We are over the moon to have the incredible Dave Wakeling of the legendary The Beat chatting with us on tonight’s House Of Fun with Karin Ridgers……. We hear about what he is up to in America, hanging out with The Clash and their coming tours – including performing with Madness and UB40.

An overnight sensation who became a legendary band: The Beat. Forming in 1978, the Birmingham group were destined for success with their debut single, Tears of a Clown heading straight to #6 on the UK national charts.

And although this weeks House Of Fun is a Corona Virus free show…..! We hear some great ideas to keep us occupied if anyone has to stay at home for a few weeks for any reason.

Click here to listen again.

Photo Jackie Butler/Retna Ltd.

Alongside contemporaries, The Specials, Madness and The Selecter, The Beat pioneered the 2-Tone explosion that changed British pop music forever. Following the release of their three revolutionary albums, the band went on to conquer the globe and toured worldwide with acts such as The Clash, The Police, REM, Talking Heads and David Bowie.

Tours dates listed here too…. coming near to us in Essex later in 2020.

Following five years of defying the musical boundaries of the ska revival, the band disbanded in 1983 and left a trail of timeless classics in their wake such as, ‘Mirror in the Bathroom’, ‘Best Friend’, ‘Can’t Get Used to Losing You’, ‘Hands Off…She’s Mine’, ‘Twist and Crawl’ and many more.

Here’s today’s ska influenced playlist:

Madness – Shut Up
The Beat – Hands Off She’s Mine
The Beat – Tears Of A Clown
Skatalites – Guns Of Navarone
The Beat – Mirror In The Bathroom
The Beat – Can’t Get Used To Losing You
David Bowie – Changes
Bad Manners – This Is Ska
Elvis Costello – Pump It Up
The Special AKA – Gangsters
The Lambrettas – Poison Ivy
Bad Manners – Special Brew
Selecter – On My Radio
David Bowie – Sorrow
The Pretenders – Talk Of The Town
Bad Manners – Special Brew
Bob Marley & The Wailers – Sun Is Shining
The Special AKA – Free Nelson Mandela