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m o r e s k a , m o r e r e g g a e , m o r e m u s i c ! r o c k i n g s t e a d y !<br />

r cking<br />

steady<br />

www.rockingsteady.com<br />

YOU‘RE E-ZINE &<br />

DOWNLOAD STORE<br />

<strong>OUT</strong> <strong>NOW</strong>! <strong>FreeZine</strong> &<br />

<strong>Download</strong> <strong>Store</strong><br />

The new magazine for ska and reggae people all over the world.<br />

Jamaican<br />

Originators<br />

Roy Ellis, Pat Kelly, Derrick<br />

Morgan, Doreen Shaffer<br />

and Clinton Fearon<br />

from page 04<br />

Ska Boomtown<br />

Berlin<br />

What connects Berlin<br />

with popular music? Why<br />

do The Butlers rerun the<br />

German New Wave? How<br />

the Calypso came to<br />

Berlin! from page 17<br />

The World<br />

of Ska<br />

News on the global star<br />

sky of ska and reggae<br />

from Belgium, Jamaica,<br />

Venezuela, Italy, the U.S.A.,<br />

Switzerland, Germany,<br />

Austria and the rest of the<br />

world from page 25


Number one!<br />

eDitorial Drop the oFFbeatbomb<br />

www.rockingsteady.eu<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>! starts with it‘s „Number 1“ a<br />

new, independent and free Internet magazine,<br />

which is specialized in Ska & Reggae. Parallel to<br />

the magazine <strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>! offers a download<br />

store for the best music ever! The store will<br />

be online on 01.01.2011. And we are confident<br />

that it will grow very fast.<br />

The first issue is the result of extensive research<br />

of the current ska and reggae scene in Europe<br />

and the rest of the world. Two great issues<br />

define our „number 1“. Under the title „Jamaican<br />

Originators“ we introduce you to a handful of<br />

the most important members of the ska and<br />

reggae scene in depth interviews. All are on<br />

tour in Europe or playing in their home country<br />

at clubs and festivals. They have never left their<br />

long musical path and present the fruits of<br />

their work with the same passion as they ever<br />

did before.<br />

The second focus of the first issue is Berlin,<br />

Berlin, Berlin. If you are currently looking for<br />

ska- and reggaenews, above all, you will strike<br />

it rich: The „Ska Boomtown Berlin“. New acts,<br />

established acts, „Comebacks“, successful acts,<br />

extraordinary acts, and certainly always good<br />

music. Berlin is on top. Read for yourself!<br />

We will complete the issue with ska news<br />

and tour dates from all around the world. Of<br />

course there are world-famous acts, but also<br />

very locally defined scenes. Both are equally<br />

important for us.<br />

Have fun with the <strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>! e-zine number<br />

one! We count on you, so that this long<br />

overdue idea will work out.<br />

www.rockingsteady.com<br />

be part<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

check the community


About us!<br />

eDitorial Drop the oFFbeatbomb<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

impreSSum <strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>! eZine & download store<br />

www.rockingsteady.de | www.rockingsteady.eu | www.rockingsteady.com<br />

03<br />

What‘s <strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!?<br />

A scene magazine, portal and shop from people out of the scene for people from the scene.<br />

• We have a web-fanzine based in Europe, that reports about ska and reggae worldwide.<br />

• We are an encyclopedia for all who are searching for ska and reggae music as well as for bands and labels of this genres, because they love this music.<br />

• We are a download store, in which the ska and reggae music is sold digitally. We provide a simple purchase of the favorite music of our visitors as<br />

well as new discoveries across all borders. (From 01.01.2011)<br />

• <strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>! is independent and internationally. We write mainly in english (www.rockingstaedy.com; www.rockingsteady.eu) and german:<br />

(www.rockingsteady.de), but also spanish and french are regularly represented.<br />

Who am <strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong> is working together with?<br />

Whether band, label or digital distributors - we like to work together with all levels:<br />

• We look forward to work with each individual band, which is presented on the <strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong> website, and sell their recordings independently<br />

of whether they are signed by a label or not.<br />

• As <strong>Rocking</strong> Records! we act as label ourselves. Initially limited to digital publications, and later perhaps with a focus on vinyl and / or sales of albums<br />

on demand.<br />

• We also offer various services such as graphic design for bands (eg posters, websites, social-media-designs and - marketing). There are special conditions<br />

for bands that are supporting us as a <strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!-Street-Team. Our concept of Street-Teams combines the forces of different bands and<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!.<br />

• We like to work with labels from the genres that want to use us as a digital distributor and / or that want us to help to spread their news to the<br />

international ska and reggae-crowd/cloud.<br />

• We license content from so-called aggregators, if we can convince them with our project, so that the selection in our store gets a reasonable size.<br />

• We try to pick up every convincing ska and reggae song/album to enrich our catalogue. While we cannot start with the complete repertoire, but<br />

with a small but fine scale. And we want to grow quickly. However, we will (initially) do not get access to any material. But we will leave nothing<br />

undone.<br />

To Whom is <strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>?<br />

More Ska - More Reggae - More Music!<br />

For all who have a passion for ska and reggae and are looking for news from the scene. Also for those who want to spread their news.<br />

How much does <strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong> cost?<br />

Freemium to Premium - There are free premium offers over here and some others with reasonable prices!<br />

• Our e.zine is published every two months and can be downloaded free of charge.<br />

• For the download of songs and albums we have fixed prices. While also in the store there will be some „Freemium“-products time after time.<br />

