Those of us who were a punk/new wave/ska fans in the early 1980s loved how the English Beat brought everyone together.
This is Sting’s statement:
The mid seventies was one of the most influential periods in the history of British pop music. The merging of Caribbean rhythms and the tropes of the immigrant West Indian experience alongside young white bands struggling to find an identity in Thatcher’s disunited kingdom produced what would become the second wave of British dominance in popular music across the world.
My friend Roger, as a founding member of the English Beat was at the centre of this febrile and explosive clash of cultures, uniquely placed to document the excitement of those times, the heady joy of success, the political turmoil, the inherent racism at all levels of our society as well as the brotherly bond of musicians struggling to make themselves heard within it. Thank you, Roger. You will be missed.
Well said, Sting.
It is easy to forget how rooted The Police were as a punk/ska band. you need to listen to their B Sides or EPs to get a feel for this.
Mirror in the bathroom
Hands off. she’s mine
Twist & Crawl
Tears of a clown
Ranking full stop
Can’t get used to losing you
And that’s just one album! Indeed sad news. I saw The English Beat a year or two ago at the Canyon Club in Thousand Oaks. Perfect venue for their sound.
Sad to hear, the Beat one of my favorite bands along with Madness. Dave Wakeling of The Beat actually lives in the San Fernando Valley. RIP.
One-finger Dave talking about Townshend calling him about this song:
https://youtu.be/cTHbUstBHp8