Interview with Skindred frontman Benji Webbe

Hailing from South Wales in the United Kingdom, Skindred is slowly infecting the musical minds of thousands of people around the globe. This quartet of talented musicians is quite unique and their bombastic mix of Ragga Metal which even at times possesses elements of Punk, Dancehall, and Drum and Bass is immensely addictive. Needless to say this band’s innovative sound and song add new life to a genre which is now seeing so many not-so-original sounding groups. Skindred recently re-released their debut album Babylon and over the past year or so (in support of this record) have been touring like mad all across the world. After seeing the band perform in Toronto, Canada whilst on tour with Finch and Finish rock heroes HIM, I knew that I had to interview these guys. Fortunately for me, my wishes soon became reality and as a result I world like to offer you the fans some Q&A that I was able to share with Skindred frontman Benji Webbe. Here’s what he had to say on the origins of the band’s sound, info on their forthcoming album, and how the band unwinds at the end of a hard day.

Okay… so your music is one of the most unique sounds currently blasting through the loud music world. How did it come to possess so many different elements from so many different genres?
Benji: As a kid growing up I was exposed to such a wide range of music that it was inevitable that once I started writing my own songs, I would draw on those artists and performers as influences in my music, from rock n’ roll to reggae to punk rock to theatrical musicals; the list is endless.

What is the significance of this brave and amazing mix of music(s)?
Benji: We do what we do and love it. We are not trying to do this music. It is what’s in us. If you cut people, blood runs out. It’s that simple – what’s inside comes out.

One of the first and only bands to incorporate reggae and “loud music” was none other than Bad Brains. Do you get this comparison a lot and either way, what is your take on it?
Benji: Yer we get a lot of bad brains comparisons. All I can say is I do like them but I’ve never been a massive fan. Dan our bass player loves them, but as for me I never had an album of theirs in my collection.

I have to ask where did you get the idea for your unique band name?
Benji: We just love music and see no boundaries. If there is a wall, we just smash that wall down. Music’s music in it mate?

Being from the UK, how did you come to sign a record deal with US based Lava Records and furthermore, team up with US based management company the Bieler Group?
Benji: Original Babylon, our debut album, was recorded for BMG/RCA in the UK, but after recording the album for one reason or another we were dropped and left to die, but fortunately our UK manager had a chance meeting with Jason Bieler in an office in New York. Jason loved us and quickly set about finding a new home for Skindred. A few months later and a lot of hard work, Skindred signed to Lava records, and Bieler Group have come to manage us in the States.

Your full-length debut Babylon was produced by Howard Benson (Papa Roach, P.O.D., etc…). What was it like working with him and what do you think he brought to the table? How do you personally feel about this release?
Benji: I think Howard is a great producer. Personally he is not hands on enuff for me and he leaves a lot to the engineer while actually recording, but I think he is genius in the preproduction and a lot of songs that ended up on Babylon he really pulled together and made come alive…. I would like to work with him again some day.

On October 10th Babylon was re-released in the UK. This album featured new tracks and a load of bonus material. How has this release worked for you so far and why was it re-released?
Benji: Like I said RCA/BMG didn’t really give Babylon a fair chance to be heard in the UK, so when our UK management got interest from Warner and they wanted to repackage the album, we were more than happy to give it another go. After all, we are a British band, so why not let our countrymen hear this masterpiece for themselves. So far, as we play live, we really do see an increase in Dred fans singing along to every song. We are so glad our UK label got behind that album and gave it a second chance over here.

You guys are currently in the writing mode for your long-awaited second album. Can you give us any details at all pertaining to its status, how the process is going, the release date, the producer… anything at all?
Benji: At the moment we are writing ideas and pulling some really good vibes together in our studio/rehearsal room. We already have over 20 songs ready to be heard by a producer and the writing process is going great. Skindred are in no hurry to move this thing forward, it’s better to go at your pace than rush a song and spoil it. I’ve heard they want us in the studio in the summer and to get the album in shops mid fall, but let’s just see how it goes. As for producers, I’ll say we are talking about some great names who have brought you some classic albums over the years.

You recently toured North America with HIM and Finch. How did you get added to this bill and how was the tour overall?
Benji: HIM are the best. Even though they are set to be massive rock stars, they have no stupid egos to deal with. Ville told us that he’d seen Skindred play in Finland a few years ago and being a massive reggae fan he loved the concept of rock and reggae so he invited us along. We played some super shows and had a lot of fun during the tour. Finch are great guys too. I can only remember 1 or 2 shows that seemed crap! And that’s good going out of 30 shows on a US tour….

Since your sound is so diverse, do you find that your fans are a wide mix of genres or does it tend to be more of a metal crowd for example?
Benji: Yer I think that the metal crowd have seemed to embrace us more than any other, but I think we will branch out on the next album and capture much more of a diverse crowd. After all, we have only gone out supporting Metal bands so we haven’t had a chance for other people to experience our sound….

Speaking of crowds how have they been responding to your live set and furthermore your album?
Benji: We’ve been fortunate to stand next to great bands and rock out hard. We are a solid live act. A lot of people are won over by our live performance more than our album. I think it’s more important to be able to win fans at a live show. So many bands have fantastic albums, but live they haven’t got nothing at all; to me we shine more live than on a recording, that’s where the true test of a rock n’ roll band is – live and direct, no lights, smoke or mirrors – just sweat and power.

In February of 2006 you are set to head out with Soulfly on a UK tour. How did you come to be added to this tour in particular and are you looking forwards to playing alongside Soulfly? Any other future tour plans?
Benji: Max Cavalera and Soulfly have always had a connection with me from when I was in a band Called DubWar and I sang 2 songs on Soulfly’s debut album back in 1998, so when Skindred had the chance to support them we jumped at the chance. We could only do the UK leg of the tour, but we have been getting on so well we are talking about touring together in the States some time on a longer tour. I think that would be a tour that people would dig.

Being a band comprised of hard working and motivated musicians you are seemingly always on the road or working on new material. Where do you find your crazy drive and how do you unwind at the end of the day?
Benji: I guess we all love the music and realise that this is what’s gunner take us around the world and bring good things. We are all very different people and at the end of the night we like to unwind in different ways. I myself have a amazing addiction to crack cocaine and smoke rock after rock till the sun comes up, Dan enjoys a glass of port and a few hours surfing the net, Arya likes to walk into a bar and usually drink so much he becomes very obnoxious and ends up getting thrown out, Mikey smokes skunk till he is in a coma with a smile on his face, laying on his bed dribbling. So you can see, we like to unwind in different ways….  [ END ]