Information AboutSteel Pulse |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT STEEL PULSE | |
| reggae musical groups | |
| english musical groups | |
| rastafarians | |
| music from birmingham, england | |
| grammy award winners | |
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Steel Pulse is a well-known Roots Reggae outfit. They originally formed at Handsworth School, Birmingham , and comprised of David Hinds (lead vocals, guitar), Basil Gabbidon (lead guitar, vocals) and Ponnic McQueen (bass). Hinds, as songwriter, has always been the engine behind Steel Pulse, from their early days establishing themselves in the Birmingham club scene onwards. HISTORY Formed in , which brought them to the attention of Island Records . Their first release for Island was the '' Ku Klux Klan '' 45 , 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, despite critical and moderate commercial success over three albums, the relationship with Island Records had soured by the advent of Caught You (released in the US as Reggae Fever). They switched to Elektra Records , and unveiled their most consistent collection of songs since their debut with ''True Democracy'', distinguished by the Garvey-eulogising 'Rally Round' cut. A further definitive set arrived in Earth Crisis. Unfortunately, Elektra chose to take a leaf out of Island's book in trying to coerce Steel Pulse into a more mainstream vein, asking them to emulate the Pop-reggae stance of Eddy Grant . ''Babylon Bandit'' was consequently weakened, but did contain the anthemic "Not King James Version", which was a powerful indictment on the omission of black people and history from certain versions of the Bible . Their next move was id Hinds of Steel Pulse to MCA for State Of Emergency, which retained some of the synthesized dance elements of its predecessor. Though it was a significantly happier compromise, it still paled before any of their earlier albums. ''Centennial'' was recorded live at the Elysee Montmartre in Paris , and dedicated to the hundred year anniversary of the birth of Haile Selassie . It was the first recording since the defection of Fonso Martin , leaving the trio of Hinds, Nesbitt and Selwyn. While they still faced inverted snobbery at the hands of British Reggae fans, in the United States their reputation was growing, becoming the first ever reggae band to appear on the ''Tonight'' television show. Their profile was raised further when, in 1992, Hinds challenged the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission in the Supreme High Court , asserting that their Cab Drivers discriminated against black people in general and Rasta farians in particular. RENOWN The Steel Pulse message of hope, education and activism has struck a chord with music lovers worldwide. Their international success has resulted in a Grammy Award for their 1986 classic '' Babylon The Bandit '', and nominations for subsequent albums ''Victims'' (1991) and ''Rastafari Cennial'' (1992). In 1989, the group contributed ''Can't Stand The Heat'' to the soundtrack of Spike Lee 's film '' Do The Right Thing ''. In 1994, the group headlined some of the world's biggest '' compilation. They've recently covered The Police 's ''Can't Stand Losing You'' for a reggae compilation of Police tunes that will appear on the Ark 21 label. The band is particularly proud of "Rastanthology," a 17-song collection of Steel Pulse classics (the 1996 compilation was released on the band's own Wise Man Doctrine label). "We're not here to start a physical revolution, we're just here to open everybody's eyes and let them check themselves and continue in a very educational mode to change things on that tip", Hinds explains. "We're losing ourselves and I think it's very important for us to realize that. Too many of our youths have been lost to Drugs , or by the Gun , or not having the education needed to persevere and move in an upward direction. I think RAGE & FURY will contribute to their enlightenment." MEDIA DISCOGRAPHY Albums
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