Watched that Two Tone programme on C4 tonight. Brilliant !!!
I grew up with Reggae. Today everyone looks back at ska being the Reggae ancestor. When skins danced to 'Ska' it was also called Bluebeat and Rock Steady. Used to go to the Trojan studios in Neasden like it was a mecca when I lived there. Then the Greensleeves Studio next to my school and Saw the Wailers when they popped in to a studio Trojan derivative, in Harlesden near my school before anyone new who they were...I already had a Marley collection!
Amazing how Reggae influence went right across the board while never getting the air play it deserved when it was at it's greatest. Skinheads, Punks, Rasta. Even the beatles did ska... o bloody o blooda although Marmalade had a hit with it as Ringo couldn't do reggae on drums. Now even the Streets and other modern stuff use reggae drum or bass rythms. Pity it's swallowed up and not recognised for what it is.
I've got every UB40 track made. Yes they are still going but dont get airplay. So are Toots and the Maytals, Jimmy Cliff and Desmond Dekker, who were skinhead faves. Do todays youth recognise what made the music they listen to as their own?
Amazing the parrallels with music and hot rodding.
Is because they are too old? Does age matter? If it's good why should age be a barrier?
Is handing over the torch to a new generation a natural and rightcheous progression? Is it still righteouse if the people who take over ignore where it's come from? If you forget history will the flame just burn out?
