General Public

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(1983 – 1986, 1994 – 1995)

The band General Public formed after the 1983 break-up of The Beat (aka The English Beat). Ex-Beat vocalists Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger joined up with keyboardist Mickey Billingham (Dexys Midnight Runners), bassist Horace Panter (The Specials) and drummer Stoker (Dexys Midnight Runners/The Bureau) to form the band. Guitarist Mick Jones of The Clash was also originally announced as a band member.

General Public signed to I.R.S. Records and released All the Rage (1984). However, by the time the album was released, Jones was no longer a member of General Public, although he did play guitar on the majority of the album’s tracks. Kevin White (who also played on the album) was now the group’s official guitarist and sixth member.

In Britain, General Public had a minor hit with the eponymous track called “General Public”, which reached # 60. The band fared better in North America, where their second single “Tenderness” was a top 40 hit in the US and Canada, reaching #27 on the U.S. charts, thanks in part to heavy play from MTV and Los Angeles-based modern rock station KROQ. (Ironically, The Beat never had any top 40 hits in the UK.)

For the follow-up album, White and Stoker were replaced by brothers Gianni Minardi and Mario Minardi on guitar and drums, respectively.
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Popular tags: new wave, 80s, ska, pop, british  See more

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  • kaiserzeitgeist

    sssssssuuuuuperHOMO

    July 2011

  • AranRyan

    Wow...i thought General Public would be a lot more popular. [2] It took me a while to find Tenderness though

    April 2011

  • sian_emily

    Rings but not on that finger

    November 2010

  • Audiocubes

    First heard Tenderness from the Clueless end creds and loved it.

    September 2010

  • synthdementia

    A really nice song.... I want to hear more of, been a long time without it.

    January 2010

  • YControl755

    Tenderness is one of the best songs of the 80s, no doubt

    October 2009

  • epi_gee

    JUST the Track "General Public" should have 1 million plays alone ... it seems even the fans of this band don't know its greatness.

    July 2009

  • holetoledo

    huh. me, too.

    January 2009

  • lucas220

    Wow...i thought General Public would be a lot more popular.

    January 2009

  • BWoolmore

    Shame that The Beat died, but this offshoot had some nice songs, Tenderness being their best

    December 2008

  • awffle

    ARE YOU LEADING ME ON??

    July 2008
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