Of the slate of Roots-Reggae bands that emerged from the London underground during the 1970s, Steel Pulse is among a handful still carrying the banner of British Reggae...
News Source: Jamaica Observer
That record included roots standards like Blues Dance Raid, Chant A Psalm and Rally Round The Flag songs that formed part of the band's set at Reggae Sunsplash in 1981, which marked their live debut in Jamaica.
The band, which was in Jamaica this week to perform at a wedding in Montego Bay, took time out to record a couple of songs for their upcoming album which is scheduled to be released in the summer. It will be Steel Pulse's first studio set in five years.
David Hinds, the band's chief songwriter and leader, told the Observer that the group has concentrated on touring in the past five years and done a lot of soul-searching during their hiatus from the recording studio.
According to Hinds, "When we come back we want the album to fall like a ton of bricks."
Though they won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album with Babylon The Bandit in 1987, Steel Pulse lost a lot of their revolutionary sound after True Democracy. Moving from one major label (Elektra, MCA Records and Atlantic) to another, where executives were more concerned with sales than message, had a negative impact on their music, something from which Hinds admits they have struggled to recover.
The 47 year-old Hinds (rhythm guitar and vocals), keyboardists Selwyn Brown and Sidney Mills, bassist Alvin Ewen, guitarist Clifford "Moonie" Pusey and drummer Conrad Kelly are the backbone of Steel Pulse. Longtime drummer Steve "Grizzly" Nisbett recently called it quits due to failing health.
The affable Hinds, whose parents are from St Ann, took a break from a recording session on Tuesday to chat with this writer about the band's comeback plans, their legacy and relationship with major record companies.
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