Skunk Anansie's Skin announced as Leeds Arts University's first Chancellor

She'll be supporting students in their creative talents

Skunk Anansie's Skin
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 13th Jan 2021
Last updated 13th Jan 2021

Skunk Anansie singer and Absolute Radio presenter Skin is set to become Leeds Arts University’s first ever Chancellor.

The rock icon has been picked to become Chancellor by Leeds Art University in honour of her contributions to music, fashion and art.

A statement describing the role reads: ‘The Chancellor is the ceremonial head of the University and plays an important ambassadorial role, one who students and staff can look to for inspiration and who can speak on behalf of the University and the creative sector. This is even more important during and following the pandemic which has impacted so heavily on the creative sector.’

Commenting on her appointment as Chancellor, Skin said: “I would like to say that I am absolutely delighted and honoured to accept the role as the first ever Chancellor of Leeds Arts University, which is the only specialist arts university in the North of England.

“I visited recently, met lots of the staff and I was just really impressed with the students and the set up. I'm looking forward to supporting everybody in their creative talents.”

Professor Simone Wonnacott, Vice-Chancellor, Leeds Arts University, adds: “It is a great pleasure to announce that Skin will be Leeds Arts University’s first Chancellor.

“Skin has an ongoing relationship with the University, her visit in 2019 as a part of our Creative Networks events programme and masterclass was an inspiration to all our students. Skin’s creative background spans many areas of the creative industries including music, fashion and art, and makes her uniquely qualified to undertake the post of Chancellor.”

The exciting Chancellor news comes ahead of the start of the second series of The Skin Show on Absolute Radio this Sunday night (17th January 2021) at 10pm.

The Skin Show sees Skin play the songs which have sound-tracked her life from her vast record collection as well as the new music she’s listening to.

The first series of The Skin Show in autumn and winter 2020 also featured chats with The Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, Paul Weller and Garbage’s Shirley Manson.

Listen to Shirley Manson on The Skin Show:

Listen to Absolute Radio across the UK on your digital radio, the free Rayo app, by hitting that play button on the bottom of your screen or by asking your smart speaker to "play Absolute Radio".

The real names of famous musicians:

Mark Berry (Bez)


John Martin Maher (Johnny Marr)


Elizabeth Woolridge Grant (Lana Del Rey)


William Bruce Rose (Axl Rose)


Gerard Crosbie (Gerry Cinnamon)


Edward Louis Severson III (Eddie Vedder)


Farrokh Bulsara (Freddie Mercury)


Michael Peter Balzary (Flea)


Perry Bernstein (Perry Farrell)


Robert Deal (Mick Mars)


Frank Ferrano (Nikki Sixx)


Frank Edwin Wright III (Tré Cool)


Courtney Michelle Harrison (Courtney Love)


Georg Albert Ruthenberg (Pat Smear)


Chaim Klein Witz (Gene Simmons)


James Newell Osterberg, JR. (Iggy Pop)


Vincent Damon Furnier (Alice Cooper)


Saul Hudson (Slash)


Michael Ryan Pritchard (Mike Dirnt)


Ronald James Padavona (Ronnie James Dio)


Bree Joanna Alice Robinson (Brody Dalle)


Chad Robert Turton (Chad Kroeger)


Deborah Anne Dyer (Skin)


Nicholas Jones (Nicky Wire)


Amy Lynn Hartzler (Amy Lee)


William Perks (Bill Wyman)


Jeffrey Isbell (Izzy Stradlin)


Stanley Eisen (Paul Stanley)


Henry Garfield (Henry Rollins)


Richard Harrison (Rick Parfitt)


Vincent Neil Wharton (Vince Neil)


Stevland Hardaway Morris (Stevie Wonder)


Michael McKagan (Duff McKagan)


Ian Kilmister (Lemmy)


John Baldwin (John Paul Jones)


Joan Larkin (Joan Jett)


Keith Palmer (Maxim Reality)


Eric Patrick Clapp (Eric Clapton)


Susan Janet Ballion (Siouxsie Sioux)


David Robert Hayward Stenton Jones (David Bowie)


Richard Wayne Penniman (Little Richard)


John Simon Ritchie (Sid Vicious)


Paul Daniel Frehley (Ace Frehley)


Louis Firbank (Lou Reed)


John Graham Mellor (Joe Strummer)


Mark Feld (Marc Bolan)


David Howell Evans (The Edge)


Marvin Lee Aday (Meatloaf)


Steven Victor Tallarico (Steven Tyler)


John Michael Osbourne (Ozzy Osbourne)


John Francis Bongiovi (Jon Bon Jovi)


John Anthony Gillis (Jack White)


Paul David Hewson (Bono)


Reginald Kenneth Dwight (Elton John)


Gordon Sumner (Sting)


Robert Allen Zimmerman (Bob Dylan)


Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor (Lorde)


Gary Mounfield (Mani)


Alan John Wren (Reni)


Quentin Leo Cook (Fatboy Slim)


Jake Edwin Charles Kennedy (Jake Bugg)


Roger Keith Barrett (Syd Barrett)


George Ezra Barnett Smitherson (George Ezra)


William John Paul Gallagher (Liam Gallagher)


Rory Charles Graham (Rag'n'bone Man)


Stephanie Lynn Nicks (Stevie Nicks)


William Michael Albert Broad (Billy Idol)


Steven Patrick Morrissey (Morrissey)


Leslie Sebastian Charles (Billy Ocean)


Paul Arthurs (Bonehead)


Graham McPherson (Suggs)


Stuart Leslie Goddard (Adam Ant)


Andrew John Hozier-Byrne (Hozier)


Listen to Absolute Radio across the UK on your digital radio, the free Rayo app, by hitting that play button on the bottom of your screen or by asking your smart speaker to "play Absolute Radio".