Benji From Skindred Interview

Skindred are a rock/reggae band who hail from Wales.

Skindreds ‘Volume’ tour took them all over the world, I managed to catch up with them at Manchester Academy.

These boys who are quite clearly dedicated to their fans of all ages, allowed myself and my little girl to go and have a photo-op with them during the day.

My little girl who is a huge fan first got to meet these guys at just 9 months old, and here we are again now she is 2.5, watching as they set up before their gig later on tonight. Taking time out of their busy schedule to have a photo done with a toddler speaks volumes and shows you that they will go to any lengths to make their fans happy.

Speaking with Benji about their tour, and idle chit-chat he says ‘its nice to see that the next generation are getting involved in rock, the kids are the ones that have to keep the music going for the generations in years to come’.

After dropping the mini menace off with her grandparents heading back to the venue to catch their set, suffice to say it was a long day of travelling back and forth for this band, but totally worth it!

Their set was just tremendous and they blew the roof off the venue, just really awe-inspiring – these guys are just on another level.

Since their gig I have caught up with Benji for a short interview.

We see you guys have got Download Festival coming up, looks like an awesome line up, anyone on the bill you’re looking forward to seeing?.

Sabbath

You have got a new video out, ‘Sound the Siren’, how did this come about, and have you got any funny stories to tell from the video shoot?

Not really love all I remember is it was hot as fuck

You have another amazing festival coming up in the States, ‘Louder than Life’, have you got anything special lined up for this?

No we always play special

We last caught up with you guys on your ‘Volume’ tour what part of the tour did you most enjoy and why?

We had some amazing shows on that tour Manchester and Brixton were special

When do you guys find time to sit down and write, it seemed like there was a short gap between the release of ‘Kill the Power’ and ‘Volume’.

We write constantly so we are always ready to start writing new stuff we are heading in the studio in a few weeks to write a special EP

We have seen the band go from strength to strength and your fan base has grown immensely, do you feel like the band has reached the top, are you comfy where you guys are now on the music scene or are there new heights where you would like the band to be?

We have had a steady climb up the music ladder we are in no rush and are enjoying the journey, being in Skindred is a dream come true

Benji you have so much energy bounding about on stage, are you like this off stage?

I’m the same guy, always I do my lady’s head in with my constant performing but she wouldn’t have me any other way, so she says.

You guys did a TV show in New York with Conan O’Brien with kevin Spacey and Billy Connolly, what was that like?

We were a little freaked out coz our Managment at the time bigged up the show, we had a good time but I know we would of done a more solid performance if they wasent in our heads, Kevin spacey was distant the wanker! But billy was very cool, he asked me for a copy of our album at the time I told him to fuck off buy one ya tight bastard he liked that!

Anything else you guys would like to say?

I’d like to add that we all need to support our local music scene to keep music alive, and remember the opening act of today is the headliner of tomorrow.

https://www.facebook.com/skindredofficial/

http://www.skindred.net/

Photos by Lindsey