Skunk Anansie

Skunk Anansieare aBritish rockbandwhose members includeSkin(lead vocals, guitar), Cass (bass, guitar, backing vocals), Ace (guitar, backing vocals) andMark Richardson(drums and percussion).

Skunk Anansie
Skunk Anansie at the Eska Music Awards in 2011 (L-R Ace, Skin, Mark Richardson, Cass)
Background information
Origin	London, England
Genres	Alternative rock hard rock grunge alternative metal
Years active	1994–2001 2008–present
Labels	100% Records One Little Indian Virgin Epic V2 earMUSIC Carosello
Members	Skin Ace Cass Mark Richardson
Past members	Robbie France
Website	skunkanansie.net

Skunk Anansie formed in 1994, disbanded in 2001 and reformed in 2009. The name "Skunk Anansie" is taken fromAkanfolk talesofAnansithe spider-man of Ghana,with "Skunk"added to" make the name nastier ".

They have released six studio albums:Paranoid & Sunburnt(1995),Stoosh(1996),Post Orgasmic Chill(1999),Wonderlustre(2010),Black Traffic(2012) andAnarchytecture(2016); one compilation album,Smashes and Trashes(2009); and several hit singles, including "Charity","Hedonism","Selling Jesus"and"Weak".

They are often grouped as part of theBritrockmovement, as opposed to the contemporaryBritpopof their early years due to their overall harder sound. The band, in 2004, was named as one of the most successful UK chart acts between 1952 and 2003 by theGuinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums,with a total of 142 weeks on both the singles and album charts ranking them at No. 491.Skunk Anansie have sold 5 million records.

History

Formation and early career: 1994–2001

The group played its first gig at London's Splash club in March 1994.In 1995 they were voted Best New British Band by the readers ofKerrang!magazine. At the award ceremony that year drummer Mark Richardson met the band who were looking for a permanent replacement for Robbie France, so an audition was set up and the band was reformed. Soon after that, two of their songs, "Feed" and "Selling Jesus", appeared on the soundtrack of the filmStrange Daysin 1995. "Selling Jesus" became Skunk Anansie's controversial second song to receive radio play, following their first radio release "Little Baby Swastikkka".After hearing this song, radio personalityHoward Sternclaimed that the band would become a huge hit. Success continued for the band and they were also votedKerrang!'s Best British Live Act in 1996. In 1997 they were nominated for Best Live Act and Best Group at theMTV Europe Music Awards.

The group played its first gig at London's Splash club in March 1994, subsequently taking six weeks to record its debut album,Paranoid & Sunburnt,with producerSylvia Massyat a "haunted house" outside the city. The band's first single, "Selling Jesus," was featured on the soundtrack of the filmStrange Days;Stooshfollowed in 1996.Both albums were released byOne Little Indian Records.After switching to theVirginlabel in 1998, their third album,Post Orgasmic Chill,was released in 1999.

In 1996, the band played a set at the Coppid Beech Hotel, Bracknell during a record label event.

In 1999, the band was the last band of the 20th Century to headlineGlastonbury Festival;closing the Pyramid Stage on Sunday 27 June.

Throughout the 1990s, the group toured globally with such bands asU2,Aerosmith,Feeder,Lenny Kravitz,Bad Religion,Rollins Band,Therapy?,Rammstein,Killing Joke,Soulfly,Sevendust,Oomph!,Muse,Staind,Powerman 5000,Veruca Salt,MarionandA Perfect Circle.

Side projects: 2002–2008

Cass

After their split in April 2001, Skin embarked on a solo career. Her debut solo albumFleshwounds,co-written with longtime songwriting partnerLen Arranwas released in September 2003 andFake Chemical Statewas released in March 2006. She has also provided vocals for a number of other acts' songs.

