Four-piece band Kingskin triumph in musical battle

A BAND with members from Dover have won east Kent's Battle of the Bands competition.

Kingskin, a four-piece band, won the competition held at the Astor Theatre, in Deal, last weekend.

They were awarded joint first place with a band called Ember, from Hythe, by a panel of judges including KM-fm's Spencer Cork.

Third place went to a Dover-based band called Sugarmilk, and 21 bands took part in the competition.

Lead singer, Chris Lamb, described their music style as 'dance music heavily influenced by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana and Reef'.

Chris said the band entered the competition to have a laugh and play to a good crowd.

He added: "We thought we played a pretty good gig but you are never sure and there were some really good bands there.

"I don't think any of the bands there were playing to win. We certainly didn't. We just went along for a good time. I think focusing on the competition element would detract from the music." Chris said that it was pretty cool to win joint first place.

The band are also winning acclaim nationally. Kerrang! magazine voted them best unsigned band in 2002. They also plan to release an album under their own record label.
Chris said they have started playing support gigs for other bands, and Kingskin can normally be found playing in clubs in London and up-and down the country.

"We tend to play in clubs rather than pubs," continued Chris.

"There were complaints from people living near pubs that we were too loud!" Kingskin were formed in 2001.

Chris, 21, and bassist Trev Lynes, 22, grew up in Dover and are former pupils at Dover Grammar School for Boys. Chris now lives in London.

Guitarist Jak Chantler, 20, grew up in Folkestone, while drummer Russ Watts, 22, is from Bath.