Steel Pulse: Love This Reggae Music
Steel Pulse is one of the most influential reggae bands of all time. Their music is full of love, positivity, and a message of peace and unity. If you’re a fan of reggae music, then you need to check out Steel Pulse.
Introduction
Since its formation in the 1970s, Steel Pulse has been at the forefront of British reggae, using their music as a vehicle to spread a message of Rastafarianism and social justice. The band has gone through several lineup changes over the years, but has always remained true to its roots, producing a sound that is both distinctly Jamaican and uniquely their own. Steel Pulse is one of the most internationally successful reggae bands of all time, with a career spanning four decades and counting.
Steel Pulse formed in the Handsworth area of Birmingham, England in 1975. The band was made up of David Hinds (lead vocals, guitar), Basil Gabbidon (lead guitar), Ronald McQueen (bass), Selwyn Brown (keyboards), and Steve Nesbit (drums). Handsworth was a hotbed of racial tension at the time, and Steel Pulse’s music reflected the harsh realities of life in an economically disadvantaged area. The band’s debut album, Handsworth Revolution, was released in 1978 to critical acclaim. The album featured the hit singles “Ku Klux Klan” and “Prodigal Son”, which helped to establish Steel Pulse as one of the leading lights of British reggae.
Over the next few years, Steel Pulse continued to release groundbreaking albums like Tribute to the Martyrs (1979) and Reggae Fever (1981). The band also became known for their powerful live performances, which often featured extended jams and dub versions of their songs. In 1985, Steel Pulse released their most commercially successful album to date, True Democracy. The album spawned the hit singles “Love Is My Religion” and “Don’t Shoot”, both of which rose to prominence on American radio.
True Democracy was followed by another strong album release in 1988 with State Of Emergency. However, despite its quality, the album failed to match the commercial success of its predecessor. This setback was followed by an even bigger one when Selwyn Brown left Steel Pulse in 1989. Brown had been an integral part of the band’s sound since its inception, and his departure left a big hole to fill. Nevertheless, Steel Pulse soldiered on, recruiting keyboardist Sidney Mills for their next album release, Victims (1991).
The early 1990s were a tough time for reggae music in general, but Steel Pulse continued to selliered on releasing two more albums – Rage & Fury (1994) and Earth Crisis (1997) – before going on hiatus in the late 1990s. The band returned stronger than ever in 2002 with African Holocaust, an album that saw them returning to their roots with a new sense of purpose. Since then, Steel Pulse have continued to tour and release new music intermittently; most recently with Mass Manipulation in 2019.
Despite lineup changes and periods of commercial adversity, Steel Pulse have remained one of reggae music’s most enduring bands. Love This Reggae Music celebrates their legacy with a comprehensive collectionof their greatest hits remastered from original tapes by Grammy-winning engineer Errol Brown MBE.”
The Band
Formed in the Handsworth district of Birmingham, England in 1975, Steel Pulse were one of the first reggae bands to embrace Rastafarianism. Their music is a mix of reggae, dub, and roots with conscious lyrics that explore themes of politics, social justice, and religion.
The band is led by singer and guitarist David Hinds and also includes bassist Ronny Graham, drummer Steve Nesbit, keyboardist Sidney Mills, and percussionist Amjad Ali. Steel Pulse have released thirteen studio albums over the course of their forty-year career and their 1980 album True Democracy peaked at number 32 on the Billboard 200. In 2018, Steel Pulse were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for their most recent release Mass Manipulation.
The Music
Reggae music has its roots in Jamaican ska and rocksteady, both of which developed in the late 1950s. Reggae is a style of music that is characterized by a strong beat and a focus on rhythm. The lyrics of reggae songs often deal with social issues such as poverty, racism, and violence.
Steel Pulse is a British reggae band that was formed in Birmingham, England in 1975. The band is known for their political lyrics and their commitment to social justice. Steel Pulse has released thirteen studio albums, two live albums, and several compilations. Their most recent album, Mass Manipulation, was released in 2019.
The Legacy
Formed in the Handsworth district of Birmingham, England, in 1975, Steel Pulse was one of the first UK reggae bands to achieve international success. Comprising David Hinds (vocals, guitar), Basil Gabbidon (lead guitar), Ron ‘Stepper’ McQueen (bass), Phillip ‘ anniversary tour in 2016.