British ska musician of The English Beat is keeping the band’s legacy alive
Deemed as one of the leading ska revivalist bands of Britain’s late ‘70s/ early ‘80s music scene, The English Beat with their ranging discography of soul, reggae and punk-blended hits that play on politics and quirks of the human experience, will grace the Fremont Theater stage on Feb. 7.
Fronted by vocalist and guitarist Dave Wakeling, The English Beat (called The Beat in the UK) emerged in Birmingham, England in 1978 and rose to sudden fame following their cover release of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles’ “Tears of a Clown” that same year. The original band included guitarist Andy Cox, bassist David Steele, drummer Everett Morton as well as Ranking Roger (toasting) and Jamaican-born and first-wave ska musician Saxa (Lionel Martin) on saxophone, who had played with Desmond Dekker and other ‘60s ska originators.
Their debut studio album “I Just Can’t Stop It” shot them to the top of the UK charts in the ‘80s as their single “Mirror in the Bathroom” shook the music landscape with its hints of ska-pop and upbeat rhythms. Other singles “Hands Off She’s Mine” and “Save It For Later” reverberated throughout England and overseas to the U.S. where the band amassed a dedicated fan base far removed from the political turmoil of the UK at the time.
Politics held strong as the backbone of the punk rock and ska genres pumping in the UK in the 80s. The English Beat leaned into this anti-establishment sentiment, using their music and lyrical opportunities to both open the conversation regarding political issues and spread messages of love and unity. The making of the band’s 1983 protest song “Stand Down Margaret” was fueled by anger towards British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s divisive policies that dismantled the livelihoods of communities, broke unions and kickstarted a massive uptick in unemployment.
She became a “villain of political pop,” and the punk and ska artists of the time reverberated across the country in response –– take Billy Bragg’s “Between The Wars,” Morrisey’s “Margaret on the Guillotine” and Elvis Costello’s “Tramp The Dirt Down.” Seeing through her policies and facades to please the rich, these groups called for her to stand down from her high horse, as The Beat does in their lyrics “Our lives seem petty in your cold grey hands/ Would you give a second thought/ Would you ever give a damn, I doubt it/ Stand down Margaret.”
The Beat released two more consecutive studio albums in 1981 with “Wha’ppen?” and “Special Beat Service” in ‘82, while touring non-stop with other well-known artists like The Clash, The Police, The Pretenders, R.E.M and Talking Heads.
Following the group’s breakup, Wakeling and Roger split off to form General Public with former members of The Specials, The Clash and Dexys Midnight Runners while Cox and Steele took their music elsewhere as well, starting the pop-rock band Fine Young Cannibals.
In the last 10 years many of the band’s members have since passed away, though Wakeling –– a life-long performer at heart –– has continued to keep The English Beat legacy alive, through tours in the UK and across the United States with his ska backing band.
Since the beginning of January, they have traversed California audiences spanning generations, leaving cities like Berkeley, Monterey and Napa with a taste of the past. To purchase tickets for yourself as Wakeling and his band make their way south to San Luis Obispo, go here.
