Interview: Skindred
– interview by james wright
In a time when musical imitation passes for innovation, U.K upstarts Skindred have come to challenge everything you know about music. Combing the best elements of the Deftones, System of a Down, 311 and Bad Brains, Skindred have successfully defied musical boundaries.
The roots of Skindred can be traced back to frontman Benji’s prior stint in funk/reggae rockers Dub War during the early 90’s.
“T
he way I looked at it was, Dub War was a formula 1 racecar and we got stuck at the starting line,” says Benji. “
Dub War was signed to Earache Records in the mid-90’s and touted as the next big thing by the label. The label was unable to provide the band with the push needed to break them through to the mainstream.”
Skindred’s Benji Webbe: “What do I put longevity down to? I can’t get that magic anywhere else…”
From Dub War to Skindred, the always-honest Benji Webbe reflects on a whirlwind career of famous fans, “sleeper” records and forever doing things his way…
Words: James Hickie
The moment that kick-started Benji Webbe’s life changing for the better didn’t seem positive at the time. It happened at Reading Festival 2018, following a triumphant main stage set from Skindred, a band with a distinguished pedigree when it comes to live performances. Moments after leading 40,000 fans through closing track Warning, complete with the T‑shirts-over-the-head revelry of trademark move ‘The Newport Helicopter’, the frontman was greeted by his hulking son, Barrington, whose words of praise were tempered by a rather sobering observation.