Devilskin kicking on with big summer tour

SUCCESS STORY: Rotorua's Jennie Skulander's rock band Devilskin's album has been named one of the top selling albums of 2014. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

The year 2014 saw Rotorua's Jennie Skulander and her rock band soar to fame, with their album topping charts and their shows selling out within days.

The former Rotorua Lakes High School student is about to embark on her second New Zealand tour with band Devilskin, who have gained thousands of fans across the world and amassed more than half a million hits on YouTube.

Their summer tour follows a sellout 20-venue tour in July, with fans snapping up tickets within days of them going on sale.

They released debut album We Rise, which exploded on to the New Zealand album chart hitting No1 and remaining there for three weeks.

Within two weeks the album achieved gold status - an unprecedented feat for an unsigned, self-propelled act.

Skulander said she was amazed the band had come so far during the past year.

"It's crazy. We certainly didn't expect our album to go gold. I didn't even know that you could do that in New Zealand, it's been pretty surreal," she said.

In November the band released a live CD and DVD, Live at the Powerstation, which was recorded in front of an audience at the renowned Auckland venue. It includes Devilskin's hits Never See The Light, Start A Revolution and Little Pills along with a cover of Holy Diver, the band's tribute to Ronnie James Dio.

Their summer tour will see them perform in seven locations, from Whitianga to Christchurch.

"I love touring and it'll be nice and warm this time around, so hopefully we don't all end up with the flu, like we did after our winter tour!"

Skulander said she's still adjusting to the fame that comes with the band's success.

"It's funny, I work in a coffee shop and I've had people come in and recognise me [from Devilskin]. It's crazy."

Skulander already has her eyes set on bigger projects this year. In February, Devilskin will open for rock legend Slash, best known as the former lead guitarist of Guns N' Roses.

They'll perform at Hamilton's Claudelands Arena and Wellington's TSB Bank Arena. Skulander said she was thrilled to be opening for one of the greatest rock musicians in history. The band will go on to perform at popular musical festival Homegrown at Wellington's waterfront.