SKINDRED's BENJI WEBBE On His Relationship With His 18 Grandchildren: 'I Meet Needs, Not Wants, When It Comes To My Grandkids'

In a new interview with the Everblack podcast, Benji Webbe, frontman of the long-running Welsh ragga-metal band SKINDRED, was asked if it's true that he has 19 grandchildren. Benji responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think someone's put one extra on there. I actually have 18 grandchildren. But don't worry, I don't fucking see them all on the same day, and I don't like the ones who don't talk."

He continued: "The way I look at it, I had four kids and they done what the fuck they're gonna do. And it's cool. But I'm not that... Like, a lot of my friends have got two and three grandkids, and they're, like, 'Oh, I'm gonna do this with the grandkids. I'm gonna do that with the grand[kids].' Fuck that. I'm not that granddad, bro. I mean, honestly, I love my grandchildren, but I'm not…

"For me personally, I meet needs, not wants, when it comes to my grandkids," Benji explained. "I think that's more important than just giving them any fucking thing they ask for. If they got a need, I'll meet it. If they got a want, they can fuck off.

"But my oldest grandchild is — bloody hell — 18. And my youngest grandchild is 18 months, Webbe clarified. "I'm cool with them. I'm cool with them. I mean, I think that the most important part is that we keep the relationship healthy and strong and loving."

This past April, Benji told U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine about his relationship with his grandchildren: "Just so you know, I'm not a coochie-woochie grandfather. I mean, I love my grandkids [and] they love me. If they want me, they can come and see me, but I'm not gonna go looking for them on their birthday. I'm not coochie-woochie, all proud of my grandkids, looking at pictures of them and all that shit. Don't get me wrong: I'll take them to town, buy them jeans or sneakers or whatever they need. But I'm not that guy. I don't relate to it. Losing my parents so early, I had to toughen up."

SKINDRED's latest album, "You Got This", came out in April. Upon its release, the LP landed in the top spot of the U.K. album chart.

Production for SKINDRED's ninth LP came from the Grammy-winning Jay Ruston, whom SKINDRED drummer Arya Goggin admires for having the songwriting chops to work with 1980s power ballad master Desmond Child, while also producing SLIPKNOT's Corey Taylor and Mike Patton's MR. BUNGLE.

The new album finds the Newport trio — completed by guitarist Mikey Demus — embarking on a thrilling journey to follow the mainstream breakthrough that came with 2023's critically-acclaimed album "Smile". That album shot straight into the U.K. official album chart at No. 2, and SKINDRED went on to receive the "Best Alternative Music Act" award at the MOBOs, also winning "Best UK Act" at the Heavy Music Awards.

Photo credit: Dean Chalkley