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THE BEAT - IN BEARWOOD

20-12-2008

Legendry Ska band, The Beat, make two special homecoming appearances. Catch them while you can.

Legendry 2-Tone ska band The Beat arose to fame in Birmingham in the late 70s – early 80s amidst the high unemployment and social / ethnic unrest of the time.

Their music fuses pop, soul, reggae and punk rock with lyrics reflecting love, unity and the social political themes relevant to the oppression they found in their city in which they grew up.

The Band released 3 albums – 'I Just Can't Stop It' (1980); 'Wha'ppn' (1981) and ‘Special Beat Service’ (1982) and hit singles included: ‘Mirror in the Bathroom’; ’To nice to Talk To’; ‘Can’t Get used  to Losing You’ (a favourite of mine); ‘Hands of She’s Mine’; ‘All out To Get You’.

The Beat were associated with all of the top reggae and ska bands of their era and Ranking Roger, in particular, has appeared with various members of The Specials, in that band’s various formations.

The band broke up in 1983 but some members reformed it in the UK in 2003. This included vocalist Ranking Roger, who’ll be accompanied on stage by his talented son Murph.

The support band will be Cracked Actors and it will be certain that a fantastic good-time atmosphere will be created by these legendry multi-talented musicians with thier huge backlog of vibrant and meaningful songs.

Roger Ranking and The Beat will appear at the Bear and Tavern, High Street Bearwood this Saturday (20th Dec) and the following Sat. (27 Dec) at the Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath.