Spinner

The Beat to Return With New Material?

It may only be 28 years since the release of their last album -- 1982's 'Special Beat Service' -- but the Beat (or the English Beat as they're known in the US) are bracing themselves for the potential recording and release of new material.

The ska band's frontman Dave Wakeling has told Billboard.com that he has 17 tracks demoed and ready to go but the issue remains of how to get them properly produced and distributed -- does he go with a label or should he release them independently?

"I've been talking with some record companies, trying to compare that to going about it independently by ourselves -- and I'm sort of heading in the second direction, I think," said Wakeling.

He continued, "It seems like the paradigm is in transition. The [labels] don't have the money to let you make a record anymore, but they still want all the rights that were theirs a decade ago. We've had a few offers to produce the record without the record companies involved, so that may be the best way to go."

Along with the Specials, Madness and the Selector, the Beat were among the wave of ska bands that swept the UK charts in the wake of punk rock at the tail end of the 1970s. Following their split in 1983, Wakeling and fellow vocalist Ranking Roger formed General Public, while guitarist Dave Cox and bassist David Steele spawned the hugely successful outfit Fine Young Cannibals with singer Roland Gift.

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Slic

There's actully 2 bands now, The Beat and English beat.
Roger's in the Beat and Dave's English Beat. I saw E. Beat last yaer and they were very good, but dissipointed they didn't do Save it for Later, which is their biggest hit in the States. And for the idiots that think this is rap, get informed before you post stupid things.

May 11 2010 at 6:00 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jtmontclair

Suede were known in US as the London Suede. It's happened so many times since the 60's, on both sides of the pond, it's no longer a big deal.
Best wishes to the EB and any fellow ska revivalists, this music deserves to live on.

May 11 2010 at 5:34 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tony

Roger's not even in the band anymore. No one from the original Beat is except for Dave. He plays as the English Beat but also performs General Public songs live. It'll be interesting to hear the new album and see what he can come up with after all these years.

May 11 2010 at 1:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
eddiefingers88

The need for a separate "American" name reminds me that, in the '70's at least, The Spinners were known as The Motown Spinners in England,because of a British group of the same name.

May 11 2010 at 12:09 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Robert

I love Fine Young Cannibals, that was a great record.

Youtube

Another Black Season

May 10 2010 at 11:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
davo6

...hmmm, THEY must have flown in under the radar. I sure don't remember them. In fact, after about 1975, I didn't hear ANY original music. Still haven't heard MUCH. So what were this bands big hits??

May 10 2010 at 10:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to davo6's comment
NancyanneNJ

You tube seach "stand down margaret".....meant for Margaret Thatcher. Fun song.....one of my favorites!

May 11 2010 at 3:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Leon

I thought the Bangels did We got the Beat.

May 10 2010 at 10:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Leon's comment
Wish Belkin

You're thinking of the Go-Gos.

May 10 2010 at 10:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dave

Dave is not only a talented musician but a nice guy and a great interview. Here's the link to an interview I did with him just over a year ago:

http://www.beyondrace.com/columns/catching-up/1106-catching-up-with-dave-wakeling

May 10 2010 at 10:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sergio

Oh yeah, just what America needs another bunch of ghetto crack heads spewing hate thru rap.

May 10 2010 at 10:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Sergio's comment
chris

Oh yeah, just what America needs another bunch of ghetto crack heads spewing hate thru rap.

Oh yeah you also should add meth heads like:RaHoWa,Skrewdriver,Bound For Glory,Landser,No Remorse,Skullhead,Prussian Blue,Resistance Records,Final Stand Records and ALL the other RACIST WHITE SKINHEAD "BANDS" that nobody seems to want to admit exist.And eventhough I am against fake ass "gansta rap" most of those songs are speaking of Black males killing EACH OTHER,not Whites.But these skinheads CONSTANTLY talk about this so-called "racewar". So go to stormfront and preach to them SERGIO.Don't worry you can still HIDE behind your keyboard and monitor.

May 10 2010 at 11:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Joseph

The Beat aren't rappers; they perform ska which is similar to reggae. The British ska movement developed largely as reggae filtered through the British punk scene. (It is a bit funny to read the phrase "ghetto crack heads" coming from someone using a name that has its own ethnic tint. So, what are you? An illegal from Mexico or a Mafia hit man?)

May 11 2010 at 2:34 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
boldier

Dave Wakeling and Rankin Roger left the Beat as they were getting big in the U.S. leaving the rest of the Beat . They later wanted to reform but Dave Cox and David Steele told them to go to hell. Without Cox and Steele, it's Dave W and Roger using the name. They sounded the same as the Beat and as General Public

May 10 2010 at 9:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to boldier's comment
dave wakeling

not quite; never wanted to reform for more than an afternoon tv show, and unlike you, was never told to go to hell...

May 11 2010 at 11:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
boldier

If this is the real Dave Wakeling, I feel honored. I was only speaking figurativly with the go to hell remark. I am a fan and hope you guys can tour in the states. If so, I'll be there.

May 11 2010 at 11:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply