Skindred: Exclusive Interview
Brit Ragga Metal Band on Tour with Disturbed and Sevendust
Skindred have been a busy bunch these past couple of months. A large venue tour in support of Disturbed and Sevendust has taken the Newport reggae/metal band across the United States.
Suite101 caught with them for a little chat before their show at "Morocco Shine" in the state that's the antithesis of English weather, Florida.
"The tour is going fantastic, " says frontman Benji Webbe sounding in warm spirits, "Disturbed brings in such a diverse crowd that we can't lose. On this tour we cannot lose." He seems relaxed and jovial and he should be. Skindred are in veteran company on this American outing. Sevendust are not strangers to the road and have been putting out records and touring since the early '90's. Disturbed's success as one of a handful of rock bands of any genre to release three Number One albums in a row is undeniable.
The only time Webbe seems down at all is when he talks about the tour ending. "Oh don't remind me, " he laughs acknowleding that the end of the line for the band will be February 28th in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Disturbed will continue through the Summer with a World Tour. Sevendust will be jumping off on the 28th as well, taking up with Black Label Society.
Headlining Tour and a New Album
Skindred will be taking off on their own headlining tour once this leg with Disturbed is completed. "I'll play anywhere, doesn't matter the size. We played a gig in Lafayette that a smaller place and the crowd was just amazing. That's what it's about." Webbe is emphatic about fan reaction and making a connection with any crowd.
That formula is perhaps what has kept the band relevant for modern audiences in the world of twisting-in-the-wind record sales, digital thievery, and a shaky U.S economy. Benji and the lads will have no rest with the headlining dates beginning the day after the Disturbed Tour wraps. March 1st they'll be performing in Richmond, Virginia at Canal Club.
As for a new album? Beni would only say that it's going to happen and that lyrically it would hold up to the Skindred standard, "I was just talking to Clint (Lowery from Sevendust) about that today. Socially, relationships, mayhems, uplift things, that's what Skindred is about. To encourage the downtrodden, to say together we can push forward." That's a good sign for Skindred fans who have been waiting for a new full length offering since 2007's "Roots, Rock, Riot." Their new single, "Electric Avenue," is up on their Myspace page for listener consumption.
Barack Obama and Traveling the World
A world traveler thanks to his musical career with friends across the globe, we decided to press Skindred's vocalist for a little well-rounded outside perspective on the United States. "I have no opinion on the man. Come back in two years and I'll tell you, " chuckles Webbe when asked about newly inaugurated American President Barack Obama.
"He's (Obama) got a lot of work to do, the world is very excited. As someone that's traveled the globe...Our Arab friends are very excited to see what he's going to do." We're very excited to catch Benji and the rest of Skindred the next time they roll through the area.
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