The English Beat is a band with an energetic mix of musical styles and a sound like no other. The band's unique sound has allowed it to endure for nearly three decades and appeal to fans, young and old, all over the world. When The English Beat (known simply as The Beat in their native England) rushed on to the music scene in 1979, it was a time of massive social and political unrest and economic and musical upheaval. This set the stage for a period of unbridled musical creativity, and thanks in large part to the Punk movement and it's DIY approach to making music, artists like The Beat were able to speak out and speak their mind on the news of the day, as in “Stand Down Margaret”, things that mattered to them and the youth culture, as in “Get A Job”, and universal matters of the heart and soul, as in their classic hits “I Confess” and “Save It For Later”.
The original band consisted of singer-songwriter Dave Wakeling on vocals and guitar, Andy Cox on guitar, David Steele on bass, and Everett Morton on drums – later additions Ranking Roger (toasting) and foundational First Wave Ska legend Saxa (saxophone) completed the outfit. The band crossed over fluidly between soul, reggae, pop and punk, and from these disparate pieces they created an infectious dance rhythm. The Beat first came to prominence as founding members of the British Two Tone Ska movement, with their classic first album “Just Can't Stop It” fitting squarely in that genre. Along with their contemporaries The Specials, The Selecter, and Madness, the band became an overnight sensation and one of the most popular and influential bands of that movement. However, band leader Dave Wakeling never felt constrained by the movement. Dave has always viewed ska as a springboard, not a straight jacket. Indeed, the band's sound continued to evolve over their first three studio albums, through the General Public era (a band formed by Dave with Ranking Roger, the toaster from The Beat), and has continued it's evolution with the forthcoming English Beat album “Here We Go Love”, a PledgeMusic crowd-funded album set for release in 2016, the band's first new album since 1982's “Special Beat Service”.
Consummate showman that he is, Dave Wakeling has continued to keep The Beat alive and strong. Dave continues to tour the world as The English Beat with an amazing all-star ska backing band playing all the hits of The Beat, General Public, and songs from his new album “Here We Go Love”. You just can’t stop The English Beat! Ska & Reggae for your Soul. This Wilmington based Ska band claims English Beat as one of their inspirations. The Bullbuckers are currently working on their second album after their debut effort saw three songs receive honors from the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Uk Songwriting Contest, The Great American Songwriting Contest, & The Australian Songwriters Association.
Beat This The Best Of The English Beat Tour 2020
The band has received recognition from local media including best band and best live act from WSTW 93.7, winner of the Spark Magazine Summer Series and recent winner of the 2016 North Delaware Happening List. They are thankful for the inspiration of the English Beat and honored to be supporting this legendary band. 'The Bullbuckers were exactly what people mean when they say that 'the cream always rises to the top.'
— Senseitional, Reviews Editor, I AM ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE 'Enough Zip to get an entire bar moving' — Fritz Hahn, THE WASHINGTON POST 'This is a band NOT TO MISS live. Give it a go, but be sure to catch them on tour, we will.' — THE INDIE PULSE 'Those under the assumption that Reggae-inspired music has seen its apex, will find themselves quite wrong after a listen to The Bullbuckers. With a clear understanding of the genres they utilize, tight instrumentation and clever, approachable lyrical matter; they are carrying the torch for upbeat, fun, island-inspired music.'
— Christopher West, SKOPE MAGAZINE 'the band honors the days when Jamaican Ska flowed out of tiny transistor radios from Montego Bay to Kingston. Ska music, with its chopped guitar chords, full organ notes and horn lines that act as harmony ruled Jamaica in the early '60's.' — Jacob Latham, THE ALTERNATE ROOT 'Easily, one of the most terrific sounding bands out there in the music scene, Bullbuckers has crafted several popular genres of musical influences into a powerhouse.'
— Isaac Davis Junior, BGS, MBA, JUNIORSCAVE 'THE BULLBUCKERS got a lot of musical know-how and some get-up-and-go a new era of raw punch in contrast to the synthesized pop of these times' — ROCKWIRED MAGAZINE '. Absolutely blew me away and I heard similar comments from other ska fans at the show. They were tight as hell and had such great energy! I'm now adding them to my 'instantly blown away' bands list' -Michelle Ska, NYCSKA.COM 'Vocalist Kevin Tarzanin really has an incredible voice.
They easily invite the listener to a band that feels like they are the only one listening. That aside, these songs fall into the party, let's go outside on the deck on a summer night feel.'
