Toronto, Canada (Top40 Charts/ By Mel Verve) - Bring on the 2Tone,
James jackets and your inner ska self - The English Beat are coming to town! Toronto get ready to be Ska-ified!!!
The English Beat whose hits 'Mirror in the Bathroom', 'Save it for Later' and 'Tears of a Clown' were trailblazers for their time in the late 70's and early 80's. They were extremely successful in bringing their unique flavour of ska to the British music scene and abroad.
Band members included of Dave Wakeling on vocals and guitar, Andy Cox on guitar, David Steele on bass, Everett Morton on drums, Ranking Roger on vocals and toasting, and foundational first wave ska legend Saxa on saxophone.
Soul, reggae, pop and punk, with a wicked dance beat got people moving in clubs, dance floors, dance parties and bedrooms from young to old. Their ska buddies also hitting the charts at the time included of The Specials, The Selecter, and Madness. Together they made British Ska history.
The Beat decided to call it quits after their third album, "Special Beat Service".
The members went off to create bands such as General Public and Fine Young Cannibals - who pounded and influenced the airwaves in the 80's and 90's making even more fans and friends on the way. Their music inspired many bands of today such as No Doubt, Sublime, Smashbox, Yellowcard etc. to name a few. These bands to this day sight The Beat as their inspiration and god parents of the Ska movement.
A few years back a VH1 program entitled 'Bands Reunited' attempted and were successful in bringing together the English Beat for a one off performance. It reminded fans from back in the day and made new young fans of the Beat's sound, message and formidable talent that are still alive and well.
Dave continues to tour the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the UK with an amazing all-star ska backing band playing the hits of The Beat, General Public, and his new songs.
The English Beat comes to Toronto on April 15 and April 17, 2009 to the historic Lee's Palace in Toronto, Ontario Canada. Tickets are a bargain at $23.50! Check out www.ticketmaster.ca, Horse Shoe Front Bar, Rotate This or Sound Scapes or for more info or catch up on what the Beat have been up to check out their Myspace page https://www.myspace.com/officialbeatspace
