Steel Pulse

Steel Pulse, Birmingham's seminal reggae group, play The Ambassador on Tuesday, the 29th of June. Steel Pulse was formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School in Birmingham in 1975. The band comprised the talents of David Hinds on guitar and vocals, Basil Gabbidon on guitar and Ronnie McQueen on bass. McQueen suggested the group's name after a racehorse and they began to hone their musical talents by playing songs by Bob Marley and Burning Spear. The line-up was soon bolstered by the addition of Steve 'Grizzly' Nesbitt on drums, Selwyn 'Bumbo' Brown on keyboards, Fonso Martin on percussion and Michael Riley on vocals.

Steel Pulse was initially refused live dates in Caribbean venues in the Midlands because of their Rastafarian beliefs. Aligning themselves with the Rock Against Racism organisation, they toured with punk groups like The Clash, The Stranglers and XTC and built up broad multi-racial audience in the process. Steel Pulse released two singles “Kibudu, Mansetta and Abuku” and “Nyah Love” on the small independent label, Dip before coming to the attention of Island Records.

Their first single for Island, “Ku Klux Klan” was a intelligent attack on the evils of racism and live performance included a visual parody of the sect on stage. The song also appeared on their debut album, Handsworth Revolution featuring reggae classics such as “Macka Spliff”, “Prodigal Son” and “Soldiers”. Steel Pulse followed up Handsworth Revolution with the albums, Tribute to the Martyrs, Caught You, True Democracy and State of Emergency.

Currently, Steel Pulse tour with a nine piece band including David Hinds, Steve Nesbitt and Selwyn Brown from the original line-up accompanied by Clifford Pusey on lead guitar, Alvin Ewen on bass, Sidney Mills on keyboards, Conrad Kelly on drums and Sylvia Tella and Donna Sterling on backing vocals. So for night of brilliant protest reggae and spiritually uplifting roots music, check out Steel Pulse at The Ambassador on the

Time: 8pm
Tickets: €27.50 - €33.50

Tickets are available from Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.ie

The Ambassador
O'Connell Street,
Dublin 1.
Tel: + 353 (0) 1 4569569