{{short description|British rock band}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}} {{EngvarB|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Skunk Anansie | background = group_or_band | image = Skunk Anansie.jpg | caption = Skunk Anansie at the Eska Music Awards in 2011 (L-R Ace, Skin, Mark Richardson, Cass) | landscape = yes | origin = London, England | genre = {{flatlist| *Alternative rock *alternative metal *hard rock }} | years_active = {{flatlist| * 1994–2001 * 2008–present }} | works = Discography | label = {{flatlist| * 100% Records * One Little Indian * Virgin * Epic * V2 * earMUSIC * Carosello * FLG }} | website = {{URL|https://skunkanansie.com/}} | current_members = * Skin * Ace * Cass * Mark Richardson | past_members = * Robbie France }}
'''Skunk Anansie''' are a British rock band whose members include Skin (vocals, guitar), Cass (bass, guitar), Ace (guitar) and Mark Richardson (drums).
Skunk Anansie formed in 1994, disbanded in 2001 and reformed in 2009. The name "Skunk Anansie" is taken from Akan folk tales of Anansi the spider-man of Ghana,<ref name="wilson">{{cite book | first=Dave | last=Wilson | title=''Rock Formations: Categorical Answers To How Band Names Were Formed'' | year=2004 | pages=230–1 | publisher=Cidermill Books | isbn=0-9748483-5-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tOpB23GGxAIC&q=Skunk+Anansie&pg=PA230 }}</ref> with "Skunk" added to "make the name nastier".<ref name="amgbio">{{cite web | title=Biography: Skunk Anansie | publisher=AllMusic | url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p165457/biography|pure_url=yes}} | access-date=22 November 2005}}</ref>
They have released seven studio albums: ''Paranoid & Sunburnt'' (1995), ''Stoosh'' (1996), ''Post Orgasmic Chill'' (1999),<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20000306120208/http://www.chartattack.com/features/99/skunk/index.html "SKUNK ANANSIE: GREAT EXPECTATIONS"]}}. ''Chart Attack'', Interview by Sean K. Robb, 1999.</ref> ''Wonderlustre'' (2010), ''Black Traffic'' (2012) ''Anarchytecture'' (2016) and ''The Painful Truth'' (2025); 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 the Britrock movement, as opposed to the contemporary Britpop of 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 the ''Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums'', with a total of 142 weeks on both the singles and album charts ranking them at No. 491.<ref name="guinness">{{cite book|editor=Roberts, David|year=2004|title=Guinness Book of British Hit Singles and Albums|edition=17th|publisher=HiT Entertainment|location=London, UK|isbn=0-85112-199-3}}</ref> Skunk Anansie have sold five million records.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/sep/06/skin-interview-skunk-anansie-britpop-racism-sexuality-new-book|work=The Guardian|title=Skin: 'I refused to play the game'|date=6 September 2020|first=Michael|last=Segalov|access-date=15 March 2023}}</ref>
==History==
===Formation and early career: 1994–2001===
The group played their first gig at London's Splash club in March 1994.<ref name="amgbio" /> In 1995 they were voted Best New British Band by the readers of ''Kerrang!'' magazine. At the award ceremony 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 film ''Strange Days'' in 1995. "Selling Jesus" became Skunk Anansie's second song to receive radio play, following their first radio release "Little Baby Swastikkka".<ref name="LarkinHR">{{cite book|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Virgin Books|date=1999|edition=First|isbn=0-7535-0257-7|page=405}}</ref> After hearing this song, radio personality Howard Stern predicted that the band would become a huge hit. The band were also voted ''Kerrang!''{{'}}s Best British Live Act in 1996. In 1997 they were nominated for Best Live Act and Best Group at the MTV Europe Music Awards. {{Listen |filename=Skunk_Anansie_brazen.ogg |title="Brazen (Weep)" (1996) |description=A sample of "Brazen (Weep)" from the album ''Stoosh'', their highest-charting single to date.}}
''Stoosh'' followed in 1996.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> Both albums were released by One Little Indian Records.<ref name="LarkinHR"/> After switching to the Virgin label 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.
They headlined the 1999 Glastonbury Festival, closing the Pyramid Stage on Sunday 27 June.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/photos/13-glastonbury-headliners-you-might-have-forgotten-1409057|title=13 Glastonbury Headliners You Might Have Forgotten |date=24 May 2013|website=NME |language=en-GB|access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref>
Throughout the 1990s, the group toured internationally with such bands as U2, Aerosmith, Feeder, Lenny Kravitz, Bad Religion, Rollins Band, Therapy?, Rammstein, Killing Joke, Soulfly, Sevendust, Oomph!, Muse, Staind, Powerman 5000, Veruca Salt, Marion and A Perfect Circle.
