Ska Boom - An American Ska & Reggae Podcast

Hi! It's Marc Wasserman! It's been a minute. But I'm glad to be back. Welcome back to the Ska Boom podcast and welcome to Soul Salvation, a limited edition series about the English Beat and their third and final album Special Beat Service that was released in 1982. I have a question for you? Can music save your life?  I believe it can. Not surprisingly, many great thinkers across the ages have considered this question. The 18th century German romantic writer Jean Paul Friedrich Richter said “Music is the moonlight in the gloomy night of life” More recently, Bob Marley sang, “One good thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain.”I think the combination of the ideas shared by these two philosophers form the core of my thinking on how music can save us. In my case, it was the music of the English Beat and the love of a girl at the dawn of the 1980s that saved me from the gloomy night of life that had enveloped me.  And it was the songs from Special Beat Service that were my missing moonlight. And so, this new limited edition podcast series about the English Beat and Special Beat Service are based on my new book Soul Salvation which is my Gen X love letter to the band that helped to save my life.In this first episode we start at the end of the band, for as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.” I've long felt that it was my destiny to write a book about the English Beat, but with a specific focus on their end which coincided with my new beginning.Soul Salvation will be published by Diwulf Publishing in August 2024 and available from the Diwulf.com website and from Amazon.  The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.

Welcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. When it came time for The English Beat to create a logo for their first album and for marketing posters and advertisements they called upon Hunt Emerson who is a noted British cartoonist and comic book artist.  Emerson drew the Beat Girl from an original photo of a woman dancing with Prince Buster in the early 1960s that he saw in the Melody Maker in May 1979. Until now, the identity of the Beat Girl has been a mystery. But my guest Joanna Wallace has done some amazing research and online detective work to identify who the Beat girl is and to tell her fantastic and cinematic story.  Watch the documentary here.Ska Boom is hosted/produced by Marc Wasserman and co-produced/engineered by Rob George. Ska Boom is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.  The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting

