The English Beat, one of the most well-known and significant bands of the UK ska movement, helped pioneer a British rebirth of Jamaican sounds combined with pop and punk elements with peers like The Specials, The Selector, and Madness.
The band, known as the Beat in their home country, was led by vocalist, guitarist, and principal songwriter Dave Wakeling. In 1978, their first single, a powerful rendition of Smokey Robinson’s Motown classic “Tears of a Clown,” became a hit.
With the assistance of Jamaican saxophonist Saxa (who contributed to some of the early ska hits by artists like Prince Buster and Desmond Dekker) and toaster and co-frontman Ranking Roger, the English Beat released a string of timeless two-tone hits, such as “Mirror in the Bathroom,” “Hands Off She’s Mine,” “Save It for Later,” and “Tenderness.” The English Beat found a strong following of young people in America who were eager to dance to their mesmerizing rhythms, and they also experienced tremendous success in their native country over the course of the three albums. Their success in the US was increased by their frequent tours with well-known bands like The Clash and The Police.
Wakeling continued to sing about politics despite his enormous success. The band contributed their music to causes such as the anti-nuclear benefit album Life in the European Theatre, donated all of the profits from their extremely popular single version of “Stand Down Margaret” to the Committee for Nuclear Disarmament, and provided their voice to the Special AKA’s anthemic song of freedom, “Free Nelson Mandela.”
After releasing their third album, Special Beat Service, in 1983, Wakeling broke up The English Beat. However, they continued to perform with English Beat pioneer Ranking Roger in the popular band General Public. Following a unique arrangement that granted Ranking Roger the right to perform under the name in Europe and the United Kingdom, Wakeling has been the lead singer of his well-known ska group in the United States since the 1990s (the singer tragically passed away this spring). The performer has continued to be active on the traveling circuit, entertaining audiences of all ages with his timeless tunes.
The English Beat announced a crowd-funding campaign a few years ago to finance the band’s first new album in decades. Shout Factory had reissued much of the band’s classic catalog a few years ago, including additional b-sides and live cuts, along with a CD/DVD package of the band’s live performances at the US Festival in 1982 and 1983. When the recording—titled “Here We Go Love”—was eventually released in 2018, it received overwhelmingly positive reviews.
In addition to dates as part of the “Lost ’80s Live” tour and as support for fellow British band Squeeze, 2024 saw the release of deluxe double-vinyl reissues of the albums “Wha’appen” and “Special Beat Service” for Record Store Day. Wakeling and company’s local headline shows are still packed with devoted Bay Area fans. On January 10–11, the English Beathead will play two shows at Berkeley’s Cornerstone.
The English Beat, January 10–11, Friday–Saturday, 7 p.m. $36 (Saturday’s performance is sold out)Berkeley’s Cornerstone
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.