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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.
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.
Top Albums
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Sound System: The Island Anthology (disc 1)
Steel Pulse
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Caught You
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Smash Hits
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African Holocaust
Steel Pulse Buy- Download Album
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Top Tracks
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Ku Klux Klan
full track
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| 2 |
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Handsworth Revolution
full track
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Soldiers
full track
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Reggae Fever
full track
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Prodigal Son
full track
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| 7 |
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Sound System
full track
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| 8 |
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Macka Splaff
full track
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| 9 |
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Babylon Makes The Rules
full track
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| 10 |
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Sound Check
full track
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Bodyguard
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Prediction
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Shoutbox
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raventx wrote:
Best band ever.
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Templ0 wrote:
The dub version of "Handsworth Revolution" is deep. Check it out!
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Bordsmjol wrote:
+2.
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vedder110 wrote:
the song 'Blues Dance Raid' needs to be in the top 15 for sure... [2]
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vedder110 wrote:
Handsworth Revolution > True Democracy > everything else
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thejackyl wrote:
Humboldt County, CA ruined Reggae for me. But this band is alright.
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an_outlaw wrote:
I really enjoyed "Victims"
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Jim19 wrote:
the song 'Blues Dance Raid' needs to be in the top 15 for sure...
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zeppy111 wrote:
A revelation in music. The more I listen to it, the more I love it.
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CelestialFuckIt wrote:
+1
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Paul_93 wrote:
great band !
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NewRootsCulture wrote:
<3
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bengoodsell wrote:
Handsworth Revolution is life altering.
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green63 wrote:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
GREAT!
Videos
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Events
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Jan
23
Raggamuffin 2010
Sports Drome, Rotorua, New Zealand
1 shout
| 3 attendees
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Jan
25
Raggamuffin Perth
Supreme Court Gardens, Perth (WA), Australia
Add shout
| 1 attendee
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Jan
29
Raggamuffin Sydney
Acer Arena, Sydney, Australia
Add shout
| 1 attendee
Listeners
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meffymuffin
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to Sound System -
gagaer
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to Save Black Music -
Eduardomichel
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_Dumal_
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rastalex
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Recent Activity
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Larucho213, mincho98, hectorcanseco1 and 11 other people added Steel Pulse to their libraries. 1 hour ago
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carot87 tagged Steel Pulse with dub and reggae. Sunday afternoon
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carot87, Shykid, joedubbya and 19 other people added Steel Pulse to their libraries. Sunday afternoon
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AnotherLeaker tagged Steel Pulse with anotherleaker, groove, musica and 4 other tags. Friday morning
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AnotherLeaker, a504bro, RudestRudeBoy and 3 other people added Steel Pulse to their libraries. Friday morning
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fatirhidayat, lvbill123, norlanders and 37 other people added Steel Pulse to their libraries. Thursday morning
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fatirhidayat tagged Steel Pulse with ‘undergrime’. Thursday morning
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juliacsms shared Steel Pulse with juliacsms. last month
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yuribatera, spaguiver and 4 other people added Steel Pulse to their libraries. last month
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thomas10 wrote about Steel Pulse – Handsworth Revolution in Best Albums of the Seventies (1970-1979). August 2009
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by thomas10 |
13 Jul 2009 | 2 comments
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