Skunk Anansie were unable to repeat their success in the U.S. However, they did have several concerts there, with the first being in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2001 and their second in 2016 in Brooklyn, New York City.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thefader.com/2016/08/17/skunk-anansie-skin-afropunk-interview/amp | title=Skunk Anansie is Ready to Put the Punk Back into Afropunk }}</ref>
===Side projects: 2002–2008===
thumb|Cass
After the band's split in April 2001, Skin embarked on a solo career. Her debut album, ''Fleshwounds'', co-written with longtime songwriting partner Len Arran, was released in September 2003 and ''Fake Chemical State'' was released in March 2006. She has also provided vocals for a number of other acts.
Ace released a low-key album, ''Still Hungry'', under the name Ace Sounds, which featured many collaborations including Shingai Shoniwa from Noisettes and Skye from Morcheeba. He later joined a band called Inner Mantra. Ace is also a tutor at Brighton Institute of Modern Music.
In 2002 Cass recorded the album ''Scars'' with Gary 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 joining Feeder after the death of their original drummer, Jon Lee.<ref name="FEEDERWEBBAND">{{cite web|url=http://www.feederweb.com/band|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050207161155/http://www.feederweb.com/band/|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 February 2005|title=Band Biography- Feederweb.com|work=feederweb.com|access-date=31 July 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigbadworld.net/littleangels/biography/markrichardson.htm|title=Mark "Rich" Richardson Little Angels Band Profile|publisher=bigbadworld.net|access-date=8 March 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928114952/http://www.bigbadworld.net/littleangels/biography/markrichardson.htm|archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref> Mark has also been tutoring at Brighton Institute.
===Reunion: 2009–2010=== 200px|thumb|Ace Mark Richardson confirmed reports that the band was reforming in an interview with ''Drummer 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 on Myspace.
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.skinmusic.net/main246.php?year=2009&month=03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810052505/http://www.skinmusic.net/main246.php?year=2009&month=03|url-status=dead|title=news page on SkinMusic|archive-date=10 August 2009}}</ref> The band began their "Greatest Hits" tour on Friday, 9 October 2009 at the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, with other dates across Europe. It was their first actual tour in eight years.{{Update after|2010|04}} 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 remixes{{Clarify|date=April 2010|reason=Is that really the title? If not, give the real title.}} companion album was also released digitally.
On 3 July 2009, the music video for "Tear the Place Up" was presented exclusively on Myspace, and on 10 August 2009, a new video for "Because of You" was presented exclusively on Kerrang.com. It was released 14 September 2009 in the UK and was the first single to be released from ''Smashes and Trashes''. The single was a top 10 hit in Italy, and its follow-up "Squander" was a top 75 success in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium.
Their fifth album, ''Wonderlustre'', was 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.com on 23 July 2010. ''Wonderlustre'' reached 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 for Rammstein, during two concerts in Berlin. The second single from ''Wonderlustre'', "Over the Love" was released internationally in November 2010. In November 2010 the band played on ''Ídolos'', a Portuguese equivalent to the UK's ''Pop Idol''.
"You Saved Me", the third single from ''Wonderlustre'', was released internationally in March 2011.
===Continuing career: 2011–present===
[[File:Mark Richardson.jpg|thumb|right|Mark Richardson at Rock on the Volga River in 2011]]
On 12 June 2011, the band performed at the open air Rock on the Volga festival at Samara, Russia. The performance was exceptionally well-received. The band also appeared on Friday 12 August at Sziget Festival in 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".<ref>{{cite web|author=webstation.hu |url=http://www.sziget.hu/festival_english/news/main_stage__report_of_the_third_day.11608.html |title=Main Stage – report of the third day |publisher=Sziget.hu |access-date=4 April 2012}}</ref>
While the band were on stage at Pukkelpop in Belgium on 18 August 2011, a small tornado hit the venue and artists and revellers alike were sent running for their lives. Five were killed and several more were injured. Skin described the incident as the most terrifying of her life.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.lavenir.net/cnt/dmf20110819_292 |title=Skunk Anansie stoppée par la tempête du Pukkelpop: "le moment le plus effrayant de mes 20 ans de carrière"|website=Lavenir.net |date=20 August 2023 |language=fr }}</ref>
Former drummer Robbie France died on 14 January 2012 in Spain. He was 52.<ref name=musicradar.co.uk>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicradar.com/rhythm/ex-skunk-anansie-drummer-robbie-france-dies-524332|title=Ex-Skunk Anansie drummer Robbie France dies|website=Musicradar.com|date=16 January 2012 |access-date=16 January 2012}}</ref>
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 acclaimed{{Citation needed|date=February 2014}} ''Wonderlustre'' was recorded in London and produced by Skunk Anansie and Chris Sheldon and mixed by Jeremy Wheatley and Adrian Bushby.
