Famous late 70s and early 80s ska band the Beat – who have strong connections with the Isle of Wight – are to play at Newport venue Strings as part of their COVID-delayed 40th-anniversary tour on Wednesday 20th July.
The Beat were formed in Birmingham, England, in 1978. Their music fuses Latin, ska, pop, soul, reggae, and punk rock. The original version of the group consisted of Dave Wakeling (vocals, guitar), Ranking Roger (vocals), Andy Cox (guitar), Everett Morton (drums), and Saxa a.k.a. Lionel Augustus Martin (saxophone). The bass player was former Cowes High school student David Steele.
The Beat released 3 studio albums in the early 1980s: I Just Can’t Stop It (1980), Wha’ppen? (1981), and Special Beat Service (1982), and a string of singles, including Mirror in the Bathroom, Save It for Later, I Confess, Too Nice to Talk To, Can’t Get Used to Losing You, Hands Off…She’s Mine, and All Out to Get You.
The Beat’s best-known hit – Mirror in the Bathroom – was written in a portacabin in Blackgang, where lead singer Dave Wakeling was employed making solar panels.
The Beat broke up in 1983. Islander David Steele then went on to form the band Fine Young Cannibals with vocalist Roland Gift.
Sadly, vocalist Ranking Roger died in 2019 aged 56 and drummer Everett Morton passed away in October last year at the age of 71.
Dave Wakeling has continued to perform in the United States with his version of the band, known in the States as the English Beat. The group are very popular across the other side of the Atlantic, as their music has been used as the soundtrack to the Marvel movies. This has introduced the Beat to a younger audience, and the band regularly play to sold-out stadium venues.
Concert promoter Steve Robson of Visual Impact clothes shop in Newport has said:
“Dave Wakeling loves the Isle of Wight. In his teens, he came to work here for the summer, where he put in an advert for band members. Strings is the smallest venue on the tour. Dave only came to Strings in Newport because he feels an affinity for our Island.”
The Beat will play at Strings on Wednesday 20th July. Advance tickets are priced at £22.
The Beat with their greatest hit Mirror in the Bathroom below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHWrmIzgB5A