In this episode, I focus on the incredibly influential and often overlooked role that Eddy Grant has played in merging the sounds of ska, reggae, pop, dance and rock music.  I've always been a huge fan and consider Grant a musical futurist who has successfully combined the best of James Brown, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley into something completely unique. I'll be taking a look at Grant's diverse musical career and will also dig into his most well known American hit “Electric Avenue” which went to #2 on the Billboard charts in 1983. Grant is a musical pioneer and trailblazer who has left his mark on ska, reggae, calypso, rock and pop music and deserves credit for combining the best of Black and White music beginning in the mid-60's and up through the mid 80's. Many of Grant's songs always display a lyrical or musical edge of some kind. I've always believed he creates protest music you can dance to. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. In each episode, I'll be joined by Paul Williams, author of "You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception to Reunion" and lead singer of UK 2-Tone band The Skapones. Paul is a noted 2 Tone expert and he'll be sharing his memories and insights on all the songs covered in this series. "Easy Life" by The Bodysnatchers may be one of the most deceptively revolutionary 2 Tone songs of all time. Though it sounds like an upbeat feminist ditty and it is remarkably catchy and danceable, a close read of the lyrics reveals some real layers to the song. “Easy Life” addresses and rejects the pressure and refusal to conform to pre-determined – often media driven – constructs of femininity. Dakkar sings: we are near to an equality/girls and boys with pay parity/we are near to an equality/the law says there is equal opportunity/but still it's a struggle/yes life is still a struggle Ska Boom is hosted/produced by Marc Wasserman and co-produced/engineered by Rob George and appears on Pantheon Podcasts. Ska Boom is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   This episode of the Ska Boom podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.com. For more information visit https://betterhelp.com/skaboom Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. In each episode, I'll be joined by Paul Williams, author of "You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception to Reunion" and lead singer of UK 2-Tone band The Skapones. Paul is a noted 2 Tone expert and he'll be sharing his memories and insights on all the songs covered in this series. Dexys Midnight Runners were not a ska band, nor were they ever on the 2 Tone label, but there were interesting connections between their sound, musical approach and philosophy that make them 2 Tone adjacent. Instead of looking to Jamaica for musical inspiration, they turned to American soul and RnB and to the indigenous sound of British soul. That said, the band were part of the very first 2 Tone tour featuring The Specials, The Selecter and Madness and label head Jerry Dammers tried very hard to sign the band but to no avail. Clearly Dammers saw something in the band as their second single "Geno" went to #1 on the UK pop charts. Ska Boom is hosted/produced by Marc Wasserman and co-produced/engineered by Rob George and appears on Pantheon Podcasts. Ska Boom is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   This episode of the Ska Boom podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.com. For more information visit https://betterhelp.com/skaboom Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. In each episode, I'll be joined by Paul Williams, author of "You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception to Reunion" and lead singer of UK 2-Tone band The Skapones. Paul is a noted 2 Tone expert and he'll be sharing his memories and insights on all the songs covered in this series. It's my humble opinion that Mirror In The Bathroom by The Beat is the most distinctive song of the 80s let alone the entire 2 Tone era. This unique sound that drummer Everett Morton and bassist David Steele created together on early songs by The Beat have served as the blueprint for much of the late 80s and early 90s American ska boom that followed.  Ska Boom is hosted/produced by Marc Wasserman and co-produced/engineered by Rob George and appears on Pantheon Podcasts. Ska Boom is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   This episode of the Ska Boom podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.com. For more information visit https://betterhelp.com/skaboom Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. In each episode, I'll be joined by Paul Williams, author of "You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception to Reunion" and lead singer of UK 2-Tone band The Skapones. Paul is a noted 2 Tone expert and he'll be sharing his memories and insights on all the songs covered in this series. If you've never heard it, "Madam Medusa" by UB40 is a protest song of the highest caliber that perfectly captures the impact Margaret Thatcher was having on Britain. It is as much a document of its time and place as "Catch a Fire" by Bob Marley and The Wailers is of early 1970s Kingston. And the song -- with lyrics written by noted British folk artist Ian Campbell and father to band members Robin and Ali Campbell -- was the main reason the band was under surveillance by MI5 in England for years. Ska Boom is hosted/produced by Marc Wasserman and co-produced/engineered by Rob George and appears on Pantheon Podcasts. Ska Boom is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   This episode of the Ska Boom podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.com. For more information visit https://betterhelp.com/skaboom Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. In each episode, I'll be joined by Paul Williams, author of "You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception to Reunion" and lead singer of UK 2-Tone band The Skapones. Paul is a noted 2 Tone expert and he'll be sharing his memories and insights on all the songs covered in this series. While Bad Manners is probably best known for their more lighthearted songs like Special Brew, Can Can and Skinhead Love Affair, one of their most memorable songs may actually be Inner London Violence, the dark and mesmerizing song written shortly before the Brixton and Hackney riots of 1981 that convulsed London and led to similar uprisings in cities all across Britain. In this episode I speak with Bad Manners original guitarist Louis Alphonso about the story behind the song, Gangster Fun singer John Bunkley about how the song influenced him. Ska Boom is hosted/produced by Marc Wasserman and co-produced/engineered by Rob George and appears on Pantheon Podcasts. Ska Boom is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   This episode of the Ska Boom podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.com. For more information visit https://betterhelp.com/skaboom Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. In each episode, I'll be joined by Paul Williams, author of "You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception to Reunion" and lead singer of UK 2-Tone band The Skapones. Paul is a noted 2 Tone expert and he'll be sharing his memories and insights on all the songs covered in this series. If pressed to name my favorite album and song of the entire 2-Tone era I would have to say "Celebrate The Bullet" by The Selecter. Surprised? You shouldn't be. In my humble opinion "Celebrate The Bullet" broke the mold and remains the most creative and unique collection of songs to come out of the entire 2-Tone era. The Selecter created a haunting, bluesy iteration of ska that to my knowledge has never been attempted before or since. For that reason, it is a very unique record and it goes against the grain of what 2-Tone fans probably expected when it was released. Notably, it was also one of the few songs to address guns and gun violence in a direct and confrontational way that was sadly misunderstood when it was released around the gun death of John Lennon in December 1980 and the assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan in March 1981. Ska Boom is hosted/produced by Marc Wasserman and co-produced/engineered by Rob George and appears on Pantheon Podcasts. Ska Boom is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   This episode of the Ska Boom podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.com. For more information visit https://betterhelp.com/skaboom Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. In each episode, I'll be joined by Paul Williams, author of "You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception to Reunion" and lead singer of UK 2-Tone band The Skapones. Paul is a noted 2 Tone expert and he'll be sharing his memories and insights on all the songs covered in this series. On their second album Absolutely released in 1980, Madness began to develop and refine what came to be know as the "Nutty Sound." While ska still a large part of their overall approach, they were also tapping all of the musical influences that they loved as music obsessed teens -- late 50s rock and roll, pub rock and pop sounds like Motown. On "Embarrassment" it all comes together in a pure piece of pop that is so listenable that you may not even know they are tackling the sensitive subject of one family's complicated response to their white teenage daughter being pregnant with the child of her Black boyfriend. And while The Specials urged listeners to ditch their racist friends, Madness took another approach that was much more a slice of everyday life but no less 2 Tone in its approach to uncovering the ways that racism impacted everyday life, particularly personal relationships. Ska Boom is hosted/produced by Marc Wasserman and co-produced/engineered by Rob George and appears on Pantheon Podcasts. Ska Boom is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   This episode of the Ska Boom podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.com. For more information