Skindred

Lore & Background

Skindred was formed by vocalist Benji Webbe after his previous band Dub War disbanded in 1999. Webbe originally started his music career with a group of friends filming a music video for a song called 'Point of No Return' in Newport in 1990, leading to the formation of Dub War. Dub War's metal crossover sound set the template that Skindred would later adopt and perfect. Skindred's debut album Babylon was released in 2002 and later reissued by RCA Records and Lava Records, charting at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart. The band's musical style fuses heavy metal, reggae, punk, hip hop and electronica, a style they have referred to as 'ragga metal' and which Benji Webbe has jokingly called 'nu-reggae'.

Reader's Guide

Skindred's significance lies in their fusion of heavy metal with reggae and other genres, creating a distinctive sound that earned them a dedicated following and critical recognition. Their live performances are noted for their energy and involvement, winning them the 'Best Live Band' award at the 2011 UK Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards. The band achieved a career milestone in 2026 when their ninth album You Got This topped the UK Albums Chart, their first number one album. Earlier, their eighth album Smile reached number 2 on the UK Albums Chart in 2023, topping the UK Rock and Metal Albums, UK Independent Albums, UK Vinyl Albums, and UK Album Downloads charts. The band's 2000s hit 'Nobody' saw a resurgence following a viral TikTok dance trend in February 2023. Skindred has also appeared at major festivals including Download Festival, Wacken Open Air, and Sonisphere Festival.

Did You Know?

• Skindred's debut album Babylon charted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart.
• The band's 2000s hit 'Nobody' was used in the video games Need For Speed Underground 2 and MX vs. ATV Unleashed.
• Long-time bassist Daniel Pugsley left the band in 2025 after 27 years.