Clive Chin, born 1954 in Kingston, Jamaica, is one of the most essential faces in Reggae – and Jamaican-music. His father Vincent ´Randy Chin and his mother Patricia founded the family business with record distribution and Randy´s Studio 17. First Vincent, later Clive were famous producers who worked a.o. with artists like Errol Thompson and Augustus Pablo. They mad a lot of Roots- and Dub-hits („Java“ by Pablo), before they moved to New York 1977 to continue their business in the USA. Nowadays Clive is back in music business as label-boss, sound engineer, DJ and producer. So finally we had to talk with the pioneer.
It is a chilly, late Sunday morning at Truman’s Brewery, off Brick Lane. The streets and alleys around the brewery-turned-alternative hot spot in East London are beginning to fill with people hunting out for bargains on Petticoat Lane or Spitalfield Markets round the corner. We have an appointment with Missing Andy outside the new Rough Trade record shop.
The D`jenks: Aggroreggae from Indonesia
New stuff from Finland! Punkrock cover versions by the VALKYRIANS. A matter to talk with “Angster” and “Mr. Moonhead” about this lovely creation and plans for the next months.
Tataaaaaaaaa! With CHema Skndl! we present you the number 4 of our ska & design series. And I am sure, you will also be impressed by this in Chicago living, mexican designer.
Recently, Desorden Publico ended a successful month-long tour through Europe, promoting their most recent album, ‘Los Contrarios’. The octet from the capital of Caracas is still undoubtedly the number one ska band out of Latin America and still enjoys great popularity with fans and media, especially in Germany. After seeing the band at the beginning of the tour in Berlin and at a festival in Mainz, we met them once again in Erlangen at the end of the tour. Before and after the concert at the ‘E-werk’, we took a detailed look behind the scenes of the musicians from Venezuela in an interview with the founding members Horacio Blanco and Caplis.
Milan has much to off er in fashion, sports and media. Part of that rich culture includes The One Droppers. They started in 2003 with a plan to bring their 60s style Jamaican-infl uenced music from Lombardy out into the world. After numerous lineup changes, the current line-up, an eight-piece band, has fi nally emerged in 2008. Nevertheless, it took three more years until the band presented its long awaited debut CD „The Big One“,“ released on Rocking Records! alongside two great concerts in Erfurt and Bamberg. Rocking Steady E-Zine got a chance to talk with bassist Tommaso ‚Musta‘ Collini over the previous career of these northern Italians.
Uwe Kaa is the artist we choose for an interview in our “Reggae In Your Jeggae“ column. We spoke with him about his musical biography and his new album.
After Jada Leblanc and Steve Kitchen, who both live in Canada these days, we continue our series ska & design with a designer from Central America - Gamma Robles. He is a really extraordinary designer and illustrator, who lives and loves his design as well as the skinhead scene. It`s a big pleasure to present him and his works to you. You will be really impressed by his magical works.
With the „Orquestra Brasileira de Música Jamaicana,” now a band from Sao Paulo follows in their footsteps with a mix of Ska, Rocksteady, and Reggae. So, Rocking Steady asked for an interview with the singer/guitarist, Sergio Soffiatti,and he was kind enough to make himself available.
She is another sparkling star in the Reggae firmament. No German Reggae Award yet, but maybe in the future. Although Sara can be categorized into the Reggae genre, her influences range from Pop, R&B, Dancehall, Hip-Hop, and Soul. What About Love? is the name of her album and she tells us why!
For this, we remain in Canada, the current place of residence of the Englishman, Steve Kitchen, from Combination 13. He is the designer of our choice this time and his style will excite you because he is aces. He got in touch with Ska much earlier than Jada. Accordingly, his understanding of the scene is much bigger. His list of clients are a who‘s who of the global Ska scene, while his passion for this music is still alive and growing.
