A decade on from his debut...
A decade on from his debut, we uncover some hidden secrets about Mike Skinner.
1. Although revelling in a geezer image, Mike Skinner’s first flirtation with live music was a Radiohead concert in Wolverhampton at fourteen-years-old. He wasn’t a fan; drinking cider was the main attraction. “The ‘you’re so fucking special’ song [‘Creep’] was quite cool though because it had ‘fuck’ in it,” he remembers.
2. Before earning copious amounts of cash under The Streets moniker, Skinner indulged in a spot of ‘discreet opportunism’ while working on the tills at Burger King. “Every now and again I’d sell a very large man three Whoppers and two Pepsis, but only ring up for a cheeseburger and one drink.”
3. A Rage Against The Machine-inspired band was his first musical endeavour. The group included his older brother on drums, a fourteen-year-old Skinner on guitar, and a thirty-year-old bass player recruited from a bit of paper on the wall of a record shop. The band was called Harry And The Krishnas!
4. Skinner shared a psychiatrist with Amy Winehouse, and was treated for depression after touring his third album. He blames the work/life balance: “My psychic deterioration was down to a lack of drinking and drugs as much as anything else.” We’re not sure if that was the clinical diagnosis though…
5. Despite being at the infamous Nas gig in Brixton when a gun was fired, Skinner himself has steered clear of ‘beef’. Only Aphex Twin has felt his wrath: “I don’t normally mind people not liking me, but people who don’t like me who are absolute shit, I do have a problem with.”
6. Mildly received third LP ‘The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living’ nearly never saw the light of day. Before it was finished Skinner headed over to a friend’s house with a bottle of wine in his bag, and a laptop with the only copy of the almost completed album on it. He dried the circuit-board with a hairdryer.
7. The Streets were officially inducted into the music industry after an early secret show at Hammersmith Working Men’s Club. After the set Damon Albarn came backstage, put out his hand and dramatically said ‘welcome’. “It’s basically been all downhill for me ever since that moment,” Skinner remembers.
8. The biggest hit in The Streets’ back catalogue, ‘Dry Your Eyes’, could’ve sounded very different. Originally Chris Martin sang the chorus but didn’t like the way it sounded. A track with Muse was also pulled at the last minute. He’s not one for collaborations, admitting to being a complete control freak.
9. Before The Streets Skinner made a gangster rap EP sampling dialogue from Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels. He sent it to Loud Records in New York and spoke to Wu-Tang Clan’s A&R man, who said: ‘Why would I sign an English guy when I’ve got rappers queuing all up the block?’
10. Skinner’s record label, The Beats, didn’t cost him a penny. It was completely financed by Warner and reportedly cost them around one million pounds. Despite signing the likes of Professor Green and Example the label folded and Mike had a mock funeral for it via his YouTube channel. Now he’s restarting it.
Words by Simon Butcher
1. Although revelling in a geezer image, Mike Skinner’s first flirtation with live music was a Radiohead concert in Wolverhampton at fourteen-years-old. He wasn’t a fan; drinking cider was the main attraction. “The ‘you’re so fucking special’ song [‘Creep’] was quite cool though because it had ‘fuck’ in it,” he remembers.
2. Before earning copious amounts of cash under The Streets moniker, Skinner indulged in a spot of ‘discreet opportunism’ while working on the tills at Burger King. “Every now and again I’d sell a very large man three Whoppers and two Pepsis, but only ring up for a cheeseburger and one drink.”
3. A Rage Against The Machine-inspired band was his first musical endeavour. The group included his older brother on drums, a fourteen-year-old Skinner on guitar, and a thirty-year-old bass player recruited from a bit of paper on the wall of a record shop. The band was called Harry And The Krishnas!
4. Skinner shared a psychiatrist with Amy Winehouse, and was treated for depression after touring his third album. He blames the work/life balance: “My psychic deterioration was down to a lack of drinking and drugs as much as anything else.” We’re not sure if that was the clinical diagnosis though…
5. Despite being at the infamous Nas gig in Brixton when a gun was fired, Skinner himself has steered clear of ‘beef’. Only Aphex Twin has felt his wrath: “I don’t normally mind people not liking me, but people who don’t like me who are absolute shit, I do have a problem with.”
6. Mildly received third LP ‘The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living’ nearly never saw the light of day. Before it was finished Skinner headed over to a friend’s house with a bottle of wine in his bag, and a laptop with the only copy of the almost completed album on it. He dried the circuit-board with a hairdryer.
7. The Streets were officially inducted into the music industry after an early secret show at Hammersmith Working Men’s Club. After the set Damon Albarn came backstage, put out his hand and dramatically said ‘welcome’. “It’s basically been all downhill for me ever since that moment,” Skinner remembers.
8. The biggest hit in The Streets’ back catalogue, ‘Dry Your Eyes’, could’ve sounded very different. Originally Chris Martin sang the chorus but didn’t like the way it sounded. A track with Muse was also pulled at the last minute. He’s not one for collaborations, admitting to being a complete control freak.
9. Before The Streets Skinner made a gangster rap EP sampling dialogue from Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels. He sent it to Loud Records in New York and spoke to Wu-Tang Clan’s A&R man, who said: ‘Why would I sign an English guy when I’ve got rappers queuing all up the block?’
10. Skinner’s record label, The Beats, didn’t cost him a penny. It was completely financed by Warner and reportedly cost them around one million pounds. Despite signing the likes of Professor Green and Example the label folded and Mike had a mock funeral for it via his YouTube channel. Now he’s restarting it.
Words by Simon Butcher
The Streets
