The Streets star Mike Skinner reveals he’s swapped drug binges with popstars and ‘a complete collapse in morality’ for shopping with his teenage kids and playing golf

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I’ve been a huge fan of Mike Skinner from The Streets for years, and I was really pleased to hear he’s turned his life around. Apparently, he’s completely left behind those wild days and drug binges and is now loving being a family man. It’s great to see him finding happiness and peace in a more settled life!

The 47-year-old rapper became famous in the 2000s with his album A Grand Don’t Come for Free. It was a bold commentary on what it meant to be a man in Britain during the time Tony Blair was Prime Minister.

Mike continued to expose the darker side of the music industry with his next work, The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living. He called it a reflection of declining ethics, pointing to lyrics detailing drug use involving a famous singer he didn’t name.

The actor has completely changed his ways. In a recent interview, he described how he’s left behind a period of what he termed a ‘moral low point’ and now enjoys a peaceful life with his two children.

The musician and his wife, Claire Le Marquand, have been married since 2010. They have two children: a 17-year-old daughter named Amelia and a 14-year-old son named George.

He explained that a typical weekend for his family involves lunch at Selfridges, followed by the girls going shopping while the boys spend time together.

In an interview with The Sunday Times Style Magazine, Mike discussed his simpler way of life and explained what he did during his time away from The Streets, when he was concentrating on making films.

He explained that after a decade of putting the film on hold, he revisited the project, realizing he could bring it to life by creating the soundtrack himself.

Also, there was a bit of a motivation similar to that famous Sylvester Stallone story – he wanted to make a movie so his children wouldn’t believe all he ever did was play golf.

Mike will be performing live this summer, touring with songs from his classic album. He’s also busy creating new music for The Streets and developing a film about alien abductions.

The Streets gained a large following and achieved significant commercial success with their relatable songs about everyday British life – things like kebab shops, nights out, and popular sportswear brands. Their debut album, Original Pirate Material, launched them to fame, and they went on to top the charts twice with albums and land six songs in the Top 20.

Despite achieving chart success in the 2000s, Mike has revealed he privately struggled with family tragedy and significant financial losses from gambling.

He shared with The Independent that he was struggling emotionally after the recent and rapid loss of his father, aunt, and niece.

He admitted he’d never want to repeat that experience. He found it strange to think about – the fame, the media attention…

I admire Noel Gallagher’s perspective: it’s up to artists to inspire the next generation and demonstrate the joy of creativity. Instead of dwelling on struggles, embrace the challenges and embody the spirit of a true rock star.

Mike shared that he experienced a deeply upsetting time after losing a significant amount of money – tens of thousands of pounds – through betting on football results.

He also said he no longer suffers from the paralysis and anxiety of his 20s and 30s.

It’s a huge relief not to feel constantly scrutinized anymore. Back when I was making my second or third album, everywhere I went, people would immediately start whispering and judging – it was unsettling not knowing what to expect.

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2026-04-12 14:18