23 Skidoo is a British band known for their eclectic blend of industrial, post-punk, alternative dance, rock, and world music. The band's name is derived from a phrase used in early 20th-century American slang, which has been referenced in the works of notable figures such as Aleister Crowley, William S. Burroughs, Robert Anton Wilson, and filmmaker Julian Biggs.

The group was established in 1979 by Fritz Catlin, Johnny Turnbull, and Sam Mills, later expanding to include Alex Turnbull and Tom Heslop. Their influences spanned martial arts, Burundi and Kodo drumming, as well as the works of Fela Kuti, The Last Poets, and William S. Burroughs. They were also inspired by the emerging fusion of industrial, post-punk, and funk, which can be heard in the music of artists like A Certain Ratio, Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire, The Pop Group, and This Heat.

23 Skidoo released their first 7-inch single, "Ethics," in 1980, followed by the "Last Words" 12-inch, produced by Stephen Mallinder of Cabaret Voltaire. On September 16, 1981, they recorded a Peel Session that included contributions from associates Richard Heslop and Tim Soar. Their debut album, Seven Songs, was released in 1982 and is noted for capturing the oppressive humidity of an African forest. An experimental EP titled Tearing Up The Plans was produced while the Turnbull brothers were traveling in Indonesia, and soon after, guitarist Sam Mills and vocalist Tom Heslop departed the band. The lineup stabilized with the addition of slap-bassist Peter "Sketch" Martin, following the breakup of Linx, until the band's disbandment in 2003.

Upon their return from Indonesia, where they were introduced to Gamelan music, the Turnbull brothers enlisted Aswad's horn section for the "Coup" 12-inch. This release notably included samples from Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now and has been claimed to have inspired The Chemical Brothers' "Block Rockin' Beats." Their subsequent albums, The Culling Is Coming (1983), which features their performance at the inaugural WOMAD Festival, and Urban Gamelan (1984), faced criticism for their move towards more abstract sounds. After being evicted from their rehearsal space at Genesis P-Orridge's 'Death Factory,' the band redirected their focus to hip hop, releasing several singles and a compilation album, Just Like Everybody, in 1987.

In 1989, the Turnbull brothers established the Ronin label, releasing works by Deckwrecka, Roots Manuva, and Rodney P, among others. They signed with Virgin Records in 1991, using their advance to build a new studio. Their self-titled LP was released in 2000, featuring contributions from Pharoah Sanders and Roots Manuva. This was followed by the compilation The Gospel Comes To New Guinea in 2002, which included the first CD reissues of Seven Songs and Urban Gamelan. In 2003, the Turnbull brothers dissolved the company, and in 2008, LTM reissued the entire back catalog of 23 Skidoo.