As Flaming Wrekage’s brutal fourth album tickles your earholes, you know this is something special. …
“You know, I’m in the dog house,” says Benji Webbe. “I was supposed to take my girlfriend to see John Legend on Monday night, but I’m in Australia then. So she’s not very happy with me.” Evidently, Skindred’s energetic frontman is in damage control mode. “Yeah, I think it’s time for a posh restaurant,” he chuckles.
Australia on the other hand, can rejoice. Welshman Webbe is indeed (at the time of writing), setting down in Australia for one of the most hotly anticipated music events of the year. The Welsh reggae-metal pioneers will take to the stage as special guests of Max and Iggor Cavalera.
Skindred’s tour will be a party, especially seeing as Max and Iggor are good friends of the Skindred crew, Webbe saying, “I’ve known those guys for what? 20-odd years now? We very rarely play on tour with Max, I’m gonna see if we can get him up to do a couple of our numbers with us, that would be very cool.”
The prospect of seeing two of the most innovative musicians stand side by side has this humble writer in disbelief and encouraging Webbe to pull such a stunt at the Sydney show. “Sydney? You’re in Sydney?” asks Webbe. “I enjoy Sydney. I played in Sydney with my old band a long time ago – is it a place called the Annandale?” I confirm Webbe is talking of the Annandale Hotel. “The Annandale hotel, yeah!
That’s one thing my school report said – ‘Mr. Webbe disturbs every lesson, but it’s very entertaining the way he disturbs it!’
[BENJI]
“We played there a long time ago – that was the first time I ever met [Metallica’s] Robert Trujillo – he was on tour with a band called Infectious Grooves and they were playing Australia and Robert, he had a day off and came to see us play, and that’s where he and I met. So there you go, there’s an Australian connection for me and my friend Robert!”
Webbe has a great deal of memories from his trips here. This visit however, Skindred are not only coming to make new memories, but also to celebrate some old ones. As the Brothers Cavalera celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of Sepultura’s seminal album Roots, Webbe reels off his thoughts at being invited to play such a pivotal role in this celebration. “The beautiful thing about it is they spent so long apart, and [as] brothers, it must have been hurtful for the both of them obviously because they love each other, but it’s definitely a celebration to know these guys are back together.
“It’s beautiful to know that these two guys who didn’t speak for so long are now back together and doing what they’re doing and making it so great. You can see the adrenaline in these guy’s face, that’s what I’m seeing. Hopefully they’ll make a brand new album together!”
As I begin to ask about the possibility of new Skindred material, Webbe enthusiastically cuts off the question. “Oh! Oh! This is the plan, I’ll let you in on a little secret – we finish the tour, we play a couple of Halloween shows because we love to play Halloween because it’s so evil,” he says with an affected demonic voice, “And then we get in a real empty space and we just start a new album! I’m hoping by April next year, you’ll have a brand new Skindred album. 12 songs, no thrillers, all killers!”
As exciting as the prospect of new Skindred material is, Webbe hasn’t been idle with his song writing. “I did a solo album,” he says, “It’s definitely music for the barbeque, very mellow reggae, because I do enjoy a bit of reggae now and again, you know? And I did a whole album! It’s called I Haven’t Been Nicking In Ages.
“Pick it up and enjoy it, tell me what you think! You can’t forget the name of the album, can ya? I Haven’t Been Nicking In Ages?” he laughs heartily. I really can’t – Webbe’s solo album title reminds me of the old London Music Hall numbers, “Oh definitely! ‘Doing the Lambeth walk, I ain’t been nickin’ in ages – it does sound like that! I ain’t been nickin’ in ages!” Webbe sings in his most hilariously affected cockney accent. “I’m gonna do that now, eh! Get a bit of honkytonk going and record it – ‘There’s a couple of fings I dun in ma life/but I ain’t been nickin’ in ages!’”
Wiping tears of laughter from my eyes, Webbe agrees that though this is all very Oliver Twist, he’s definitely more of an Artful Dodger. “Oh yeah, I’m definitely that cheeky, charming boy, I honestly am! That’s one thing my school report said – ‘Mr. Webbe disturbs every lesson, but it’s very entertaining the way he disturbs it,’” he giggles. “That’s all I was destined to do, I was destined for the stage as kid, that’s all I was meant to do!”
WATCH >
Catch Skindred supporting Return To Roots this week!
Thursday 21 September—Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane – Lic A/A
Friday 22 September—Big Top, Sydney – Lic A/A
Saturday 23 September—Forum Theatre, Melbourne – 18+
Sunday 24 September—HQ, Adelaide – 18+
Tuesday 26 September—Astor Theatre, Perth – 18+
Tickets available now via Destroy All Lines
