David Katz, a music journalist and Lee Perry’s biographer, wrote a good review of the reggae book that I contributed to: “The Reggae Scrapbook”. The review was published in Riddim Magazine in Germany. Riddim was briefly published in english, distributed in the US and immediately became my favorite publication about reggae music. Many of the dub and dancehall artists I wish I had space for in the Reggae Scrapbook are regularly featured in Riddim. Unfortunately, the publishers halted the american edition and haven’t returned to it yet, so you can only get the magazine in german. Roger Steffens was kind enuff to email a copy of this review to me, so I thought I should publish it here for those who would otherwise never get a chance to read it. If you do speak german and you love reggae music, I highly recommend Riddim Magazine. In the meantime, here is David Katz’ book review of the Reggae Scrapbook by Roger Steffens, Peter Simon, Roy Sweetland and me, Molli Fire! ([More →])

Revolutionary radio dj, musician and champion of reggae music Mikey Dread was diagnosed with a brain tumour and is undergoing chemotherapy. Dread is legendary for his late-night radio show on now defunct JBC Radio in Jamaica and he has been a huge force in reggae music history and Jamaican music culture. Last year he celebrated his 30th year as The Dread At The Control, dubbed so for his radio show that championed local ska, rock-steady and dub music at a time when the airwaves were dominated by american motown, RnB and pop music. His broadcast showcased new music by local artists, which led to growing respect and recognition for the music and the studios creating it. ([More →])

Reggae veteran Jah Jerry passed into Jah’s hands last week at a ripe old age of 80. 80 years of skanking around Babylon is not bad, not bad at all. Jah Jerry was one of the founding members of the Skatalites, reggae and ska’s most prolific band as well as the pioneers of the ska sound. Infamous for their years as the house band at Studio One, The Skatalites were formed around 1963 by Jah Jerry, Tommy McCook, Don Drummond, Jackie Mittoo, Johnny Moore and Rolando Alphonso, but many more legendary musicians participated in the band during its continuous career. It was The Skatalites that created and developed the ska sound with bass guitar, rhythm guitar, drums, and horns. Most of the music coming out of Studio One in the 60’s, and probably the 70’s too, featured the Skatalites playing all kinds of reggae styles as the backing music for the many different vocalists who would come in to record a record. The band consists of new members these days, as most of the founding members have passed on, but they continue to tour and record, carrying the ska torch into the future. ([More →])

This news piece is dedicated to CrashPryor, one of my fave MOGgers. I remember you mentioned wishing you had been working in BeeB studios when the English Beat recorded there. This one’s for you Crash -

The English Beat Have Returned In Full Swing! They are touring, playing shows with INXS and UB40, doing interviews and they are working on a new album to be released later this year!

Today, NPR’s World Cafe did an interview with the band, that is interspersed with audio from a live performance the recently reunited band did in the UK. It’s a beautiful show and you can listen to it right now on NPR’s World Cafe page - Dave Wakeling: Ska and The English Beat.

Set List From NPR World Cafe Show

“Whine and Grine/Stand Down Margaret”
“Tears of a Clown”
“I Confess”
“Mirror in the Bathroom”
“Save It for Later”

English Beat & Dave Wakeling Tour Dates

Dave Wakeling:
June 8 San Luis Obispo SLO Brewing Company
June 9 Santa Cruz Catalyst

The English Beat with INXS:
June 12 Glasgow, UK Clyde Auditorium
June 14 Manchester, UK Carling Apollo Manchester
June 15 Newcastle, UK Newcastle City Hall
June 17 Brighton, UK Brighton Dome
June 18 Birmingham Symphony Hall Birmingham
June 19 Bournemouth Bournemouth Opera House
June 21 London Carling Hammersmith Apollo
June 25 Sheffield, UK City Hall

The English Beat:
June 29 PA Sellersville Theatre
June 30 New York B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
July 1 East Hampton Stephen Talkhouse
July 3 Santa Fe Third Annual Santa Fe Community
July 5 Solana Beach Belly Up Tavern
July 6 Solana Beach Belly Up Tavern
July 7 Los Angeles Los Angeles Mem. Coliseum
July 12 San Jose Plaza de Cesar Chavez
July 14 Fairfax 19 Broadway
July 17 West Palm Beach Sound Advice Ampthitheatre
July 18 Tampa Ford Ampthitheatre
July 19 Atlanta Hi Fi Buys Ampthitheatre
July 21 Chicago Southside Arts & Music Festival
July 22 Virginia Beach GTE Virginia Beach Ampthitheatre
July 24 NH Meadowbrook Farm
July 25 Homdel PNC Bank Arts Center
July 26 Wantagh Jones Beach Amphitheatre
July 28 Philadelphia Penn’s Landing

Dave Wakeling:
July 29 Mansfield Tweeter Center
Aug 8 Cincinnati Riverbend Music Center

The English Beat:
Aug 9 Clarkston DTE Energy Music Theatre w/311

Dave Wakeling:
Aug 10 Hamilton Gage Park
Aug 12 Arlington Festival on the River
Aug 18 Chula Vista Coors Ampthitheatre
Aug 19 Murphys Ironstone Ampitheatre
Aug 24 Las Vegas The Beach Mandalay Bay

The English Beat:
Aug 26 Los Angeles Greek Theatre w/UB40
Sept 15 Cranford MusicFest

Dave Wakeling:
Sept 7 Temecula Long Shadow Ranch Winery
Sept 8 Las Vegas Clark County Amphitheatre

English Beat Links

Official Website - with the cutest flash intro I have seen in ages…
You can also download (FREE) mp3s of MANY songs directly from the SOUNDS page on their site.

NPR’s World Cafe

I hope the new English Beat album looks good next to the new Bad Brains album!! Perhaps a mashup will ensue?