visit https://betterhelp.com/skaboom Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. In each episode, I'll be joined by Paul Williams, author of "You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception to Reunion" and lead singer of UK 2-Tone band The Skapones. Paul is a noted 2 Tone expert and he'll be sharing his memories and insights on all the songs covered in this series. Someone once said, "The Boiler is a song that everyone really needs to hear at least once. ... After that, it's your call." The Boiler was written by The Bodysnatchers and later recorded by The Special AKA is a first-person narrative of a "date" rape victim. The song is no less powerful and devastating today as it was when it was recorded more than 40 years ago. If you haven't heard The Boiler, it is a powerful and important piece of music. It is social commentary of the highest caliber that will doubtless disturb but, hopefully also inspire. It is 2 Tone through and through Ska Boom is hosted/produced by Marc Wasserman and co-produced/engineered by Rob George and appears on Pantheon Podcasts. Ska Boom is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   This episode of the Ska Boom podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.com. For more information visit https://betterhelp.com/skaboom Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. In each episode, I'll be joined by Paul Williams, author of "You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception to Reunion" and lead singer of UK 2-Tone band The Skapones. Paul is a noted 2 Tone expert and he'll be sharing his memories and insights on all the songs covered in this series. Free Nelson Mandela might be the song that finally demonstrated the power of 2 Tone. The song was originally released as a single in March of 1984 by The Special AKA from their In The Studio album to protest the imprisonment of Mandela by the apartheid regime in South Africa. The song soon became the unofficial anthem for the international anti-apartheid movement that put pressure on the then white minority regime in South Africa. It took 27 years but Mandela was finally freed in 1990 and then elected President in 1994.  While the song had a world changing impact in helping to draw attention to apartheid and Mandela's situation, the origins of the song – written by Jerry Dammers -- are fascinating and quite dramatic, not only because of the impact of the song, but also the strange and surreal circumstances under which it was recorded. The In The Studio album on which it appears took 2 years and cost half a million pounds to produce making it one of the most expensive albums ever made. Ska Boom is hosted/produced by Marc Wasserman and co-produced/engineered by Rob George and appears on Pantheon Podcasts. Ska Boom is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   This episode of the Ska Boom podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.com. For more information visit https://betterhelp.com/skaboom Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   The goal of this podcast is talk about ska with an emphasis on American ska history and the bands, musicians and people who have helped to create and influence a uniquely American version of ska and reggae that spans from the late 70s until today.  In this episode, I'm speaking with Noah Shachtman, the editor in chief of Rolling Stone Magazine. Prior to taking over at Rolling Stone, Noah worked as an editor at Wired Magazine and Foreign Policy Magazine before serving as the editor in chief for The Daily Beast. Before he was an award winning journalist, Noah was a bass player and played with a variety of leading American ska and reggae bands including Skinnerbox, Version City Rockers, Stubborn All Stars and Easy Star All Stars as well as helping to co-found the Sub-Atomic Sound System with Lee "Scratch" Perry. One of the first ska specific things Noah did once he was in charge at Rolling Stone was to book The Slackers to perform live at Rolling Stone Studios last December. Ska Boom is hosted/produced by Marc Wasserman and co-produced/engineered by Rob George. This episode of the Ska Boom podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.com. For more information visit https://betterhelp.com/skaboom Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Ska Boom Stories which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   The goal of the Ska Boom podcast is talk about ska with an emphasis on American ska history and the bands, musicians and people who have helped to create and influence a uniquely American version of ska and reggae that spans from the late 70s until today.  Though Augustus Pablo never gained the international recognition of a Bob Marley, he is one of reggae's legitimate legends, a pioneer who flipped the genre completely upside down. Along with producer King Tubby, Pablo helped to pioneer dub – no mean feat considering his main instrument was the lowly plastic melodica. The fact is that Pablo was the first musician to popularize the melodica and had a direct influence on other more mainstream bands that added the plastic instrument to their songs.   Ska Boom is hosted/produced by Marc Wasserman and co-produced/engineered by Rob George and appears on the Pantheon Podcasts. This episode of the Ska Boom podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp.com. For more information visit https://betterhelp.com/skaboom Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Ska Boom Stories which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   The goal of the Ska Boom podcast is talk about ska with an emphasis on American ska history and the bands, musicians and people who have helped to create and influence a uniquely American version of ska and reggae that spans from the late 70s until today.  Like me, you've probably heard 'Pass the Dutchie' many times. And it probably makes you smile and dance. I never get tired of hearing it. What isn't well-known is that MY trace their origins all the way back to the iconic 60s Jamaican rocksteady act The Techniques. What also isn't very well know is the very sad story behind their ride from obscurity to fame and back again in just 15 months in the early 80s when the members were all still young teenagers. Ska Boom is hosted/produced by Marc Wasserman and co-produced/engineered by Rob George and appears on the Pantheon Podcasts. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   The goal of this podcast is talk about ska with an emphasis on American ska history and the bands, musicians and people who have helped to create and influence a uniquely American version of ska and reggae that spans from the late 70s until today.  In honor of the 30th anniversary of Stubborn Records, I interview Jeff Baker (KA: King Django) and Matt Wixson who have partnered to issue Still Stubborn Volume 1 which features a variety of artists including The Slackers, Big D and The Kids Table, Buford O'Sullivan and more performing songs from the vast and diverse Stubborn Records discography. I'll speak to Jeff and Matt about the comp and also explore the early days of Stubborn Records and the Stubborn All Stars band and discuss Jeff's important and long-lasting contribution to American ska and reggae. Ska Boom is hosted/produced by Marc Wasserman and co-produced/engineered by Rob George. Part of Pantheon Podcasts Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggae. The musical development which ignited Danny Elfman's interest in starting Oingo Boingo and inspired him to start writing his first conventional pop songs was the emergence of British 2 Tone ska bands whose music reminded him of the Highlife he had heard when he travelled throughout West Africa in the early 70s. As he said in an interview: “Hearing the ska that came out of England around 1978 is what turned me around. Highlife was a little more Latin than ska, but really up-tempo. It was hearing The Specials, Selecter and Madness and then XTC, who really clicked for me.” Ska Boom is hosted/co-produced by Marc Wasserman & co-produced/engineered by Rob George. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Part of Pantheon Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In honor of Black History Month and as part of my mission to share unique and often untold American ska stories, this episode of Ska Boom Stories is dedicated to John Spence the original lead singer of No Doubt. Spence often gets short shrift whenever the story of No Doubt is told and regrettably his contribution to the band has been somewhat overlooked and slightly scrubbed from No Doubt's history. On the one hand I understand that because his story is a sad one. But the truth is that without Spence there might never have been a No Doubt. And I also think its important to make note of the important contributions of Black American musicians in helping to popularize a uniquely American version of ska. Ska Boom is hosted/co-produced by Marc Wasserman & co-produced/engineered by Rob George. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggae. If any band deserves the title of punky reggae kings its Steel Pulse. They helped invent British reggae and their debut single "Ku Klux Klan: is definitely one of the great punk singles, without actually being a punk record. Steel Pulse were also instrumental in making reggae part of punk's repertoire and were as vital to the explosion of punk as The Clash and the Sex Pistols. Ska Boom is hosted/co-produced by Marc Wasserman & co-produced/engineered by Rob George. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Part of Pantheon Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggae. If any band could give the 2 Tone bands and The Clash a run for their money when it came to singing about the state of politics in the late 70s and early 80s, it was the Gang Of Four. And, if you listen carefully, many of the band's earliest songs have bass lines inspired by dub reggae. Their debut single “Damaged Goods” employs the drop-in/drop-out stylings of dub. And instead of guitar solos, the band had anti-solos, leaving space and holes in songs. And by incorporating elements of dub reggae into their sound Gang of Four created something brand new. Ska Boom is hosted/co-produced by Marc Wasserman & co-produced/engineered by Rob George. