Skindred Interview – Frontman Benji Webbe speaks to Stereoboard about ‘Union Black’
Tuesday, 03 May 2011
Written by Rob Sleigh
After recording their first three albums over in the US and spending much of the past seven years riding high over on that side of the pond, Newport ragga-metal quartet Skindred have decided to bring things back home for their fourth and latest effort ‘Union Black’. On the third night of the band’s current tour, we ask frontman Benji Webbe whether it was their intention to target this Great Britain-themed album at the UK audience.
“Are you crazy?” Benji laughs. “I wouldn’t make a record that was aimed at a British audience. There’s not many of us over here. We wrote an album that was aimed at the world.” He goes on to explain why they chose to give the new Skindred album a rather British theme. “We just so happen to be a British band. So when we started the record, because it was the first one we’ve done here, we wanted it to have a UK feel.”
As ‘Union Black’ is also the first album that the band have recorded on British soil, Benji admits that it was a noticeably different process this time around. “It was much easier. We’ve done three albums in America before this one and when we’ve been dealing with producers, they haven’t got the full picture because of the cultural difference.” He describes how this wasn’t always just an artistic problem. “No disrespect to the American producers, but when you’re talking about Eastenders and Coronation Street and Sid James, it’s easier when you’re dealing with English people. We could talk about old British bands and we wouldn’t have to get the producers to do homework to check out Adam and the Ants or stuff like that. Everybody was on the same page. I really did enjoy that.”
Just one week after its UK release and ‘Union Black’ has already become the first Skindred album to chart in this country. Benji confirms how the response from the crowds at their recent shows has reflected the album’s early success. “I’m pretty buzzed about it. We tried these tracks before anybody had ever heard them on the Rob Zombie tour in January and February. Even then, the crowd was going crazy.” This is hardly surprising, bearing in mind Skindred’s growing reputation as one of the best live bands in the country. “They say that, but they never give us no fucking awards,” Benji laughs. “But we’re happy. I’m sure that we’re the people’s champion. You’ve got those that get the bits of paper that say they are the champion, but then you’ve got others who are the people’s champion. I know that we’re going to be living in their hearts for a long time, so I’m happy with that.”
“I like to reach out to the crowd and drag them in, because it’s not just about people coming to watch the show, it’s about people taking part in the show as well. Skindred bring it a little different from a lot of other bands.” Benji goes on to explain why the live show is such an important part of their music. “I just want people to have a great time when they come to see us. There’s enough bullshit in the world to make you want to cry about this planet. So when people come to see me for 45 minutes or an hour-and-a-half, I just want them to escape from the crap for a little while.”
Sticking to the subject of what Benji refers to as the “bullshit in the world”, we ask whether there is a particular concept on ‘Union Black’. “I wouldn’t say there’s a concept. I just talk about things in my lyrics, whether it’s bullying or people living double lives or knife crime or gun crime. A lot of these things do affect us.” He describes how people have raised concerns in the past regarding some of his lyrics. “It’s funny because journalists keep freaking out, saying ‘you keep talking about knives’ and ‘you keep talking about guns’. I’m like, ‘don’t you read the news? Have you got the same paper as me or what?’ This shit’s going on everyday. Just last week, a kid was caught with an arsenal of two rifles and a sub-machinegun under his bed. I’m just trying to be truthful to myself and whatever affects me. That’s my deal, really.”
With festivals like Download and Sonisphere becoming more and more popular each year, it seems that the UK rock scene is getting bigger than ever. We ask Benji whether this might be one of the explanations behind Skindred’s increasing homegrown success. “I don’t think it’s because rock’s coming back or anything like that. I don’t think that rock went anywhere. I don’t know where the rest of the world’s been, but we’ve been rocking. We are a band that’s been trying a long time and working a long time. We are ambassadors for British rock.”
Speaking of Download, Skindred will be playing a Main Stage slot at this year’s festival and Benji confirms that he is looking forward to the event. “I’m very excited, but first and foremost, I’m honoured.” He also admits that he will be hanging around after the performance. “I’ve got some friends in a band called Sevendust, who I’ll just want to drink booze with all day. I’ll probably end up falling down watching System Of A Down and crying when they sing ‘War’.”
So, with a brilliant fourth album just released and some exciting live dates ahead, it seems that 2011 might be Skindred’s year to truly conquer the UK rock scene once and for all. However, Benji explains how he’ll be happy with whatever happens. “I don’t do crystal ball stuff. I just take every day as it comes. If they said ‘you’ve got to go back to playing 200-capacity clubs’, I’d just accept that. I just love what I do - rocking a crowd. One thing I’ve learned growing up is that you have to enjoy where you are on the way to where you’re going. If you never get to where you’re going, at least you can say: ‘Fucking hell, I had a good time.’ I just hope that we can all stay together and play music.”
Finally, Benji has a few words for anyone hoping to catch Skindred at one of their upcoming shows: “All the pyrotechnics… All the bombs that go off… All the light shows… are in the band. That’s what we do. We bring the power. Anyone coming to the shows will not be disappointed, I’m sure. No matter what they see this year, they’re going to remember Skindred.”
‘Union Black’ is out now.
Skindred are currently on tour in the UK. See below for the band’s remaining dates:
Tuesday 3rd May - CARDIFF UNIVERSITY SOLUS
Wednesday 4th May - MARGATE WESTCOAST
Thursday 5th May - LIVERPOOL O2 ACADEMY
Friday 6th May - SHEFFIELD CORPORATION
Saturday 7th May - LONDON HMV FORUM
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
“I like to reach out to the crowd and drag them in, because it’s not just about people coming to watch the show, it’s about people taking part in the show as well. Skindred bring it a little different from a lot of other bands.” Benji goes on to explain why the live show is such an important part of their music. “I just want people to have a great time when they come to see us. There’s enough bullshit in the world to make you want to cry about this planet. So when people come to see me for 45 minutes or an hour-and-a-half, I just want them to escape from the crap for a little while.” 
