Other critics don’t seem to worry about positively reviewing the films made by their wives, children, best-friends, baby-sitters, boy-friends or whatever, so I won’t feel too much worry about chipping in with a positive review for this new music documentary about a legendary Scottish band fronted by Richard Jobson, you’ll know them as Skids. Probably best known for anthems Into the Valley and The Saints Are Coming, the latter getting a second life when covered by U2 and Green Day, Skids were very much a product of the punk explosion of the late 1970’s, and their story has all the elements you’d expect from a rock and roll tale, from wild success to stark tragedy, and rather than seeking out a range of talking heads to chip in, Jobson is more than capable of telling his story in his own eloquent words.

Scribbling words into notebooks in Dunfermline Library, Jobson formed Skids with Stuart Adamson, later of Big Country, and immediately went to London to become part of the punk scene, meeting Sid Vicious, Nancy Spungen and John Lydon; Jobson didn’t like the latter at all, and part of the appeal of this kind of doc is that it’s not rammed with sentimental, misty-eyed tributes but spiky reminiscences. After the success of the first Skids album, Jobson and Adamson’s personal development took them in different ways, but after success in tv, music and literature, Jobson still performs his original music, and recent live performances are glimpsed as part of the narrative.

Eighty minutes of Mark Sloper’s film provides a brisk, personable look through the Skids story, but it’s Jobson’s self-deprecating humour and sharp-as-a-tack willingness to do much more than self-promote that makes The Story of Skids; Scotland’s No.1 Punk Band different from most self-seeking music docs; Jobson is happy to describe some of his creative work as not what he’s imagined, and again, his refusal to willingly toe any corporate line stays true to his punk origins. And his late mother provides a crushing line; when told of the band’s status as Scotland’s number one punk band, she caustically replied that the Skids were only number one because there were no others.

Richard Jobson will probably be mortified to be reminded of the night I spent enjoying his unique brand of hospitality, sleeping outside in a shed under the blanket of a recently deceased horse in minus 15 temperatures in the depths of winter, but that anecdote is only funny to recount because the reality is he’s a great host and a genuine friend treasured for many reasons not least his masterclass in omelette-making on his classic AGA. Jobson provides an oral history of his band in this spry, funny documentary, and whether you’re a Skids fan or not, he demonstrates why he’s a true polymath that would make any team-sheet of iconic Scottish cultural figures.

This film is opening in UK cinemas from 1st October including special Q&A screenings at Cameo Picturehouse, details of forthcoming film screenings can be found via the link below, and also for Jobson’s forthcoming live work.

https://www.odeon.co.uk/films/the-story-of-skids-scotlands-no1-punk-band/HO00007868/

Live in Concert

September 2025

Sat 13th – Watford Colosseum – Supporting The Stranglers

Fri 26th – The Waterfront – Norwich

Sat 27th – Undercover Festival – South Essex

October 2025

Fri 3rd – 100 Club – London

Sat 4th – HRH – Leicester

Fri 10th – Grove – Newcastle

Fri 17th – Barnoldswick Arts Centre

Sat 18th – Brudenell – Leeds

Sun 19th – Foxlowe Arts Centre – Leek – Staffs – Armory Show

Sun 26th – Foremans Bar – Nottingham – Richard Jobson Literary Event & Skids Acoustic

Thurs 30th – TBC – Richard Jobson Book Tour

Fri 31st – TBC – Richard Jobson Book

NOVEMBER 2025

Sat 1st – TBC – Richard Jobson Book Tour

Sun 2nd – TBC – Richard Jobson Book Tour

Mon 3rd – TBC – Richard Jobson Book Tour

Tues 4th – TBC – Richard Jobson Book Tour

Wed 5th – Ireland – Limelight 2 – Belfast

Thurs 6th – Ireland – Whelans – Dublin

Fri 7th — Ireland – Cypus  Avenue – Cork

Sat 8th – Ireland – Dolans – Limerick

Fri 28th – Winterstorm – Troon

Sat 29th – Electric Palace – Bridport

Sun 30th – The Quad Theatre – Plymouth

December 2025

Fri 5th – The Venue – Dumfries

Sat 6th – Lemon Tree – Aberdeen

January 2026

Fri 16th – 1865 – Southampton

Sat 17th – Junction – Cambridge

Fri 23rd – Komedia – Bath

Sat 24th – Crossing – Birmingham

Fri 30th – Electric Ballroom – London

Sat 31st – Chalk – Brighton

February 2026

Sun 1st – Hat Factory – Luton

March 2026

Fri 13th – Skids Weekender – Portmeirion

Sat 14th – Skids Weekender – Portmeirion

Sun 15th – Skids Weekender – Portmeirion

Fri 27th – Beckett Uni – Leeds

Sat 28th March – 02 Ritz – Manchester

April 2026

Fri 17th – Y Plas – Cardiff

Sat 18th – Grand Central Hall – Liverpool

Fri 24th – Barrowlands – Glasgow

Sat 25th – Queens Hall – Edinburgh

May 2026

Fri 1st May – Tivoli – Buckley – Co – Headline Theatre of Hate

Sat 2nd May – Hairy Dog – Derby – Punks Against Cancer Charity Show

Fri 8th May – Birdwell – Barnsley

Sat 9th May – Kola – Portsmouth

Sat 30th – TBA

June 2026

Sat 27th June – Heartlands Festival – Pitlochry

July 2026

Sun 5th – TBA

October 2026

Sat 3rd – North East Calling