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Part of Pantheon Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggae. On February 27, 1986, the Cosby Show, then the most popular TV show in America aired an episode that featured the music of Black Uhuru. Let that sink in for a moment. How often did you hear roots reggae on American network television in the 80s? Though just a few minutes and part of a comedic bit it really is an extraordinary moment when a Black Uhuru song was broadcast into the American heartland. More than any other reggae artists, Black Uhuru have successfully and consistently transcended stylistic barriers tapping rock and other musical influences, yet they have done so without compromising either the genre or the philosophy that propels it. And after the death of Bob Marley in 1981, the mantle of bringing the sound of reggae to America and the rest of the world was taken up by Black Uhuru. They covered a song by Little Steven Van Zandt, licensed their music for use on TV and toured with the The Rolling Stones and The Police. They also played a memorable show at Soledad Prison. Ska Boom is hosted/co-produced by Marc Wasserman & co-produced/engineered by Rob George. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggae. I first became aware of Grace Jones late one night during the mid 80s when I happened upon her video for “My Jamaican Guy” on Friday Night Videos. For younger listeners, Friday Night Videos aired on NBC and was an attempt by the network to compete directly with MTV.  The song was my official introduction to Jones and her backing band the Compass Point All-Stars with whom she collaborated to record her iconic trilogy of albums -– Warm Leatherette in 1980, Night Clubbing in 1981, and Living My Life in 1982 recorded at the Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas for Islands Records founder Chris Blackwell. Ska Boom is hosted/co-produced by Marc Wasserman & co-produced/engineered by Rob George. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   The goal of this podcast is talk about ska and reggae with an emphasis on American ska and reggae history and the bands, musicians and people who have helped to create and influence a uniquely American version of ska and reggae that spans from the late 70s until today.  In this episode, I'm speaking with Grammy nominated reggae legend Pato Banton. Born Patrick Murray in London, Pato was left for dead at the age of five, an orphan at six, a doorman and “lookout” for illegal late-night parties by eight, a DJ on a Jamaican sound system by twelve, and dropped out of school for good by thirteen. He was winning rap battles by age fifteen, became the father of three children at seventeen, and was incarcerated for the first time at the age of eighteen. By nineteen he was touring with UB40, and by twenty was at the top of the music charts in the UK.   He spent his twenties and thirties recording album after album and touring around the world tirelessly, culminating in a Grammy nomination. By forty, the middle-school dropout became the Head of The Music Department at one college and Assistant Director of Creative Studies at another, even creating his own school and music program for disadvantaged youth in Birmingham.   By fifty, Pato was homeless (by choice), living in an RV in a parking lot in Los Angeles. Now sixty, Pato lives simply but comfortably with his wife and still continues to tour the US and the rest of the world extensively and has become a minister. Throughout it all, he's never stopped being a father to his eleven children, never stopped touring, and never stopped spreading his message of positivity and love. Ska Boom is hosted/produced by Marc Wasserman and co-produced/engineered by Rob George. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggae. The Members were one of the prime movers in the era's cross-cultural mix of reggae and punk. The NME wrote of the band in 1978: “Of the many rock bands co-opting reggae into their act, few do so with as much love and style as the The Members.”  I have to admit that the first time I heard 'The Model' it was not the classic Kraftwerk electro version but an awe inspiring reggae cover version recorded by The Members from their 1982 Uprhythm, Downbeat album. It was only a few years later when I became a fan of Kraftwerk that I finally made the connection between the two songs. Its my humble opinion that The Members version of the 'The Model' may be one of the most overlooked and impressive cover songs ever recorded and the band wholeheartedly embrace a full on reggae sound for the song, transforming it into lost classic of the 80's. Ska Boom is hosted/co-produced by Marc Wasserman & co-produced/engineered by Rob George. Part of Pantheon Podcasts Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggae. So it was only a matter of time before I got around to talking about The Police and their embrace of reggae. If you are of a certain age -- I'm looking at all of my fellow Gen X-ers – then the band's early records Outlandos D'Amour and Reggatta de Blanc were likely the soundtrack of your middle school and high school years  – they most definitely were for me. The Police took inspiration from Bob Marley, whose accessible reggae mixed with rock influences had established itself widely by the late 70s. It was this Marley influence that The Police synthesized into their sound and which set them apart from many of their contemporaries. And while they were riding the sounds of reggae to success, reggae artists in Jamaica took notice and in one case, the singer Sheila Hylton recorded a better version of "Beds Too Big Without You." Ska Boom is hosted/co-produced by Marc Wasserman & co-produced/engineered by Rob George. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   The goal of this podcast is talk about ska with an emphasis on American ska history and the bands, musicians and people who have helped to create and influence a uniquely American version of ska and reggae that spans from the late 70s until today.  In this episode, I'm speaking with Horace Panter – bassist for The Specials. Horace has been a huge inspiration to me and many others who emulated his choice of a Fender P-bass and his moving octave bass runs drawn from disco and funk.  I've met Horace twice. Once when my band opened for Special Beat and he recognized me from being interviewed for a BBC news story about American ska in the early 90s and then again when he was on tour with Ranking Roger. Both times he lived up to his nickname of Sir Horace Gentleman. I'm honored that he wrote the foreword to my book. We talk about bass guitars, The Specials incendiary performance on Saturday Night Live and his take on America and American ska from his time touring here with The Specials, General Public and Special Beat. Ska Boom is hosted/produced by Marc Wasserman and co-produced/engineered by Rob George. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   The goal of this podcast is talk about ska with an emphasis on American ska history and the bands, musicians and people who have helped to create and influence a uniquely American version of ska and reggae that spans from the late 70s until today.  In this episode, I'm speaking with Jayson Nugent – guitarist for The Slackers. Nugent has been a member of the band for the last 15 years, but has been a long time fixture of the New York City ska community, helping to start New York City 3rd wave ska band Agent 99, before going on to perform with Stubborn All Stars, Victor Rice and Version City Rockers. Nugent has also diligently released music under the the Crazy Baldhead moniker and has produced a who's who of American ska bands. I speak to Nugent about how he was introduced to ska and reggae, his guitar and guitar influences as well as a discussion about his time in late 90s 3rd wave ska band Agent 99 and how he ended up joining the Slackers and then talk about his work as a producer. Episode produced by Marc Wasserman and engineered by Rob George. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggae The convergence of punk with reggae and ska in the late 70's and early 80's resulted in some significant musical developments leading some punk and post-punk bands in England to experiment with the sound of reggae and dub in particular. Reggae was natural for punks to mine as inspirational fuel, just as earlier rock ‘n' roll eras adopted ideas and energy from blues and R&B. And chances are quite a few English punks had more than a few scratchy Trojan 45s in their record collections and a love of reggae in their blood. In this episode I'm going dig into the history of Basement 5 who were arguably the first black punk reggae band and are described by many artists who followed them as "hugely influential" and "groundbreaking". And amazingly, Basement 5 continues to be one of the few remaining untold stories of its time. Check out Basement 5 here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5ebPDGAR8t5CsUMOf8GfCf Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. Episode produced by Marc Wasserman & engineered by Rob George. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggaeThough drum and bass rhythms drive the various eras of ska, rocksteady, reggae, 2-Tone, dancehall and beyond, drums and drummers have defined each distinct phase.  And like the divide in rock music that occurred in the mid 70's when synthesizers and drum machines began to make their way into pop and post-punk music, reggae also had a similar moment when the very first drum machine arrived on the island in the mid-70's and slowly became dominant during the early 80's with the advent of the Sleng Teng riddim that was driven by a Casio keyboard drum pre-set. In this episode I'm going dig into the history of drum machines and how they changed the course of reggae music. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.