From Jamaica With Love: Alpheus
Mr. Review is well known, so there is not so much to say about them. The Dutch have won the hearts of the european skapeople not only with their dynamic Ska, but also with their superb ballads. They are one of the international top bands in the up-tempo range. After several years of separation of the founding members, in which the two main protagonists toured as Rude & Visser, Mr. Review have a reunion on time and released their new album XXV recently. Since this 25th year anniversary they are all together on stage again as Mr. Review. We got in touch and asked them to spill the beans.
We wanted to know something more about Bluekilla and asked what the 25 years anniversary means for them.
Jada Leblanc began her career in graphic design in 2000 after studying at Pacific Design Academy in Victoria, British Columbia. It was at this time that Jada was approached by a local promoter of the Victoria ska scene to design promotional posters for ska acts touring the city. Simultaneously, a newly formed festival celebrating ska and reggae culture, the Victoria Ska Festival, was gaining momentum and Jada became contributing graphic designer for the festival, creating logos, advertisements, posters and t-shirts. Meanwhile Jada‘s design work has become synonymous with ska music in particular, forging a new graphic identity for the genre.
Trombone-special: Mr. T-Bone
Rico Rodriguez, born on the 17th of october 1934 in Kingston, Jamaica, is one of the founders of jamaican popular music. The trombonist and composer grew up in humble conditions and visited the famous Alpha Boys School, where he had instrument lessons inter alia from the tragic legend Don Drummond (presumed death in May 1969 by suicide in a mental hospital).
The Slackers on recording a covers album, on the future of The Slackers, on competition and musical ignorance and their side projects
Before they are due to take the stage of the London International Ska Festival, we meet sax player Miss Megumi and front man Natty Bo of Ska Cubano. Sitting in a pub beer garden, we discuss the various projects of two of the busiest musicians on the scene and find out how the music of Jamaica and Cuba joined forces.
On a warm spring evening, we sit down for a talk with Buster Shuffle in the tiny, but lovely garden of Cologne’s Sonic Ballroom club.
Masters of Ska-Sax: Tommy Tornado
By The Rivers is a young and upcoming Reggae band from Leicester, England. Maybe you were lucky enough to catch them supporting The Slackers on a few gigs in April. We took the opportunity to find out a little more about these new kids on the block.
New German trad ska-band
It`s some years ago, when a plump singer with this special hairdo sets the scene into good mood with saucy lyrics and authentic early reggae grooves. It`s a real pity that we cannot see him live on stage anymore. But there is a kind of substitute available now. The new King Of Rudeness, backed by the Upsessions. Rocking Steady met Flo to learn more about this project!
The day after their fabulous gig at Cologne’s Studio 672, we caught up with all three singers of the Dynamics for an interview on their musical backgrounds.
In 2012 the Hotknives celebrate the 30th anniversary since the band’s formation. To mark the occasion, we got in touch with Mick Clare, who was - together with Gary Marshall - the original singer and one of the main songwriters of the Hotknives.
Gentlemen – in April there is a release of an album called ”Let It Come, Let It Go“. The new album by kopenhagen based BABYLOVE & THE VAN DANGOS. Do you like it? The last was not a very long ago. So many ideas?
It is not every day that you get to talk to a living legend. And as living legends go, Lee Scratch Perry is in a league of his own. He sold records for Clement Coxsone Dodd’s in the 1950s. He recorded numerous hits for Dodd and Joe Gibbs in the 1960s. He founded his own Upsetter label in 1968, insulting Gibbs with his first single on it, People Funny Boy. As a producer, he was one of the people who developed the Reggae rhythm out of Rocksteady and Ska. He recorded one of the first Dub albums ever...
Dub Syndicate have a devoted following who cherish them for their work both in the studio and live. After a lengthy hiatus, the band are now back live and (soon) on record. Before their November gig in Cologne, we had the rare chance to talk to the mastermind behind the band, Style Scott.
Western Standard Time is a big band tribute to the Skatalites. It is the brainchild of trumpet player Eitan Avineri from Los Angeles. We managed to talk with him about this exciting new project.
