Steel Pulse

Steel Pulse are a British roots reggae band from the Handsworth area of Birmingham, England. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, and were composed of David Hinds (lead vocals, guitar), Basil Gabbidon (lead guitar, vocals), and Ronald McQueen (bass); along with Basil's brother Colin briefly on drums and Mykaell Riley (vocals, percussion). Steel Pulse were the first non-Jamaican act to win the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album, and have gained eight other Grammy nominations.

History

Basil Gabbidon and David Hinds became inspired to form Steel Pulse after listening to Bob Marley and the Wailers' Catch a Fire. The band formed in 1975 and their debut single "Kibudu, Mansetta And Abuku" was released via the small independent record label Dip, and was related to the situation of British urban black youth against the imagery of an African homeland. Their next single was "Nyah Luv" on Anchor. Paradoxically Steel Pulse were initially refused live dates in Caribbean venues in Birmingham due to their Rastafarian beliefs. During the popularization of punk rock in the mid-1970s, Steel Pulse began to play punk venues such as the Hope and Anchor in London and The Electric...

Read full biography on Wikipedia →