Welcome to “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggaeThe convergence of punk with reggae and ska in the late 70's and early 80's resulted in some significant musical developments leading some punk and post-punk bands in England to experiment with the sound of reggae and dub in particular.Reggae was natural for punks to mine as inspirational fuel, just as earlier rock ‘n' roll eras adopted ideas and energy from blues and R&B. And chances are quite a few English punks had more than a few scratchy Trojan 45s in their record collections and a love of reggae in their blood. Perhaps the most unlikely collaboration (or should I say collision!) of reggae and avant garde punk occurred in 1978 when David Cunningham (who was beginning to have success with the U.K. experimental post-punk band The Flying Lizards ) remixed a series of songs recorded by Jah Lloyd (who's give name was Patrick Francis), a well-known Jamaican-based reggae singer, deejay and producer. Though they never met face-to-face, Cunningham's mix of Jah Lloyd's songs remain a great example of the reggae/punk ethos. Though the songs remained unreleased until the mid-90's, 40 years on, this collection may be one of the more interesting and unusual dub collaborations albums of all time.Check out the Secret Dub Life of The Flying Lizards here: https://staubgold.bandcamp.com/album/the-secret-dub-life-of-the-flying-lizardsPlease note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.

Welcome to the first episode of “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggae The convergence of punk with reggae and ska in the late 70's and early 80's resulted in some significant musical developments leading some punk and post-punk bands in England to experiment with the sound of reggae and dub in particular.Reggae was natural for punks to mine as inspirational fuel, just as earlier rock ‘n' roll eras adopted ideas and energy from blues and R&B. And chances are quite a few English punks had more than a few scratchy Trojan 45s in their record collections and a love of reggae in their blood. One of the earliest and most interesting collisions of punk and reggae has to be the Scritti Politti song "The Sweetest Girl," which Rough Trade label head Geoff Travis described at the time as a “game-changer.'” Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.

