It Takes Blood and Guts

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'One of the most important females in British music of my lifetime.' Colin Murray
'A beautiful, raw and exhilarating book that will leave you feeling empowered.' Fearne Cotton
The pioneering Skunk Anansie frontwomans memories offer a very different take on the Britpop eraSkins story is one of a rhomboid peg spurning both the round and square hole, drilling dimensions of her ownWe now have a lot of language intersectionality, microaggressions to describe many of the events in this memoir. However, nothing can really equal candid, first-hand experience, recounted matter of factly here. It would be instructive for anyone who thought they knew the story of the 90s to spend 300 pages in Skins Skin.OBSERVER
The epic tale of Glastonburys Black British headliner Skin is one of the Britpop decades forgotten epics Skins feet are positioned firmly on the ground throughout; shes a winningly genial, sweary soul on paper. 4 starsJude Rogers, MOJO
The former Skunk Anansie singer pulls no punches in this heady trawl through her life from tough beginnings in Brixton to work as an LGBTQ+ activist and beyond The I

Lead singer of multi-million-selling rock band Skunk Anansie, solo artist, LGBTQ+activist and all around trail blazer Skin is a global icon, and she has been smashing stereotypes for over twenty-five years. Her journey from Brixton to one of the most influential women in British rock is nothing short of extraordinary.

Its been a very difficult thing being a lead singer of a rock band looking like me and it still is. I have to say its been a fight and it will always be a fight. That fight drives you and makes you want to work harder Its not supposed to be easy, particularly if youre a woman, youre black or you are gay like me. Youve got to keep moving forward, keep striving for everything you want to be.

Born to Jamaican parents, Skin grew up in Brixton in the 1970s. Her career as an artist began in the 90s, when Skunk Anansie was formed in the sweat-drenched backrooms of Londons pubs. Since then she has headlined Glastonbury and toured the world, both as lead singer of Skunk Anansie and as a solo artist.

Her success has been groundbreaking in every way, which has come at a personal cost. She has always been vocal about social and cultural issues, and was championing LGBTQ+ rights at a time when few artists were out and gay.

Told with honesty and passion, this is the story of how a gay, black, working-class girl with a vision fought poverty and prejudice to write songs, produce and front her own band, and become one of the most influential women in British rock.

Reviews

The epic tale of Glastonburys Black British headliner Skin is one of the Britpop decades forgotten epics Skins feet are positioned firmly on the ground throughout; shes a winningly genial, sweary soul on paper. 4 stars -- Jude Rogers, MOJO
The pioneering Skunk Anansie frontwomans memories offer a very different take on the Britpop era Skins story is one of a rhomboid peg spurning both the round and square hole, drilling dimensions of her own We now have a lot of language intersectionality, microaggressions to describe many of the events in this memoir. However, nothing can really equal candid, first-hand experience, recounted matter of factly here. It would be instructive for anyone who thought they knew the story of the 90s to spend 300 pages in Skins Skin. * OBSERVER *
As a Black gay woman fronting 1990s rock band Skunk Anansie, Skin has broken her fair share of ground, but it has come at a personal cost. This is a story of resilience and courage, prejudice and passion * RED *
'One of the most important females in British music of my lifetime.' -- Colin Murray
'A beautiful, raw and exhilarating book that will leave you feeling empowered.' -- Fearne Cotton
The former Skunk Anansie singer pulls no punches in this heady trawl through her life from tough beginnings in Brixton to work as an LGBTQ+ activist and beyond * The I *

Author Bio

Skin is one of Britains leading and acclaimed rock singers. She is also a fashion icon, a renowned DJ, an actress and an activist. Born and brought up in Brixton, South London, she rejected the safe haven of soul/R&B session singing by diving headlong into hardcore rock. Since she emerged in the mid 90s with Skunk Anansie, Skin has been a groundbreaking presence. As well as fronting one of the UKs most successful underground bands, Skin is a multi-talented artist and she is currently producing solo Techno music and preparing for an up-and-coming movie role. Lucy O'Brien is a writer, academic and author of She Bop: The Definitive History of Women in Popular Music, Madonna: Like An Icon and in-depth biographies of Dusty Springfield and Annie Lennox. She has been a good friend of Skins since 1995, going to countless Skunk Anansie shows and festival dates. Lucy was a judge for the Penderyn Music Book Prize, 2018. She was one of the few female staff writers for NME and has contributed to numerous titles including Q, Mojo, NME, the Sunday Times and the Guardian.