Even three decades after the fact, the music of The English Beat still retains the fresh edge that distinguished it back in 1978. Beginning with the "Mirror in the Bathroom" and "Save it For Later" singles, The Beat (as it was then called and is still referred to in its native England) became a musical force by combining elements of punk, Motown and Jamaican ska.
Dave Wakeling formed the band and it is in his capable hands that it continues on today. Speaking from his home in California, Wakeling was kind enough to pontificate on a variety of issues, including the band's swing through Dallas tomorrow night at the Granada with special guest Fishbone.
The band has managed to make it to Dallas more often the last couple of years, but this tour is with Fishbone. How special is it having them this time around?
You have to be really brave to follow them. After their set is finished, it is as if the stage has been hit by a small hurricane. We get on really well together and their music is different, but similar enough. Both bands come at their sounds from similar points of view. Both bands are glad to have survived more than anything else.
In the past, The English Beat has been a part of some amazing tours.
Wasn't your first tour of the U.S. with Talking Heads and The
Pretenders?
We were lucky to be associated with Sire Records. That tour was with
the expanded Talking Heads, the Remain in Light Tour. That was the most
amazing beat band I have ever seen. I just saw Jerry Harrison (drummer
for Talking Heads) in Mill Valley the other day and we spent a day
reminiscing.
The English Beat always drew a diverse crowd, from punks to rockers to
mods. What was it about the music that attracted such a dissimilar
group of people?
Coming just a bit after punk, people were still up for a fast dance,
but they wanted something, I felt, that was a bit more optimistic. With
anarchy, you can only go destroying things for so many years. It
becomes a bit boring, but people still fancied a dance. Mixing it with
reggae, we discovered fans liked to chill out and take it all a bit
easier. We thought combining punk and reggae would appeal to a lot of
people; and thank god it worked. All we ever wanted to do was combine
all our favorite kinds of dance music and try and make this kind of
universal beat that would draw people together. At that time in
England, there were efforts made to put people of different colors
against each other. It was very difficult for them to start a race war
on a Monday when everyone was listening to our music on a Saturday
night.
Wasn't The Beat one of the first interracial bands of the time?
That's right. But it wasn't anything particularly special in
Birmingham, where we were from, which was a big industrial city where
perhaps some of the lingering prejudice had been worn out with everyone
working in the car factories. And then the car factories shut down and
everyone was out of work, no matter what color you were. But when we
went to London the first time, it wasn't that integrated. But people
commented about it, saying that having black geezers and white geezers
on stage was a good thing. They liked us, but it was so new to them. By
the time we got to New York, it was almost like we had written a new
sociology book.
On this tour, you are playing songs from all three English Beat albums
as well as songs from the band you formed after The Beat broke up,
General Public, and even some new songs. Are there plans for a new
album?
We have made demos of eight new songs and there has been some interest
from some labels, but it's a bit difficult working with some of the
independent labels because they either want product in January or July
and we have tours booked all throughout the year. I'm not sure we have
time to finish an album by July. I would like to release a single or an
EP as soon as possible.
Is it hard to fathom that you started the band over 30 years ago?
It's stunning. I'm still waiting to grow up. Time goes quickly when you
are having a good time. Time is a funny thing. A bad afternoon can
still go on forever, but three decades seem to have sped by. I'm not a
big fan of time. I haven't quite figured that one out yet.
At your last show in Dallas, there seemed to be quite a lot of young
people, kids in their late teens and early twenties. What is it about
your music that has such a cross generational appeal?
I think things are circular in that there has been an upsurge in punk
bands throughout the '90s and now we are in a recession. Let's be
honest; people are scared and they are looking for an escape that
doesn't depress them. People still like to dance. They want to have a
sense of optimism. We have been successful during recessions. We were
born from a recession. Every time things get a bit bleak economically,
we seem to do very well. I suppose a recession brings everybody down to
brass tacks, brings people down to basic values, what really is
important. For me, it has always been about compassion and community.
Those are the only two things that matter when your back is against the
wall.
Is your former partner Ranking Roger still fronting a UK version of The English Beat?
Yes, I believe he's doing something with his son. Everything seems kind
of friendly these days. I say never say never. He was agonizing about
whether we would ever work together or not, but I think if we tried, it
would be OK and the fans would really like it. That would be reason
enough for doing some kind of reunion, but so far, that hasn't
happened. Right now, I would have to say that they are the best Dave
Wakeling cover band in England.
The English Beat performs with Fishbone on Saturday, February 13, at the Granada Theather.