Ace released a low-key album,Still Hungry,under the name Ace Sounds, which featured many collaborations including Shingai Shoniwa fromNoisettesand Skye fromMorcheeba.He later joined a band called "Inner Mantra". Ace is also a tutor at theBrighton Institute of Modern Music

In 2002 Cass recorded the albumScarswithGary Moore,and played bass and performed backing vocals. Cass also played various instruments on Skin's first solo album. When not recording he concentrates on photography.

Mark recorded sessions for various artists including Skin before joiningFeederafter the death of their original drummer,Jon Lee.Mark has also been tutoring at the Brighton Institute with bandmate Ace.

Reunion: 2009–2010

Ace

Mark Richardson confirmed reports that the band was reforming in an interview withDrummer Magazine(November 2008 issue), and said that the band planned to release a "best of" compilation as well as new material. Ace later set up an official page for the band onMySpace.

On 2 and 3 April 2009, two shows took place at the Monto Water Rats (the former venue of the Splash Club) in London, under the alias SCAM (Skin, Cass, Ace, Mark) and sold out in 20 minutes.The band began their "Greatest Hits" tour on Friday, 9 October 2009 at the Ancienne Belgique inBrussels,with other dates across Europe. It was their first actual tour in eight years.A "greatest hits" album,Smashes and Trashes,was released 2 November 2009. It is a 15-track career-embracing album and includes three brand new tracks: "Because of You", "Tear the Place Up" and "Squander". A best-of remixescompanion album was also released digitally.

On 3 July 2009, the music video for "Tear the Place Up" was presented exclusively on MySpace, before on 10 August 2009, a new video for "Because of You" was presented exclusively on Kerrang. It was released 14 September 2009 in the UK and was the first single to be released fromSmashes and Trashes.The single was a top 10 hit in Italy, before its follow-up "Squander" was a top 75 success in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium.

Their fifth albumWonderlustrewas released internationally on 13 September 2010, preceded by the first single "My Ugly Boy", which was released in the UK on 16 August 2010 and in Europe July/August. The video for "My Ugly Boy" was presented exclusively on Kerrang on 23 July 2010.Wonderlustrereached number one on the Italian albums chart on 1 October 2010 and placed in the top 10 in charts all over Europe including in Germany, the Netherlands, France and Poland.

In May 2010 they were a supporting act forRammstein,during two concerts in Berlin. The second single fromWonderlustre,"Over the Love" was released internationally in November 2010. In November 2010 the band played onÍdolos,a Portuguese equivalent to the UK'sPop Idol.

"You Saved Me", the third single fromWonderlustrewas released internationally in March 2011.

Continuing career: 2011–present

Mark Richardson atRock on the Volga Riverin 2011

On 12 June 2011, the band performed at an open air 'Rock over Volga' at Samara, Russia. The performance was exceptionally well-received. The band also appeared on Friday 12 August atSziget Festivalin Budapest, Hungary playing a mixed set of hits and newer material. This was their first appearance at Sziget. Sziget's own website reporting "nobody had any doubts who the Queen of this year's Sziget turned out to be".

Skunk Anansie was on stage when the tragedy occurred atPukkelpopin Belgium on 18 August 2011. As the band was performing a small tornado hit the venue and artists and revellers alike were sent running for their lives. Five were killed whilst several more were injured. Singer Skin described the incident as the most terrifying of her life.

Former drummerRobbie Francedied on 14 January 2012 in Spain. He was 52.

On 11 June 2012, Skunk Anansie revealed the title for their 5th studio album:Black Traffic.The band's follow-up to 2010's critically acclaimedWonderlustrewas recorded in London and produced by Skunk Anansie andChris Sheldonand mixed by Jeremy Wheatley and Adrian Bushby.

Black Trafficbecame the band's first independent release via their own label working in partnership with 100% Records. The album was released in September 2012 release and was backed by the first leg of an extensive 20 date European Tour.On 29 June 2012, the band released the lyric video for a new track called 'Sad, Sad, Sad'. Nick Bassett praised the track on his site The Re-View: "Thrashing percussion and Skin's vocal – she remains one of the UK's greatest and most underrated female vocalists – are all in check as the band return to the heavy rock sound that first shot them into the mainstream in the mid-nineties."

