It Takes Blood and Guts by Skin with Lucy O`Brien

It Takes Blood and Guts

By Skin with Lucy O'Brien

'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 stars Jude 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

'Its the story of a trailblazer, and gives a refreshingly re-angled perspective on the Britpop era.' Evening Standard, 'Best music books of 2020'

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.