The Beat

Formed in Birmingham in 1978, The Beat emerged from the British post-punk wave by blending 2 Tone ska, reggae, nervy pop, soul and punk accents. The Beat brought together Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger on vocals, Andy Cox on guitar, David Steele on bass, Saxa on saxophone and Everett Morton on drums, with a sound built on Jamaican offbeats, very direct melodies and lyrics attentive to the social context of early-1980s Britain. Initially associated with the 2 Tone scene, The Beat released I Just Can't Stop It in 1980, Wha'ppen? in 1981 and Special Beat Service in 1982 — three albums that show an evolution from a more upfront ska to a looser new wave, infused with funk and soul. After the split in 1983, members continued in General Public around Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger, while Andy Cox and David Steele formed Fine Young Cannibals. In the United States the band appeared under the name The English Beat, a name later used by the lineup led by Dave Wakeling, which released Here We Go Love in 2018.