Skindred Hits Number One After 28 Years
Welsh band Skindred have reached number one on the charts for the first time in their 28-year career.
Singer Benji Webbe told the BBC he celebrated the achievement with a dinner consisting of chips, champagne, and curry-filled Jamaican patties.
The Newport-based band, formed in 1998, is known for blending metal with reggae. In 2023, they narrowly missed out on the top spot.
Their eighth studio album, Smile, was beaten to number one by Cian Ducrot's Victory.
However, their latest album, You Got This, managed to hold off competition from Jessie Ware's Superbloom to secure the number one position.
Benji Webbe Reflects on the Achievement
"We came close before and got to number two, and I was not sure where we were going to go with this one.
"I was saying to people 'it would be nice to get to number one'.
"It's deserved, but I feel like we have taken the scenic route to get here. We've been going for a long time."
The 59-year-old vocalist added:
"The chips are going down lovely with the pattie and the champagne is in the fridge.
"I might crack that open and have it in the hot tub."
Recognition and Inspiration Behind the Album
Skindred became the only Welsh group to win a MOBO Award in 2024, an accolade that Webbe said reflects their hard work to reach number one.
He also shared the inspiration behind the album's title, which originated during a visit to a spin class.
"I was looking for a name for the album and the woman at the gym kept saying 'you got this' and I thought 'what a name!'"
"Then I came out of the spin class and a friend of mine, a personal trainer, he said to the fella he was training 'you got this' and I went 'we are going to call the album You Got This'."
Listen to Benji Webbe's Interview
Fans can hear Benji Webbe's interview on BBC Introducing with Adam Walton, available on .