— Melissa Kucirek, HOT INDIE NEWS 'I Think you guys are amazing, and you can quote me on that!' — Tiana Lewis, Tour Coordinator/Assistant Director, JOHN LENNON SONGWRITING CONTEST 'This band has been ripping up shows and gaining considerable respect on the east coast.'
— BANDBLURB.COM 'If you have the opportunity to see The Bullbuckers play. Definitely do it-you'll have a great time!' — Steve Shafer, THE DUFF GUIDE TO SKA 'The Bullbuckers' Ska sound has propelled them to the top of the Delaware music scene.' — Matt Amis, OUT & ABOUT MAGAZINE 'Top-notch musicianship is the hallmark of the Bullbuckers' — Roger Hillis, MARYLAND BEACH COMBER 'A fusion of soul-searing and foot-stomping music - ska like you've never heard it (unless you were living in the Islands in the 60s), soul and a tinge of hip-hop.
It's a Wilmington sound that has roots - and fans - round the globe.' — Joan Davis, THE EXAMINER 'This six-piece group with a horn section is like the ultimate party band. Whether they are playing reggae or another style' — Tish Michel, THE COCONUT TIMES 'infectiously happy. Do your soul a favor and try it on for size.'
— Matt Brunk, SLUG MAGAZINE 'The Bullbuckers' Ska sound has propelled them to the top of the Delaware music scene.' - Matt Amis, Out & About Magazine, Wilmington 2012.
A story behind every song Dave Wakeling is a hell of a nice guy! Dave loves to tell you the stories behind his songs, either from stage or after the show. Ask any one of the thousands of fans who have met him over the years and that's what you'll hear. Never mind that Dave is the singer/songwriter from two of the most popular bands of the end of the millennium, The English Beat and General Public, he's a stand up man from Brum.
Whether it's the personal as political in 'How Can You Stand There', making politics personal in 'Stand Down Margaret', taking a stand against global warming as he did with Greepeace's 'Alternative NRG', or helping little kids stand up proudly with 'Smile Train', Dave has always stood for something. And like the mighty Redwoods of his adopted home of California (dude!), it's been easy for Dave to take a stand because of his strong roots Hailing from working-class Birmingham, England, Dave and The English Beat entered the music scene in the 1979.
When The English Beat rushed on to the music scene in 1979, it was a time of social, political and musical upheaval. Into this storm came they came, trying to calm the waters with their simple message of love and unity set to a great dance Beat. The six member band consisted of singer/songwriter Dave Wakeling (vocals & guitar), Andy Cox (guitar), David Steele (bass), Everett Morton (drums), Saxa (saxophone) and Ranking Roger (toasting). The band managed to fuse all of their respective musical influences - soul, reggae, pop and punk - into a unique sound that was highly danceable. Along with contemporaries such as The Specials, The Selecter and Madness, The English Beat became one of the most popular and influential bands of the British Ska movement. Over the course of the three albums, The English Beat achieved great success in their home country, charting several singles into the top 10. In addition to their UK chart success, in America the band found a solid base of young fans eager to dance to the their hypnotic rhythms.
Their constant touring with iconic bands such as The Clash and The Police helped to boost their popularity in the States. Despite his huge success, Dave didn't stop singing and acting on the problems caused by the noise in this world. The band donated all the profits from their highly successful single version of 'Stand Down Margaret' to the Committee for Nuclear Disarmament. They donated their music to causes including the anti-nuclear benefit album 'Life in The European Theatre', 'The World of Music and Dance' album focusing on indigenous people's art, and lent their voice to The Special AKA's anthemic song of freedom 'Free Nelson Mandela', to name but a few. Dave Wakeling once told me that every great band only has three really good albums. And true to form, The English Beat disbanded in 1983, after their third album, 'Special Beat Service'. The end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one It was at this point that Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger recruited Stoker (drums) and Mickey Billingham (keyboards) of Dexy's Midnight Runners, Horace Panter (bass) of The Specials, and former Clash guitarist Mick Jones to formed General Public.
Their first album, '.All The Rage', met with fantastic success, charting high in the U.S., U.K. And even winning the band a coveted Juno award in Canada for Best New Artist in 1984. After the fantastic success of '.All The Rage', the band spent two years writing and recording their follow-up, 'Hand to Mouth'. Like 'Whappen' before it, this sophomore effort was more introspective and than their first album, taking fans along with him in Dave's continual exploration of the light and dark side of human emotion. The album was a critical and fan favorite, and spawned two hit singles, 'Too Much or Nothing' and 'Come Again'. After the second General Public Album, Dave and Roger went different directions to follow their own muses.
