The English Beat
The Beat , known in the US as The English Beat , is a second wave ska band. The band was founded in 1979 in Birmingham , England , and split up in 1983. Since 2000 the band has been active again with a partially changed line-up.
Meaning for the ska
The music of The Beat shaped a whole musical style. They are one of the bands that are directly associated with the 2-tone movement and that formed the second ska wave at the end of the 1970s - together with bands like Madness , The Selecter and The Specials - the 2-tone ska from Jamaica revived. The term 2-Tone is derived from the name of the label 2 Tone Records , on which The Beat also released their first single (Tears of a Clown) . All other releases were made on her own label, Go-Feet Records .
Band history
Their first single , a cover of Smokey Robinson's Tears Of A Clown, made it into the UK top ten in late 1979 . The band was very successful together with the other British ska bands in the early 1980s, but existed (like The Specials and The Selecter) only for a relatively short time. In 1983 they separated.
The band attached particular importance to the current political events of their time. Not only did they donate the great proceeds from the sale of their single Stand Down Margaret (based on Margaret Thatcher) to the British Committee for Nuclear Disarmament, a non-governmental organization committed to the fight for nuclear disarmament during the Cold War . For example, you also support The Special AKA with their song Free Nelson Mandela, which called for the release of the South African ANC leader .
Further band projects of the members and the comeback of The Beat
The former members of The Beat continued their careers after the band broke up. They all started new projects, but kept coming back to appear together under different names.
Fine Young Cannibals: 1984-1992
David Steele and Andy Cox founded Fine Young Cannibals with singer Roland Gift , which released a number of hit singles and several albums.
Two Nations: mid-1980s
Blockhead formed Two Nations together with singer Allan Watson in the mid-1980s. The band was relatively successful, releasing an album and five singles on Arista Records.
General Public: 1983–1986 and 1995
Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger formed the band General Public , which released three albums. The band broke up in 1986. They met again briefly in 1995, but the third album was not particularly successful and they finally split up.
Ranking Roger (Solo): 1988
In 1988 Ranking Roger released his solo album Radical Departure .
The International Beat: 1988-1992
Everett and Saxa formed the band International Beat together with Neil Deathridge in 1988 . Ranking Roger and Micky Billingham played regularly as guests. The band toured extensively throughout the USA and Great Britain.
The Special Beat: 1993-1998
Ranking Roger founded the new group The Special Beat together with former members of the ska band The Specials , which released two albums.
Performances by The Beat since 2000
The band has appeared sporadically since 2000, for example in 2003 with the founding members Ranking Roger († 2019), Dave Wakeling, Everett Morton and Saxa in the Royal Festival Hall in London (concert recording released on DVD). The band later split up into two follow-up projects: Ranking Roger was touring Europe and Australia with The New Beat until his death in 2019 , Dave Wakeling plays with his own band under the name The English Beat , mainly in the USA.
Band lineups
Original cast
- Dave Wakeling - vocals and guitar
- Ranking Roger - vocals and percussion
- David Steele - bass
- Andy Cox - guitar
- Everett Morton - drums
- Saxa - saxophone
More band members
- Dave "Blockhead" Wright - keyboard
- Neil Deathridge - guitar
- Andy Pearson - bass
- Mark Hamilton - saxophone
- Wesley Magoogan - saxophone
Current line-up of The Beat (UK)
- Ranking Roger (until his death in 2019) - vocals and percussion
- Everett Morton - drums
- Mickey Billingham - keyboard
- Ranking Junior - Singing
- Neil Deathridge - guitar
- Steve Harper - guitar
- Andy Pearson - bass
- Steve - saxophone
Current line-up The English Beat (USA)
- Dave Wakeling - vocals and guitar
- Rhythmm Epkins - drums
- Wayne Lothian - bass
- Fernando Jativa
- and other
Discography
Albums
| year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 UK
|
 US
|
|||
| 1980 | I just can't stop it |
UK3  (32 weeks)UK |
US142 (14 weeks) US |
|
| 1980 | Wha'ppen? |
UK3  (18 weeks)UK |
US126 (6 weeks) US |
|
| 1980 | Special beat service |
UK21 (6 weeks) UK |
US36 (44 weeks) US |
|
| 2016 | Bounce |
UK49 (1 week) UK |
- |
The Beat Feat. Ranking Roger
|
more publishments
- 2018: Here we Go Love! (with Dave Wakeling)
- 2018: Live at the Roundhouse (with Ranking Roger)
- 2019: Public Confidential (with Roger ranking)
Live albums
- 2012: Live! at the US Festival
- 2013: Live in London (with Ranking Roger)
Compilations
| year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
UK
|
US
|
|||
| 1983 | What is beat? |
UK10 (13 weeks)UK |
US87 (22 weeks) US |
|
| 1996 | BPM The Very Best of the Beat |
UK13 (4 weeks) UK |
- | |
more publishments
- 2000: Beat This! - The Best of The Beat
- 2005: The Platinum Collection
- 2008: You Just Can't Beat It: The Best of the Beat (UK:silver)
- 2012: Keep The Beat: The Very Best of The English Beat
- 2012: The Complete Beat
Singles
| year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
UK
|
US
|
|||
| 1979 | Tears of a Clown / Ranking Full Stop I Just Can't Stop It |
UK6th (11 weeks)UK |
- |
Double A single
|
| 1980 | Hands Off ... She's Mine / Twist and Crawl I Just Can't Stop It |
UK9 (9 weeks) UK |
- |
Double A single
|
| Mirror in the Bathroom I Just Can't Stop It |
UK4 (9 weeks) UK |
- | ||
| Best Friend / Stand Down Margaret I Just Can't Stop It |
UK22 (9 weeks) UK |
- |
Double A single
|
|
| Too Nice to Talk To |
UK7th (11 weeks)UK |
- | ||
| 1981 | Drowning / All Out to Get You Wha'ppen? |
UK22 (8 weeks) UK |
- |
Double A single
|
| Doors of Your Heart Wha'ppen? |
UK33 (6 weeks) UK |
- | ||
| Hit It (Auto Erotic) |
UK70 (2 weeks) UK |
- | ||
| 1982 | Save It for Later Special Beat Service |
UK47 (4 weeks) UK |
- | |
| Jeanette Special Beat Service |
UK45 (3 weeks) UK |
- | ||
| I Confess Special Beat Service |
UK54 (3 weeks) UK |
- | ||
| 1983 | Can't Get Used to Losing You What is Beat? |
UK3 (12 weeks)UK |
- | |
| Ackee 1-2-3 What is Beat? |
UK54 (4 weeks) UK |
- | ||
| 1996 | Mirror in the Bathroom (Remix) The Very Best of the Beat |
UK44 (2 weeks) UK |
- | |
more publishments
- 2012: Mirror in the Bathroom / Too Nice to Talk to
Web links
- Official Website of The Beat with Dave Wakeling (English)
- Official website of The New English Beat with Ranking Roger (English)
- Biography of The Beat (english)