Hard Skin (UK oi band)

Hard Skin is an English punk group from Gipsy Hill, London who play in the early UK Oi! style. Hard Skin is an oi band founded in 1996 and their first album Hard Nuts and Hard Cunts appeared that year. The band were: bassist "Fat Bob" (Sean Forbes of Wat Tyler), guitarist and lead vocalist "Johnny Takeaway" (Ben Corrigan of Thatcher on Acid) and drummer "Nosher" (Chris Acland of indie/Britpop band Lush). After Acland's death, he was replaced on drums by "Nipper" (Scott Stewart) for second album Same Meat Different Gravy in 2005, which like its predecessor was received positively in punk and Oi! circles despite (or perhaps partly because of) the band's parodic tendencies. Third album proper On The Balls was released in 2013, alongside companion album Why Do Birds Suddenly Appear featuring alternate versions of its songs voiced by female vocalists, including Joanna Newsom, Manda Rin, Miki Berenyi, Beth Jeans Houghton, Debbie Smith, Alela Diane, Alison Mosshart, Beki Bondage, Marion Herbain, Roxanne Clifford, and Liela Moss. The album also featured an appearance by Gaye Advert. In 2025 they announced their final gigs would take place in December of that year. Hard Nuts and Hard Cunts, Helen of Oi!, 1996 Same Meat Different Gravy, Household Name Records, 2005 On the Balls, JT Classics, 2013 Why Do Birds Suddenly Appear, JT Classics, 2013 Do You Like Hospital Food EP, JT Classics, 2014 South East Enders EP, JT Classics, 2020 You Won't Get Better Than This, 2024 Live & Loud & Skinhead, Damaged Goods Records, 2002 Greatest Hits Vol. 5, 2007 Where the Fuckin Mic – live at the Grosvenor 2005, Fat Punks Records (HSKIN01), 2009 We're the Fucking George, JT Classics, 2011 We're the Fucking Business, JT Classics, 2015 Greatest Hits Vol. 7, 2016 We're the Fucking Mustard, JT Classics, 2018 Gold, JT Classics, 2024 "HARD SKIN – Damaged Goods". Damagedgoods.com. "Hard Skin: A Sly Eulogy to Oi!". Consequence.net. Retrieved 8 September 2020. "Scanner Zine". Scannerzine.com. "Hard Skin – Same Meat Different Gravy". Punknews.org. "Hard Skin – On The Balls/Why Do Birds Suddenly Appear". Thelineofbestfit.com. "Hard Skin: Oi! meets girl..." Louderthanwar.com. 24 January 2013. "Hard Skin + Officer Sh*t Rat C*nt, Interrobang‽". The Lexington. Retrieved 14 December 2025. Hard Skin discography at Discogs 2013 interview