Welcome to a special edition of the Ska Boom podcast which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History. I was very sad to hear that Astro, the vocalist and DJ for UB40 and later the splinter group UB40 featuring Ali and Astro passed away at the age 64 on Saturday November 6th. This episode is a tribute to him and the iconic role he and UB40 have played in popularizing reggae around the world. Astro – born Terrence Wilson – got his nickname as a kid because he wore a pair of Dr Martens boots with the model name "Astronaut. "Fortunately, no one called me astronaut because it is rather a mouthful so they shortened it to Astro and it has stuck ever since," he explained in a 2016 interview.  Sadly, Astro – who toasted and chatted over some of the band's best-known tracks-- is the second member of the band to pass away in 2021.  Saxophonist Brian Travers died from a long battle with cancer in August. In a year that I lost my mother, I've felt despair each time I hear the news that a musical hero of mine has passed.  So many of them served as surrogate family members to me when I was a teen.  The small emotional reprieve I feel with each passing of these notable musicians is that their creative energy will live on through the amazing and timeless music they've created. May his memory be a blessing. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.

Welcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   In this episode, I'm speaking with  Brendan Tween the guitarist and vocalist who co-founded Mephiskapheles along with drummer Mikal Reich. The two now play together in the New York-based ska band Barbicide Mephiskapheles started in New York City in 1990 after Brendan's hardcore band The Shaved Pigs split up and he and Mikal  -- who met as co-workers at a Mexican restaurant where they work alongside  struggling comic Jon Stewart  --  decided to start a ska band.As they put the band together they added something to ska that no one had done before: Satan. Looking to mix ska with elements of punk, metal and rock, the invocation of Satan was a hook that set them apart and certainly had something to do with Mikal's work as a creative for an advertising agency. And although satanic ska may sound gimmicky,  Mephiskapheles truly were and remain one of the most innovative and creative third wave American ska bands in the business. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.

Welcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   In this episode, I'm speaking with  Dave Kirchgessner, who is the lead singer of Mustard Plug.  2021 is the band's 30th anniversary and as of this recording they have played 1,900 shows, recorded 8 albums and sold hundreds of thousands of records, becoming one of the most well-known and popular American ska punk bands.I first became aware of the band through their incredibly catchy ska punk cover of “The Freshman” by The Verve Pipe in 1997. When given an opportunity to capitalize on its growing popularity, the band decided not to do so, taking a different path than other ska bands of the era.  We discuss the decision the band made not to promote the song as well as why it's never a good idea to leave the van when on tour and any similarities between Dave's job as a singer and his other job as a real estate agent. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.

Welcome to Ska Boom Stories, which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   I'm heading  out to Los Angeles this week to take part in Top Rankin': The ON Klub & Birth of the LA Ska Boom -- at the Grammy Museum on Saturday 10/23 this episode celebrates the 40th anniversary of the O.N. Klub and the two bands –The Boxboys and The Untouchables -- that were responsible for giving rise to the LA ska scene and helping to create a uniquely American version of ska.  The festivities kick off at 2 pm. The panel for the event will include a who's who of LA ska royalty including Howard Paar who created the ON Klub and is the author Top Rankin' a ska noir novel that is a fictionalized account about his first year of running the club, Jerry Miller and Chuck Askerneese of The Untouchables, Greg Sowders and Ivan Wong of The Boxboys, Norwood Fisher of Fishbone, Greg Lee of Hepcat and Laurence Fishburne who went to the ON Klub as a teen in the early 80s. In addition, both bands are performing and DJ Chuck Wren of Jump Up Records will be spinning the best of American ska.  Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.

Welcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   In this episode, I'm speaking with Mike Sosinski -- who is the guitarist and lead singer of ska punk band Kill Lincoln and also the head honcho of Bad Time Records, a ska punk label based in Alameda, California. Bands on the Bad Time label include many of the bands now making waves in the American ska and ska punk scene and beyond including Kill Lincoln, We Are The Union, Catbite, Bad Operation, Skatune Network, Omnigone and more. We had a far ranging conversation that touched on Mike's ska "lightning bolt" moment, what is was like to grow up in the New Jersey ska scene of the early 2000's, the origin of the Kill Lincoln name and why ska punk is polarizing to parts of the ska community and why the success of the diverse range of bands on the Bad Time label is good for everyone in ska.  He also shares what its like to run a DIY record label and market new ska punk music.  Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.

Welcome to a special edition of the Ska Boom podcast which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History. I was very saddened to hear that news that Everett Morton, the original drummer of the English Beat passed away at the age 70 and this episode is a tribute to him and the iconic role he played in creating the unique sound of the English Beat and 2 Tone ska. I think its fair to say that the timeless quality of The Beat's sound is defined by Morton's distinctive drumming style that includes syncopation and polyrhythm within a rock beat. He plays the entire kit percussively versus the familiar kick drum/snare/hi-hat style favored by others, employing rim shots where you would normally expect to hear the snare drum. Influential to many (just listen to Stewart Copeland of The Police for example), Morton should be a household name.  Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.

Welcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   In this episode, I'm speaking with Heather Augustyn who writes extensively about the history of ska music in Jamaica, the U.K., the U.S., and all over the world. Her books, scholarly journals, magazines, newspapers, and online publications aim to give recognition of these artists and this marginalized genre of music. She has also established a collection of ska oral histories and artifacts at the Archive of African American Music.Heather has written seven books about ska and reggae, was the writer for the "Pick It Up: Ska in the 90s" documentary  and is currently researching and writing her latest book "Rude Girls: Women in 2Tone and One Step Beyond" which is due out in the Summer of 2022.We discuss Heather's ska "lightning bolt moment,"  what inspired her to write her first book "Ska: An Oral History" in 2010,  how American ska bands of the 80s and 90s had an obsession with spies and spy imagery and her take on women in ska and how 2021 seems to finally represent an inflection point for women ska musicians. We also talk about The Specials new album "Protest Songs." Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.

Welcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing and Amazon.   In this episode, I'm speaking with Andrew Sacher, who is a senior editor at BrooklynVegan and one of the few music journalists who is regularly writing about and covering ska and ska  music.  I'm turning the tables on Andrew  and interviewing him about his ska origin story and the important role that he is playing in covering American ska music.Andrew and I discuss how ska and ska music has become a bigger part of BV's editorial coverage over the last few years and how engagement on ska content on the BV site has skyrocketed over the few years, which suggests that the genre is growing and bringing in new fans.  We also discuss, how in his opinion, Bad Time Records and bands on the label like We Are The Union, Catbite and Kill Lincoln represent the new face of American ska. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.

Welcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing.   Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/books  In this episode, I'm speaking with music journalist and author Ken Partridge, whose new book "Hell of a Hat: The Rise of 90s Ska and Swing" is now out and available. Ken is a writer and editor with bylines in leading music publications including Billboard, The AV Club, Pitchfork, The Atlantic, USA Today, The Village Voice, and Genius, where he works as a managing editor.  Hell of a Hat is the third American ska book to be released in 2021 – after Aaron Carnes book “In Defense of Ska and my book. This is a pretty extraordinary turn of events given that there had been a grand total of zero books about American ska previously.  Ken makes the case in his book that the relative economic prosperity and general optimism of the late '90s created the perfect environment for fast, danceable music that--with some notable exceptions--tended to avoid political commentary.I speak to Ken about his ska "lightning bolt" moment and how he became a music journalist working for the Hartford Courant right out of Boston University.  We also compare notes on our  book writing experiences, discuss the importance of Hot Topic in outfitting would be suburban ska fans and discuss the meteoric rise of swing in the 90s, its impact on 90s pop culture and the Zoot Suit Riots of the mid 40's.  Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.

Welcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing.   Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/booksIn this episode, I'm speaking with my Rude Boy George bandmate Jenny Whiskey about her American ska story.  I've known Jenny since the mid 90s when her band Professor Plum opened for my band Bigger Thomas at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ.  She was just 16 and decked out in giant pair of JNCO Jeans – remember them – but boy could she play sax and should could sing too! I've always been impressed with her musicianship, her amazing singing voice and her witty observations about the ska scene and here sense of humor.  I count myself to lucky to have been her bandmate for the last three years in Rude Boy George where I've had a front row seat to watch her grow as a musician, singer and front person.  I'm continually impressed with Jenny's musical instincts in the studio as well as live on stage and she can hold her own with our other singer Roger Apollon Jr.  Its clear that despite a “girls just want to have fun” vibe that she cultivated earlier in her musical life – witness the Whiskey” surname she goes by – she is a consummate professional and always seeks to serve the song we are playing.  She and her husband musician Rob George who joins her in Hub City Stompers and Rude Boy George -- are a dynamic duo who have added tremendous depth to our recordings and live shows.  I'm grateful to call them both friends and bandmates. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.

Welcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing.   Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/books Though my band Bigger Thomas –originally called Panic! -- is not featured in Ska Boom, our 80s American ska story contains a lot of the same trials and tribulations experienced by the 18 bands whose stories I've documented. That is to say, the human condition set to a ska and reggae soundtrack. In this episode, I'm speaking with my long-time bandmate and close friend Roger Apollon Jr about his memories of the early days of the band.  Though we missed out on the ska boom of the mid 90s – the original line-up broke up in 1991 – our story is one you should know. We were the very first ska band from New Jersey.  Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.

Welcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing.   Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/books  The X-Streams remain the band I wished I had seen live and their story is one that continues to draw me in. Perhaps because they came so close to success before self-destructing. Perhaps because they brought an energy and intensity that was both mesmerizing and a little bit frightening to those who saw and heard them. Perhaps because for one brief moment they may have been the best hope for what an American 2-Tone era ska band could have been. The story of The X-Streams is a difficult one to tell. The band never achieved the kind of broad popularity or success that they deserved. Sadly, the band was plagued by infighting, drug addiction, a nasty love triangle involving the singer and the band's two guitarists and a penchant for self-destruction that seemed to keep them from ever reaching their full musical potential. Nevertheless, they made a mark for themselves in Arizona and L.A. and are best remembered for their raw and edgy take on new wave styled ska.  Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting. 

Welcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing.   Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/booksOften compared in look and sound to Steel Pulse, the Babylon Warriors were one of the first bands in Los Angeles in the early 80s to play nothing but reggae.  Though the never became a big name in the U.S. reggae scene of the late 70's and early 80's, they did manage to build a substantial local cult following in Los Angeles and opened and headlined shows across Southern California.  Members of Fishbone and Bad Brains name checked  them and HR of Bad Brains performed with them. Often described as an "American reggae band," the facts is that they were all immigrants from various parts of the Caribbean and Africa. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.

Welcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing.   Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/booksThe Specials released their first single Gangsters in May 1979 and it is considered the spark that lit the ska-punk flame that still burns to this day. Though The Specials get the lion share of the credit for being the band that popularized the 2 Tone take on punk and reggae, the other one, which you've probably never heard of is The Offs who are American ska punk pioneers who released a punky reggae version of "Johnny Too Bad" in 1978.  One of the most interesting stories about The Offs was their relationship with Jean-Michel Basquiat who designed the cover for the band's only album "First Record." Today, original copies of the album sell for thousands of dollars. The original artwork for the cover sold at Sotheby's for $300,000 in 2011! Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.

Welcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing.   Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/booksIf I could have, I would have included a few more chapters on other important bands who also deserve credit for helping to develop a uniquely American version of ska and reggae.  For a variety of reasons, I wasn't able to include them all, but over the next few episodes of the podcast, I plan to devote some time to more of these bands who deserve your attention.The first band whose story I wanted to include in the book, but wasn't able to is The Terrorists from New York City. Unfortunately there weren't enough people available for me to interview about their story and history.  Sadly, most of the band members have passed away.  Nevertheless, their story is pretty extraordinary. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.

Welcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available for sale through DiWulf Publishing.   Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/booksIf you were one of the lucky people to order a pre-sale copy of Ska Boom!  you should have received a copy of an amazing 80 minute CD called “Ska American Style 80s edition”  curated by DJ Chuck Wren of Jump Up Records. The CD digs deep into the obscure world of privately pressed records proving that American ska roots were firmly planted during the 80s alternative music underground.I know a lot of people who have received the  book and CD have been asking about the track listing which Chuck did not include on purpose .  In the episode, Chuck finally reveals the bands and songs in the order they appear on the CD and shares stories about each band on the compilation. Here is the track listing:SHOCK EXCHANGE - SK 80BIGGER THOMAS  - CHAOS X-STREAMS -THAT'S WHY THEY WAITCLASS ACTION - GETTING NOWHERETHE URBATIONS - TURN IT DOWN THE HOOVERS - THE DAY THEY MADE HIM KINGTHE FABULOUS TITANS -DON'T EVER LEAVE MEPLATE O' SHRIMP - IMMORALITY ACTALAN MANN BAND - I WANT TO KNOW YOUBLADES - TIME WON'T LET ME THE PINCH- MEETING YOUWINDFIELD - CADILLAC BILLY SHEET'S UNDERCOVER  - DOWNTOWN B.B.Q (SHAKIN IT)NU-CLEAR ENERGY - STORYBOOK TELLERSTHE SQUIDS - SHE JUST DON'T DRINK ITTHE STARS THAT WOULDN'T SHINE - ANYTHING #3S.L.K. - SO HARDSTEPPIN' LAZER - FOLLOW THE LEADER6 FEET UNDER - NOTHING TO SAYTHE EFFECTS - ISLANDPRESSURE BOYS  - IS THIS NORMALPINHEAD  - STEALING YOUR WIFETHE DIVERSIONS - DANCETHE GOOD GUYS  - FUN LOVER

Welcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing.   Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/booksIn this episode of Ska Boom I'm going to explore the brief marriage between ska and acid house music that took place in the late 80s. Depending on how much of a ska purist you may or may not be, the acid ska (or skacid) phenomenon was either 1) a highly danceable ska resurgence which gave the remnants of the 2-Tone scene one last chance to shine or 2) an incredibly annoying and vapid fad that sullied ska and 2-Tone's reputation to no end (I'm in the former camp - I've always loved acid ska). Whatever your position, acid ska had its short moment in the sun in 1988 and 1989 when cheap ecstasy and rave parties were all the rage in the U.K. and house music producers saw a chance to put a twist on acid music (known as house music in the U.S.).Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.

Welcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available for sale through DiWulf Publishing.   Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/booksThe Boilers were one of the most innovative and influential ska bands to emerge from 1980's NYC Ska scene that you may have never heard of.  Though they burned brightly for a short time, The Boilers were the starting point for a core group of musicians who have gone on to help define, create and perform some of the finest American reggae and ska and soul music. More than any of the other bands who came out of the NYC ska scene, The Boilers explored traditional reggae sounds as a vehicle for their songs about the tribulations of life and love in New York City. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.

Welcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available for pre-sale through DiWulf Publishing.  The first 500 pre-orders get a rare 80 minute all USA ska mix CD courtesy of DJ Chuck Wren of Jump Up Records.  Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/booksThe release in the U.S. in early 1973 of 'The Harder They Come' -- a movie that required subtitles so that American audiences could follow the dialogue -- had an impact far beyond its modest take at the box office. While the film had a cultural impact and developed a strong cult following in the years following its release, it was the movie soundtrack which captured the hearts and minds of like-minded people across the country introducing reggae to a wider American audience. In fact, the movie can be credited with giving rise to the first American reggae band -- The Shakers – whose story opens Ska Boom. The Shakers were musical pioneers playing reggae when it was an odd, foreign sound to most Americans born and raised on rock and roll. The band's legacy, which is sadly unknown to most, includes being the first American reggae band ever signed to a major label in 1975. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.

Welcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available for sale through DiWulf Publishing.   Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/booksThe New York Citizens retain a certain mystique for those of us who remember them in their late 80s to early 90s prime. And if you missed seeming them, I feel bad for you. They embodied the spirit of New York ska in the late 80s like no other band on the scene.  While The Toasters may have been the King's of the late 80's New York ska scene, it was the Citizens who best represented its musical soul through their constant genre experimentation, limit testing, outspokenness and their ferocious live show. They existed in that pre-Internet world before YouTube and Facebook so their is very little evidence of their important imprint on American ska. In some ways that makes them a fascinating band to document because they only inhabit the memories of those of us who saw them. Please note: The music clips included in this podcast fall under the “Fair Use Doctrine” as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. The law allows for use of music clips for purposes of criticism, comment, and news reporting.