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Steel Pulse
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1,325,407 plays (141,054 listeners)
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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Best Of/20th Century
Steel Pulse
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New
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Sound System: The Island Anthology (disc 1)
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Caught You
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Smash Hits
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Top Tracks
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Ku Klux Klan
full track
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| 2 |
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Soldiers
full track
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Handsworth Revolution
full track
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| 5 |
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Reggae Fever
full track
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| 6 |
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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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Bodyguard
full track
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| 11 |
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Sound Check
full track
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| 12 |
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Prediction
full track
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| 14 |
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Uncle George
full track
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| 15 |
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Taxi Driver
full track
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Shoutbox
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Riddim_nation wrote:
THIS IS THE BEST BAND IN THE WORLD!
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cruncho wrote:
hey all! check out www.posse.com/store/cruncho, you can buy cheap tix 2 Steel Pulse's Raggamuffin gigs there! and please spread the word too thanks!
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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
Videos
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Events
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Jan
23
Raggamuffin 2010
Sports Drome, Rotorua, New Zealand
3 shouts
| 4 attendees
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Jan
25
Raggamuffin Perth
Supreme Court Gardens, Perth (WA), Australia
2 shouts
| 4 attendees
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Jan
29
Raggamuffin Sydney
Acer Arena, Sydney, Australia
Add shout
| 1 attendee
Listeners
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magicpath
Listening now
to Sound System -
marleybahia
Listening now
to Handsworth Revolution -
boyroywax
Top Listener
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crangaz
Top Listener
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Absorbal
Top Listener
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snowflake1
Top Listener
Recent Activity
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avilapatrickaza, wackster, karisgoodies and 20 other people added Steel Pulse to their libraries. 2 hours ago
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Max-ThinKing tagged Steel Pulse with roots reggae, reggae and roots. Sunday afternoon
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georgerothman91 added Steel Pulse to georgerothman91’s library. Sunday afternoon
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Rietinha tagged Steel Pulse with ‘reggae’. Sunday afternoon
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BBoyGaz, Rietinha, fredgee1904 and 42 other people added Steel Pulse to their libraries. Sunday morning
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neorxna_wong tagged Steel Pulse with ‘roots reggae’. 8 days ago
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djtragoox, GabiMarins, marimba_ewe and 22 other people added Steel Pulse to their libraries. 8 days ago
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bondidwhat tagged Steel Pulse with ‘dub’. 11 days ago
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pakupaku created the wiki page for Tribute To The Martyrs. February 2009
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kaziorvb wrote about Steel Pulse – Caught You in a deleted journal. February 2009
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