Skin (2011)

In September 2013, the band released their seventh album,An acoustic Skunk Anansie – Live in Londonwhich was recorded live atCadogan Hallin April of that year. The album was also released as a live DVD and was described by the band as 'a family affair' as it featured Skin's longtime writing partnerLen Arranon guitar and Erika Footman, Mark's wife on backing vocals and keyboards.

On 15 January 2016, Skunk Anansie released their sixth studio albumAnarchytecture,and embarked upon an extensive European tour in February 2016and throughout Summer 2016.

In 2017, Skunk Anansie turned their influence to help young aspiring musicians and launched the first ever Skunk Anansie scholarship in conjunction withThe Academy of Contemporary Music.The band pick one successful applicant from either ACM Guildford, ACM London or ACM Birmingham and offer them £27,000 of funding for their degree course. The scholarship was again awarded the following year.

In September 2018, the band announced they’d be releasing the very special live album, 25LIVE@25 through Republic of Music in celebration of their forthcoming 25th anniversary. It was released 25 January 2019 and features 25 tracks taken from across their six studio albums, which were captured live from various performances on their 2017 tour.

Continuing the 25th anniversary celebrations Skunk Anansie will be touring Europe throughout the summer of 2019, headlining festivals and their own shows, finishing with a string of UK shows

Across the UK and European media the importance of the band in today's culture has been given renewed prominence. The UK media have embraced the band once more with Skin appearing in interviews for the likes ofChannel 4 News,Newsnight,The One Show,ITN,andRadio 2discussing current political and social issues. The band have also been hailed as one of the most important rock bands of the modern age rock across a broad spectrum of UK press titles, and were the recipients of the Hall of Fame Award at the 2019Kerrang! Awardson 19 June 2019.

The single "What You Do For Love" was released in 2019. The black and white video for the song shows Skunk Anansie in concert. "This Means War" followed in 2020. At the beginning of 2022, the singles "Piggy" and "Can't Take You Anywhere" were released, but there was no announcement of a new album.

Skunk Anansie singer Skin received her OBE from King Charles on 7th February 2023 at Windsor Castle.

Influences

Skin has described Skunk Anansie as a "clit-rock "group, whichAllmusicclarifies as "an amalgam ofheavy metaland blackfeministrage ".Members Skin and Ace have mentioned theSex Pistols,Blondie,dub,reggae,electronica,hip-hopandworld musicas significant influences.

Other media

The band also coveredThe Stooges' song "Search and Destroy"specifically for the soundtrack ofZack Snyder's filmSucker Punch,released on 25 March 2011. The soundtrack also includes a Skunk Anansie remix of the song "Army of Me"byBjörk.

Band members

• Deborah "Skin" Dyer– lead vocals, guitar, theremin, piano, keyboards, tambourine(1994–2001; 2009–present)
• Martin "Ace" Kent – guitar, backing vocals(1994–2001; 2009–present)
• Richard "Cass" Lewis – bass, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals(1994–2001; 2009–present)
• Mark Richardson– drums, percussion, backing vocals(1995–2001; 2009–present)

Former members

• Robbie France– drums, percussion(1994–1995; died 2012)

Touring members

• Erika Footman – keyboards, backing vocals

Discography

Main article:Skunk Anansie discography

Studio albums

• Paranoid & Sunburnt(1995)
• Stoosh(1996)
• Post Orgasmic Chill(1999)
• Wonderlustre(2010)
• Black Traffic(2012)
• Anarchytecture(2016)

External links

• Review of 'Squander' on the Daily Music Guide
• Official Website
• Review of 'Because Of You' on the Daily Music Guide
• Skinmusic.net – Lead singer's official site containing Skunk Anansie content
• Lisbon concert review
• Ace."Skunk Anansie MySpace".MySpace.Retrieved13 December2008.