''Black Traffic'' became 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 a 20 date European Tour.<ref name="entertainment-focus.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.entertainment-focus.com/news/skunk-anansie-reveal-title-for-5th-studio-album |title=Skunk Anansie Reveal Title For 5th Studio Album |publisher=Entertainment Focus |date=15 October 2009 |access-date=17 September 2012 }}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Tweet Stockholm TT Spektra |url=http://www.svd.se/kultur/skunk-anansie-slapper-ny-skiva_7269055.svd |title=Skunk Anansie släpper ny skiva | Kultur | SvD |language=sv |work=Svenska Dagbladet |date=18 September 1961 |access-date=17 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.melodicamente.com/black-traffic-titolo-nuovo-album-skunk-anansie/ |title="Black Traffic" è il titolo del nuovo album degli Skunk Anansie |date=11 June 2012 |publisher=Melodicamente.com |access-date=17 September 2012}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web|title=Skunk Anansie: Sad, Sad, Sad (Official Lyric Video)|url=http://there-view.tumblr.com/post/26068262773/skunk-anansie-unveil-sad-sad-sad-from-new-album-black-tr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121128044517/http://there-view.tumblr.com/post/26068262773/skunk-anansie-unveil-sad-sad-sad-from-new-album-black-tr|archive-date=28 November 2012}}</ref>
thumb|right|Skin (2011)
In September 2013, the band released their seventh album, ''An acoustic Skunk Anansie – Live in London'' which was recorded at Cadogan Hall in 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 partner Len Arran on guitar and Erika Footman, Mark's wife on backing vocals and keyboards.
On 15 January 2016, Skunk Anansie released their sixth studio album, ''Anarchytecture'', and began an extensive European tour in February 2016<ref name="Never Enough Notes">{{cite news|title=Skunk Anansie European tour + new album|url=http://www.neverenoughnotes.co.uk/2015/12/skunk-anansie-returns-with-new-album-announcement-european-tour-dates/?|access-date=3 December 2015|publisher=Never Enough Notes|agency=Never Enough Notes|date=3 December 2015|ref=Never Enough Notes|archive-date=6 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151206000258/http://www.neverenoughnotes.co.uk/2015/12/skunk-anansie-returns-with-new-album-announcement-european-tour-dates/|url-status=dead}}</ref> continuing throughout Summer 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.songkick.com/artists/396097-skunk-anansie/gigography|title=Skunk Anansie Gigography, Tour History & Past Concerts|website=Songkick.com|access-date=2016-07-24}}</ref>
In 2017, the band launched the first Skunk Anansie scholarship, for young aspiring musicians, in conjunction with The 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.
A live album, ''25LIVE@25'', a released through Republic of Music in celebration of their upcoming 25th anniversary on 25 January 2019. It 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 toured Europe throughout the summer of 2019, headlining festivals and their own shows, finishing with a string of UK shows.
Skin appeared in interviews for the likes of ''Channel 4 News'', ''Newsnight'', ''The One Show'', ITN, and Radio 2 discussing political and social issues. The band were the recipients of the Hall of Fame Award at the 2019 ''Kerrang!'' Awards on 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 new album.
Skin was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by King Charles on 7 February 2023 at Windsor Castle.