For his part, Dave went on to produce the soundtrack and record the title track for the John Hughes film 'She's Having a Baby'. After that he recorded his first solo record, 'No Warning'.
The album maintained the pop sensibilities for which General Public had been known, and in addition exposed even more of the mind and emotions of the man behind. Forward as one After his solo album, while the other ex-members of The English Beat were busy with their various projects, Dave decided to use his notoriety for good, and pursued a full-time position saving the planet at a job with Greenpeace. This didn't mean a break from music, just a break from being the lead singer, as he stepped inside the mixing booth to produce the Greenpeace album 'Alternative NRG'.
What made this album outstanding and ground breaking was not just the roster of rock luminaries who Dave convinced to performed on it, including REM, U2, Midnight Oil, UB40, Annie Lennox, Sonic Youth, and more, but the fact that it was recorded in 14 separate venues across America using a recording truck powered exclusively by solar power - a 160 square foot, 1,920-watt solar panel array contained in a trailer known as Cyrus. The power produced by the solar array, once converted to AC (the sun is DC), generated enough electricity to meet the needs of an average-size house for several days, and was proof positive of the viability of solar and other forms of alternative energy. I'll take you there After a metaphorical bump on the head from Elvis Costello for abandoning his post as crooner (a true story, ask Dave about it some time), Dave felt the need to 'take us there' one more time. Dave teamed up with old friends to reform General Public in released their third album, 'Rub It Better', in 1995. The album and Dave's return to the stage were met by a huge outpouring of critical raves and fan support. The album provided yet another hot single for the duo of Dave and Roger, with their infectious reggae remake of an old Staples Singers song, 'I'll Take You There', climbing the singles charts and anchoring the soundtrack of the very hip, box office smash hit 'Threesome'.
English Beat Chicago
Having infected a whole new group of fans with Beat-madness, General Public then decided to disband in 1996. However, true to his philanthropic bent and always looking to help out, General Public reformed in 1998 to play at 'Sweet Relief', a concert to benefit ailing musicians. The English Beat goes on Having accepted and embraced his true calling again (thanks Declan), Dave continued to perform, touring back and forth across the States. Dave did it old school, touring clubs and playing countless gig from sea to shining sea, re-connecting with his Beat and General Public fans and building a strong and loyal fan base that continues to love his songs and embrace the evolution of his music. Then, in February 2003, we saw a dream come true for Dave and many Beat fans as The English Beat reunited for a mini-tour in the UK, culminated in their acclaimed, sold out command performance at the Royal Festival Hall! Dave, Everett, Roger, Blockhead and the star of the show, Saxa, took the crowd by storm!
It was a magical homecoming for Dave and a really wonderful experience for the fans, with band members and fans gathering from around the globe for a night or irie, ska-ful rock-steady Beat! Being the hard driving ska legend that he is, however, Dave Wakeling was not content to rest on his laurels after the RFH reunion Beat this! Tongue firmly in cheek, feet on the ground and eyes on the future, Dave takes the stage time and again, touring across the States, Canada, the UK and beyond. He does it for two reasons: First, he loves to play music, period. Second, his job here on Earth is to bring a message of love, unity and a steady, rhythmic groove of danceable songs with a message to the masses. Fans see him as an icon and to the young bands coming up he's the elder statesman of ska.
His swooning croon has been covered by such rock luminaries as Peter Townshend, Eddie Vedder and Elvis Costello. He's repeatedly referred to in the press now as a 'legacy artist' and an 'icon': he's wasn't quite sure what it all meant and thought he might be entitled to some extra initials after his name (he wasn't).
However, he learned what those terms actually mean early in 2006 when, much to his surprise, bemusement, and eternal joy, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame contacted him and asked him for his trademark Vox teardrop guitar, to bed displayed in a place of honour alongside the axes of Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain of Nirvana. Truly a wonderful and humbling experience for a working class boy from Brum! Dave is currently entering a musical renaissance, and fresh off this legacy moment, Dave is planning on going into the studio to lay down two new albums. Dave also continues to tour as The English Beat, as he had done for the last three decades, with an amazing all-star ska backing band playing the hits of The English Beat, General Public, and his new songs. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be blow.