Mad Professor has recorded and produced well over two hundred albums on his record label, Ariwa Records. Today he still runs his record company, together with his son, Joe Ariwa, and frequently tours with his soundsystem or, as on this occasion, with his house band, The Robotics. Before the gig in Wuppertal the Professor gave us a lecture.
Read an excerpt from the interview here. The full version will soon be published as part of issue # 9.
After a rousing gig in Cologne, we had the opportunity to talk to a really friendly, but also reflective Kevin Batchelor in November 2011.
Meanwhile the band have a brand and really comprehensive new website and recently announced a new single (out any day), an album called “Walk With Me” (out in spring), and are touring the States at the moment.
Vic Ruggiero – Renegade & Citizen Of The World Meeting Vic Ruggiero in the kitchen of what he calls the world’s best music venue, we now know everything about Sauerbraten and Kebabs. And we can exclusively reveal who will be president of the USA very soon.
Without exaggeration you could say that The Magic Touch is the best rocksteady and early reggae band in Germany. The Magic Touch set standards in their country and it seems that they have become unstoppable. Between two albums, a large number of live shows and several brief tours as backing group of diverse leading jamaican singers, TMT stopped by briefly to our box.
Skanky‘Lil Booking International announced a big live-package. And indeed, Janine chose an outstanding joint work for a special tour. A fusion of the Hotknives and Mark Foggo. This means joy for both, promoters and the audience. We found out more about this idea and what we`ve to expect on stage throughout from this package:
Reggae-icon and five-fold winner Ziggy Marley, who is the oldest son of Rita and Bob Marley, released his fourth solo album ‘Wild And Free’ in the middle of June. Born in 1968 in Kingston, the singer, songwriter, and guitar player started his successful career with three of his brothers and sisters as ‘Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers’ in 1985 and finally published his first solo album in 2003. ‘Rocking Steady’ met him for an interview at his performance at the ‘Merck-Sommerperlen’ in the ‘Centralstation’ of Darmstadt.
As part of the renowned ‚Easter Ska Jam‘ 2011, the Green Room Rockers from West Lafayette, Indiana (USA) have been in Europe from mid to late April. Together with the Ratazanas from Portugal and Roy Ellis aka Mr. Symarip, they have completed a total of 12 shows in Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria and Switzerland. Sent on tour from Grover Records & Moskito Promotion for the Green Room Rockers, the presentation of their latest cd from 2010, produced by Dave Hillyard, stood in the foreground. Rocking Steady! took advantage of a day off in Salzburg for an interview with the band, where loud voiced mastermind Mark Cooper- front man on vocals & keyboards - answered our questions.
Intensified is one of the matured and succesful ska bands in the u.k., touring all over europe since many years.
Ska Masterclass: The Slackers - non-stop global player
Susan Cadogan, Caribbean librarian and singer in one. Like her musical colleague, Mrs. Doreen Shaffer (The Skatalites), Susan also can be heard performing Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae and has for a long time; since 1974. Born on the 2nd of November 1951 in Saint Andrew, Allison Anne Cadogan was discovered by producer Jerry Lewis, as Lee Perry was searching for a singer for a cover version of „Hurts So Good“ by soul diva, Millie Jackson. In the following years, the trained librarian managed to produce some more hits/cover versions, especially in the British Reggae charts, but returned to her profession time and time again. Since her cooperation with the label, Ariwa Records, the sympathetic singer has experienced a global comeback.
Taking a look back at the history of ska, rocksteady and reggae, we come inevitably to Vin Gordon aka Don Drummond Junior (a nickname) aka Trommie, considered one of the most prolific Jamaican trombonist. Born on the 4th of August 1949 in Jones Town, Kingston, he entered the famous Alpha Boys School at the age of five and learned to play trombone. But who could anticipate then that the talented boy would get a member of Bob Marley & The Wailers and reaches international fame. 2011 Vin Gordon, after nearly 50 years in the music business, lives in his adopted home Paris and tells us plenty of interesting facts about Jamaican music in this interview.