The band's seventh studio album, ''The Painful Truth'', was released on 23 May 2025 through the Frontiers Music Srl imprint FLG (Frontiers Label Group).<ref name="SA_instagram">{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGiDaxNJyuC/|title=Instagram|website=www.instagram.com|access-date=13 August 2025}}</ref>
==Style== Skin has described Skunk Anansie as a "clit-rock" group, which AllMusic clarifies as "an amalgam of heavy metal and black feminist rage".<ref name="amgbio" /> Members Skin and Ace have mentioned the Sex Pistols, Blondie, dub, reggae, electronica, hip-hop and world music as significant influences.<ref name="nyrock">{{cite web |title=Interview with Skin and Ace of Skunk Anansie September 1999 |url=http://www.nyrock.com/interviews/skunk_int.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051223012835/http://www.nyrock.com/interviews/skunk_int.htm |archive-date=23 December 2005 |access-date=22 November 2005 |work=NY Rock |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
The band has been described as alternative rock,<ref name="gigwise-review">{{cite web |last1=Coleman |first1=Lee |title=Review: Skunk Anansie – Anarchytecture |url=https://www.gigwise.com/reviews/105008/skunk-anansie-anarcytecture-album-review-before-tour---tickets |website=Gigwise |access-date=7 February 2021 |date=15 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="amgbio"/> alternative metal,<ref name="clash19">{{cite web |last1=Finamore |first1=Emma |title=Celebrating Black British Albums |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/celebrating-black-british-albums |website=Clash |access-date=7 February 2021 |date=12 October 2019}}</ref> hard rock,<ref name="sputnikmusic-wonderlustre">{{cite web |author1=DaveyBoy |title=Skunk Anansie – Wonderlustre |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/39151/Skunk-Anansie-Wonderlustre/ |website=Sputnikmusic.com |access-date=7 February 2021 |date=17 September 2010}}</ref><ref name="popmatters-black-traffic">{{cite web |last1=Chiola |first1=Enio |title=Skunk Anansie: Black Traffic |url=https://www.popmatters.com/164296-skunk-anansie-black-traffic-2495806789.html |website=PopMatters |access-date=7 February 2021 |date=22 October 2012}}</ref> post-grunge,<ref name="allmusic">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/wonderlustre-mw0002023363|title=Wonderlustre - Skunk Anansie | Album |website=AllMusic|access-date=13 August 2025}}</ref> grunge<ref>{{cite web |title=Thinking Out Loud: Skunk Anansie's Skin |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/thinking-out-loud-skunk-anansie-s-skin|website=Loudersound.com |access-date=24 October 2024 |date=8 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Morrison |first1=John |title=Skunk Anansie's "Paranoid & Sunburnt" Is Still Timely Today |url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/hidden-gems/skunk-anansie-paranoid-and-sunburnt-review |access-date=24 October 2024|website=Daily.bandcamp.com |date=13 May 2022}}</ref> and nu metal.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.loudersound.com/music/albums/skunk-anansie-the-painful-truth | title="Skunk Anansie's most musically ambitious album yet": Skin & Co's The Painful Truth is their best work in decades|website=Loudersound.com | date=May 23, 2025}}</ref>
==Other work== The band covered the Stooges' song "Search and Destroy" specifically for the soundtrack of Zack Snyder's film ''Sucker Punch'', released on 25 March 2011. The soundtrack also includes a Skunk Anansie remix of the song "Army of Me" by Björk.
==Band members== * Deborah "Skin" Dyer – lead vocals, guitar, theremin, piano, keyboards, tambourine <small>(1994–2001; 2009–present)</small> * Martin "Ace" Kent – guitar, backing vocals <small>(1994–2001; 2009–present)</small> * Richard "Cass" Lewis – bass, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals <small>(1994–2001; 2009–present)</small> * Mark Richardson – drums, percussion, backing vocals <small>(1995–2001; 2009–present)</small>
===Former members=== * Robbie France – drums, percussion, backing vocals <small>(1994–1995; died 2012)</small>
===Touring members=== * Erika Footman – keyboards, backing vocals
==Discography== {{Main|Skunk Anansie discography}} '''Studio albums''' *''Paranoid & Sunburnt'' (1995) *''Stoosh'' (1996) *''Post Orgasmic Chill'' (1999) *''Wonderlustre'' (2010) *''Black Traffic'' (2012) *''Anarchytecture'' (2016) *''The Painful Truth'' (2025)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Skunk Anansie}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120327020327/http://www.dailymusicguide.com/Reviews/skunk-anansie-squander-single-review-01102009-0939.aspx Review of 'Squander' on the Daily Music Guide] *[http://www.skunkanansie.net Official Website] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110102064152/http://www.dailymusicguide.com/Reviews/skunk-anansie-because-of-you-single-review-20092009-2334.aspx Review of 'Because Of You' on the Daily Music Guide] *[http://www.skinmusic.net Skinmusic.net – Lead singer's official site containing Skunk Anansie content] *[http://canelaehortela.com/skunk-anansie-voltaram-furia-energia-os-acompanhado-ha-23-anos/ Lisbon concert review] * {{cite web | title=Skunk Anansie MySpace | work=MySpace.com| url=http://www.myspace.com/skunkanansiemusic |author=Ace| access-date=13 December 2008}}
{{Skunk Anansie}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:English alternative rock groups Category:English hard rock musical groups Category:British alternative metal musical groups Category:English heavy metal musical groups Category:Female-fronted musical groups Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2001 Category:Musical groups established in 1994 Category:Alternative rock groups from London Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2009 Category:One Little Independent Records artists Category:Virgin Records artists Category:Epic Records artists Category:V2 Records artists Category:British musical quartets