Steel Pulse

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Probably the UK’s most highly-regarded roots reggae outfit, Steel Pulse originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, Birmingham, and comprised David Hinds (lead vocals, guitar), Basil Gabbidon (lead guitar, vocals) and Ronnie McQueen (bass).

However, it is Hinds who, as songwriter, has always been the engine behind Steel Pulse, from their early days establishing themselves in the Birmingham club scene onwards. Formed in 1975, their debut release, ‘Kibudu, Mansetta And Abuku” arrived on the small independent label Dip, and linked the plight of urban black youth with the image of a greater African homeland. They followed it with ‘Nyah Love’ for Anchor.

Surprisingly, they were initially refused live dates in Caribbean venues in the Midlands because of their Rastafarian beliefs. Aligning themselves closely with the Rock Against Racism 1 organisation, they chose to tour instead with sympathetic elements of the punk movement, including the Stranglers, XTC etc.: “Punks had a way of enjoying themselves - throw hordes at you, beer, spit at you, that kind of thing”.

Eventually they found a more natural home in support slots for Burning Spear, which brought them to the attention of Island Records. Their first release for Island was the ‘Ku Klux Klan’ 45 rpm, a considered tilt at the evils of racism, and one often accompanied by a visual parody of the sect on stage.

By this time their ranks had swelled to include Selwyn ‘Bumbo’ Brown (keyboards), Steve ‘Grizzly’ Nesbitt (drums), Fonso Martin (vocals, percussion) and Michael Riley (vocals). Handsworth Revolution was an accomplished long playing debut and one of the major landmarks in the evolution of British reggae.

Tagged as:

reggae, roots reggae, roots, dub, british
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Top Tracks

1	Ku Klux Klan full track	554
2	Handsworth Revolution full track	357
3	Soldiers full track	340
4	Prodigal Son full track	279
5	Reggae Fever full track	270
6	Sound System full track	230
7	Your House	228
8	Macka Splaff full track	202
9	Babylon Makes The Rules full track	194
10	Prediction full track	150
11	Sound Check full track	142
12	Chant a Psalm	139
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14	Bad Man	125
15	Drug Squad full track	112

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raventx wrote:
yesterday evening

Best band ever.

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Templ0 wrote:
last week

The dub version of "Handsworth Revolution" is deep. Check it out!

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Bordsmjol wrote:
last month

+2.

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vedder110 wrote:
last month

the song 'Blues Dance Raid' needs to be in the top 15 for sure... [2]

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vedder110 wrote:
last month

Handsworth Revolution > True Democracy > everything else

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thejackyl wrote:
August 2009

Humboldt County, CA ruined Reggae for me. But this band is alright.

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an_outlaw wrote:
August 2009

I really enjoyed "Victims"

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Jim19 wrote:
July 2009

the song 'Blues Dance Raid' needs to be in the top 15 for sure...

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zeppy111 wrote:
July 2009

A revelation in music. The more I listen to it, the more I love it.

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CelestialFuckIt wrote:
June 2009

+1

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Paul_93 wrote:
June 2009

great band !

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NewRootsCulture wrote:
June 2009

<3

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bengoodsell wrote:
May 2009

Handsworth Revolution is life altering.

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green63 wrote:
May 2009

One of the best reggae bands...i bought handsworth rev twice and true democracy 3 times...all borrowed and never returned

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wilderjai wrote:
April 2009

chestnut cabaret 5 times, tower theater 3 times,(philly) true democracy NYC at pier 3 times . Steel Pulse is the best reggae band to come out of UK period. David Hinds is a preacher and a griot.

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nbenmargi wrote:
April 2009

Handsworth Revolution is great and all, but so is nearly every other album they have put out. This band is pretty underrated apparently. Only 1 Million plays?

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pupusreynolds wrote:
April 2009

en venezuela estubo muy bueno.... escuchen the mind legalized, una banda venezolana que esta sonando muy bien... para los verdaderos amantes del reggaea music... apoyando al talento de mi pais... saludos

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williamscm25 wrote:
March 2009

FUI A LAS TRES PRESENTACIONES EN EL PERU Y FUE ALUCINANTE, ES EL MEJOR GRUPO EN ESTOS MOMENTOS

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Rod_S wrote:
March 2009

The singing, songwriting and playing on Handsworth Revolution is staggering, One of the best albums of all time, regardless of what genre you're into. Class band.

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openmymind wrote:
March 2009

GREAT!

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