"I don’t like comedy heavy metal." Comedian Frank Skinner reveals the beloved British rock band he'd banish forever

19 Nov 2024, 12:12 · louder

By Merlin Alderslade
( Metal Hammer )
published 19 November 2024

British comedy icon Frank Skinner explains why he'd choose to send one of the UK's biggest 21st century rock bands to Room 101

(Image credit: Getty Images)

British comedy hero Frank Skinner has revealed the band he'd banish from the face of the Earth given the chance - and it's a beloved 21st century rock 'n' roll powerhouse who once scored a UK number one album.

Speaking to Metal Hammer for an exclusive interview in their latest issue, Skinner is asked if there are any bands he'd "send to Room 101" - essentially making them disappear. "Probably The Darkness," he replies. "Queen were borderline for me - they were to rock music what Showaddywaddy were to 50s rock’n’roll. I don’t like comedy heavy metal – my son won’t even watch Spinal Tap because he’s worried it’ll take the piss out of the music too much.

"I saw Black Sabbath once in Birmingham just before the millennium," he adds, referring to the metal legends' 1999 reunion shows . "They had cushions on the chairs in this venue, and the crowd kept chucking them at the band, who then spent the whole gig chucking them back. It ruined the gig for me. You don’t want Ozzy to laugh during War Pigs – you want him to terrify you!”

Skinner presented the BBC series Room 101 from 2012-2018, inviting celebrities to make appearances and gripe about their pet peeves. Much like The Darkness, Skinner also knows a thing or two about scoring numbers ones, having topped the UK singles chart alongside David Baddiel and the Lightning Seeds with Three Lions in 1996.

You can read more from Frank Skinner in the latest issue of Metal Hammer, starring Papa Roach on the cover, out now.

(Image credit: Future (Photo: Travis Shinn))

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Merlin Alderslade
Executive Editor, Louder

Merlin moved into his role as Executive Editor of Louder in early 2022, following over ten years working at Metal Hammer. While there, he served as Online Editor and Deputy Editor, before being promoted to Editor in 2016. Before joining Metal Hammer, Merlin worked as Associate Editor at Terrorizer Magazine and has previously written for the likes of Classic Rock, Rock Sound, eFestivals and others. Across his career he has interviewed legends including Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy, Metallica, Iron Maiden (including getting a trip on Ed Force One courtesy of Bruce Dickinson), Guns N' Roses, KISS, Slipknot, System Of A Down and Meat Loaf. He has also presented and produced the Metal Hammer Podcast, presented the Metal Hammer Radio Show and is probably responsible for 90% of all nu metal-related content making it onto the site.

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