The Aggrolites are the whizz-kids of the worldwide early Reggae scene. Within just 7 years they climbed to its max. Their recordings sell well, their live shows are much sought after, and they are one of the protagonists in reinventing a kind of dirty and aggressive Reggae styles based on the tradition of early Reggae scorchers. They released their fifth album and are touring the States and Europe once more in a lot of bigger clubs. So, it is a good time for an interview to point out some actual news and views about their music.
"Hot Blood Cold Weather“ is an inventory, which will suit old and new friends eminently. On the occasion of the new cd-release of The Caroloregians we met with the friendly Belgians for a conversation about the history and the future of both bands.
Countless musicians and dancers, dressed smart, smiling to the a..rms. Lord Mouse himself, whom is easy to recognize as frontman by its presence, beside him the dancing Kalypso Kats and the party starts.
No, it is not one of those moderately entertaining holiday-party-band-projects. Lord Mouse & The Kalypso Katz seem quite serious. The Berlin group, whose members came together from all over the world, invents the Calypso again. Lord Mouse dares, what few would have dared to dream: a traditional calypso project for the urban entertainment of today with very much authenticity, as the album shows in every single note. Our wish is finally fulfilled, the thin end of the wedge is done: The Calypso Revival can start now!
They are here again! Since about one year, The Butlers are back again and present their current single „I steh auf Berlin" of there upcoming album, which they will publish in January. We already had the chance to listen to it and spoke with The Butlers about the single, the new album and the rosy future of the famous Berlin Band:
In the summer of 2010, the Riverside Stomp Open Air in Mainz-Kastel was in the sixth round. Still one of the most famous ska and reggae-open-air-festivals in Germany, it was presented in front of the beautiful scenery at the Reduit on the banks of the Rhine. Among others Derrick ‚The Conqueror‘ Morgan entered the stage. So it was a must for Rocking Steady! to interview the in the scene well known, globally successful personality. At this the incomparable entertainer despite all the successes turned out as a likeable, eloquent interlocutor. The now 70-year old Derrick Morgan, blinded in a car accident and unable to walk further, made himself comfortable on his bed while I took a chair at his side square. A friendly handshake (we‘ve known each other for some years) and we were right in the middle of the interview.
The pioneer of yesteryear is back!: Roy Ellis a.k.a. Mr. Symarip, a vital senior and also a fixture in the musical tension between ska, reggae and rock steady. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, being a school friend of Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley with whom he made his first musical experiences together. When the ‚Jamaican Blue Beat‘ captured England in the early 60‘s, Roy Ellis was also on hand, and could end up his first hit with „Everyday You Got Me Crying Girl". Inspired by Don Drummond, Roland Alphonso and Rico Rodriguez, Ellis was not only singer, but also learned to play trombone. He joined the band The Bees, to which he also took Monty Neysmith and toured with Laurel Aitken, Prince Buster, Desmond Dekker and The Maytals.
Doreen Shaffer, the great singer of The Skatalites is touring around the world for may years. We love her awesome voice and her passionate performances on stage much. Rocking Steady had the chance to meet the jamaican woman, living in New York nowadays. We tried to get some details about her life and carrer, about her german grandfather and her favourite countries. So here we go!
Pat Kelly, born in 1944 in the capital Kingston, the center of ska, is without a doubt still one of the sizes of the Jamaican Music scene. The lively veteran presents hisself full of energy and acitvity in his first appearances on the European continent in 2009. And proved in the summer of 2010 that, despite advancing age, his falsetto skills are still excellent. It is his unique vocal style, coupled with honest songs about the diversity of love that makes the sympathetic Jamaican popular. Ska, originally born in the early 60s as the mixture of Caribbean folklore with the American Rhythm‘n‘ Blues, established fast in the Jamaican music scene and reflected the social conditions about the independence from Great Britain. And while the Ska from the middle of the decade changed to the slower Rock Steady, Pat Kelly also known as‘ „Mr. Quiet".
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