Skindred

Skindred

Skindred is a four-piece band from Newport, South Wales, UK. Their genre is a mix of metal, punk, hip hop, reggae, and ragga known as Ragga-punk by the band and fans alike.

Band History (1999 - 2002)

Originally formed of 3 ex-members of Dub War. However, Benji, the lead singer, is the only previous member of Dub War left. Despite the similarities between the two bands, it is important to note that Benji is frequently cited as saying Skindred was a project born out of jams between him & Dan, and not a reformation of Dub War.[1]

During the first couple of years Skindred were unsigned, they toured the UK supporting bands like One Minute Silence & Lostprophets.

They eventually signed a deal with Sony owned label RCA & went into the studio to record their debut album Babylon in 2002.

Babylon was finally released on 2002/07/03 to much critical acclaim. Despite the positive reaction RCA pulled the album around a month later & Skindred were left to look for a new label. This ultimately lead to guitarist Jeff Rose & drummer Martin Ford leaving the band in November of 2002.[2]

Band History (2003 - present)

Jeff was replaced by Mikey Dee on Guitar & Ginge by Dirty Arya on Drums. With this new look Skindred & a new deal with US label Bieler. Bros, the band embarked on yet more touring. Something for which they always had an excellent reputation. Babylon was then to see the first (of what would be many) re-releases in 2003.

In 2004 Babylon was re-released again. This time with new artwork & some newly recorded tracks.

The latest re-release featured a bonus disc of extra material comprising of acoustic versions of their songs 'Start first', 'Pressure', 'Set it Off' and 'Nobody'. Also included on the main CD was a new song 'We want'. Recognition was gained when they supported both Soulfly and Pitchshifter on their 2006 UK tours and InMe at their gig at the Astoria, London, in 2005. The band has also toured in the USA with HIM, Sevendust & Papa Roach.

Skindred are currently working on their follow-up to Babylon, to be produced by Matt Squire. They began recording on January 4th, 2007. They debuted a track from this album at UxFest in August 2006. A new track entitled Roots Rock Reggae which is expected to appear on their forthcoming second album was played on some dates of their December 'Jungle Bells' UK tour.

Video Games & Soundtracks

The band has featured in the video game Need For Speed Underground 2, with their song 'Nobody', as well as songs 'Pressure' and 'Bruises' included in the track list of the 2005 game Blitz the League and Saint's Row. 'Pressure' was also shipped pre-loaded onto the hard drives of Xbox 360's. Their cover of The Beat's "Twist and Crawl" is featured on the soundtrack to the Disney film Sky High.

Trivia

• The first song Skindred ever wrote was Brainkiller
• Singer Benji has sung in two Soulfly songs, the band supported Soulfly on their 2006 tour.
• Singer Benji helped the band KoRn by singing A.D.I.D.A.S. at the download festival 2006 in Jonathan Davis's absence.
• Their concerts have received 5/5 in Kerrang! magazine.
• The album Babylon received 8/10 in Metal Hammer magazine, where they are also noted for their concerts.
• In Guitar World magazine Bullet for my Valentine guitarist Matt Tuck cited Skindred as a band to watch.
• According to Webbe, the band tries to avoid national barrier. This is evident in his statement, "It's not where you're from, it's where you're at."
• The bands mascot is a golly doll called 'MR C' which is attached to Arya's drum kit, what the 'C' stands for is unknown
• The lyrics to the song Pressure, according to Benji on the Narberth leg of the Jungle Bells Tour, were written when he was listening to an instrumental at his home in Newport and trying to write lyrics. When his next door neighbour knocked on the door and told him to turn the music down as he was trying to read Shakespeare, Benji responded by 'turning up the sound' and then wrote lyrics revolving about the situation.
• Skindred were the only band at the 2006 uxfest who were payed to play the charity event.
• Benji often treats the audience to a keyboard solo at the end of gigs.

Discography

Albums

• 
  Babylon
  2002 / 2003
• Babylon (Re-issue) 2004 / 2005
  Babylon (Re-issue)
  2004 / 2005

Singles

Year	Single	Album	Record Label
2005	Nobody	Babylon	Bieler. Bros / Lava
2006	Pressure	Babylon	Bieler. Bros / Lava

External links

• Official site
• Record Label
• Skindred on Myspace
• Russian fansite