete Vuckovic. The pair signed with Sony but were dropped a year later. He moved back north to Lancaster, and briefly played with the Northern Irish band, Therapy? in 2002. 3 Colours Red formed again soon after that to record a third album (The Union of Souls), but split up again, permanently, in 2005. Following this split, Baxter played with the Lancaster-based Baby Judas. He died after suffering liver failure in January 2008.

Blabbermouth (2008): According to Kerrang! magazine, former 3 COLOURS RED / THERAPY? / SKYCLAD drummer Keith Baxter has passed away. Baxter, who shot to fame with 3 COLOURS RED in the '90s, died of liver failure in hospital on January 4, 2008, surrounded by family and friends. He was 36 years old. Baxter was born in Lancaster, Lancashire, UK. As a teenager he became a founding member of SKYCLAD, recording five albums with them before leaving in 1995 to join 3 COLOURS RED, with whom he recorded two UK top 40 albums ("Pure" and "Revolt") which included six Top 40 singles. Following 3 COLOURS RED's split in 1999, he formed ELEVATION with former 3 COLOURS RED bandmate Pete Vuckovic. The group signed with Sony but was dropped a year later. He briefly played with the Northern Irish band THERAPY? in 2002. 3 COLOURS RED reunited to record a third album ("The Union of Souls") in 2004, but split up again the following year.