Second Skin

Origin
David Claridge is an English actor who came to prominence in 1980s as creator and performer of children television puppet character Roland Rat. In early 1980s he created independent sublabel The Mobile Suit Corporation, under Phonogram Records, where Dave Ball helped Vicious Pink Phenomena to release their debut single in 1982. Around the same time Claridge started series of fetish nights titled Skin Two, at gay club Stallions in Soho, London, which Ball, along with Marc Almond and other artists, were visiting.

When Ball started working on his solo album In Strict Tempo he wanted to record a track about happenings in the club and invited Claridge to write and narrate the lyrics for it. Title of the track was “Second Skin”, as a reference to the club, and both being slang for fetish clothing. In 1983 the track was recorded and finalized, but wasn't included on the album by Claridge's urgent request – in the wake of Roland Rat's popularity tabloids had uncovered other projects started by actor.

Trivia

 * A reference to Claridge and his involvement in album's recording was left as etching on A-side of In Strict Tempo LP: “A rubber rat sheds his skin”.
 * “Second Skin” and Claridge's involvement of were mentioned in a 1983 interview article with Dave and Gini Ball for Number One magazine, but the track is mistitled as “Strict Tempo”, another song that appeared on the album.