One tempestuous weekend in March, 1979 in Birmingham, England, the very first show by a nascent band known as The Beat took place. Introduced as “the hottest thing since the Pennsylvania meltdown," the band had a sense that the next few years could well be explosive. The band was all about inclusion, rather than exclusion, and this showed in their personnel and music influences. It crossed over fluidly between soul, reggae, pop and punk, and from these disparate pieces they created an infectious dance rhythm. The band became an overnight sensation and one of the most popular and influential bands of the British Two Tone Ska movement.
In February 2003 a dream came true for many Beat fans as the band reunited for a UK tour, culminating in a sold out command performance at the prestigious Royal Festival Hall. Consummate showman that he is, Dave Wakeling has continued to keep The Beat alive and strong, and continues to tour the world as The English Beat with an amazing all-star ska backing band playing all the hits and his new songs.