• Bands and labels do not pay anything. We just participate in the sales revenues that we generate for them.<br />

Herausgeber: <strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>! GbR<br />

Ludwig Märthesheimer & Oliver Will<br />

Gundelsheimer Straße 22<br />

D-96052 Bamberg<br />

Fon: +49. 951. 7005620<br />

Fax: +49. 951. 7005619<br />

projekt@rockingsteady.de<br />

redaktion: Oliver Will (V.i.S.d.P.)<br />

Frank Keil<br />

bildquellen: Stock Exchange, Photolabatory, Photocase, iStockphoto<br />

Fotos & layout: Markus Püls | 2mcon Bamberg (www.2mcon.de)<br />

translation: Oliver Will<br />

erscheinungsweise: alle 2 Monate<br />

redaktionsschluss: 15. des Vormonats<br />

anzeigenkontakt:<br />

Ludwig Märthesheimer | 0951 - 700 56 20 | lm@rockingsteady.de<br />

Es gelten die Anzeigenpreise der Mediadaten 10 | 2010


Jamaican Originators<br />

cover Story tougher than tough<br />

There are five founding fathers of reggae history<br />

we have portrayed for you and interviewed:<br />

Roy Ellis aka Mr. Symarip, Derrick Morgan (The<br />

King of Ska), Doreen Shaffer (The voice of the<br />

Skatalites) and Pat Kelly, who began his career<br />

with “The Techniques”. Since 2009 he has been<br />

seen on European stages again. Finally, we potray<br />

Clinton Fearon, a former member of “The<br />

Gladiators”. He crowns his long musical career<br />

with his new publication „Mi Deh Yah“. Currently<br />

he is touring with his first-class roots music<br />

throughout Europe. We are pleased about the<br />

possibility to interview these great artists for<br />

our number 1. For sure we will continue reporting<br />

on the creme de la creme of Jamaican<br />

music history in the next editions as well.<br />

DVD & CD<br />

out now!<br />

Pat Kelly<br />

interview reggae got Soul!<br />

Pat Kelly, born in 1944 in the capital<br />

Kingston, the center of ska, is without a doubt<br />

still one of the sizes of the Jamaican Music<br />

scene. The lively veteran presents hisself full of<br />

energy and acitvity in his first appearances on<br />

the European continent in 2009. And proved<br />

in the summer of 2010 that, despite advancing<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

www.rocksteadyrootsofreggae.com<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

age, his falsetto skills are still excellent. It is his<br />

unique vocal style, coupled with honest songs<br />

about the diversity of love that makes the<br />

sympathetic Jamaican popular. Ska, originally<br />

born in the early 60s as the mixture of Caribbean<br />

folklore with the American Rhythm‘n‘<br />

Blues, established fast in the Jamaican music<br />

scene and reflected the social conditions about<br />

the independence from Great Britain. And<br />

while the Ska from the middle of the decade<br />

changed to the slower Rock <strong>Steady</strong> and later<br />

resulted in reggae, Pat Kelly also known as‘ „Mr.<br />

Quiet“ ‚ was on the spot.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: With Ska, Rock <strong>Steady</strong><br />

and Reggae the Jamaican folk music entered<br />

a new dimension. How in this context was the<br />

beginning of your career?<br />

Pat Kelly: I had not planned to become a<br />

singer. When I returned from Massachusetts,<br />

where I studied electronics, to Jamaica in 1967,<br />

it has started off. There was less focus on the individual<br />

singers, but rather on the vocal groups.<br />

Also the type and how the music had been<br />

arranged and recorded in the studio changed<br />

from Ska to Rock <strong>Steady</strong>. The Techniques engaged<br />

me as a replacement for Slim Smith and<br />

with „You don‘t care“ (the Mayfield cover „You‘ll<br />

want me back) we came to fame early. So I<br />

took a break as a recording engineer.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: To this day, the comparison<br />

with American soul stars such as Sam<br />

Cooke and Curtis Mayfield stands. There is<br />

also the fact that this was the beginnig of the<br />

successful collaboration with the big producer<br />

Phil Pratt.<br />

Pat Kelly: We had a really perfect backing<br />

band then in which inter alia Bob Marley<br />

played some time. So we got more hits, including<br />

„Queen Majesty“, „Run Come Celebrate“<br />

and „I Wish It Would Rain“.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: At this time the stars of the<br />

jamaican scene, like Jackie Opel, Ken Boothe,<br />

Alton Ellis, John Holt (Kelly‘s classmate), Laurel<br />

Aitken and Desmond Dekker (who had the<br />

first reggae-Nor. 1 „Israelites“ in 1968) had their<br />

breakthrough with Ska, Rock <strong>Steady</strong> and Blue<br />

Beat (the UK name) in the U.K. . The ‚soulful‘


Reggay sensation went around the world and<br />

Pat Kelly logical decided to start a solo career.<br />

Pat Kelly: The time was ripe, and with<br />

numerous # 1 hits, god thanks, we immediately<br />

continued successful. I shuttled between many<br />

producers, including legends such as Duke<br />

Reid (Treasure Isle Studio) or Bunny Lee. As a result,<br />

inter alia „How Long Will It Take“ (including<br />

string arrangement) and „Talk About Love“, both<br />

written by me, rose as well as „If It Don`t Work<br />

Out“, „Try To Remember“ and „Dark End Of The<br />

Street“ „ which all climbed the top of the charts.<br />

Asked about Stascha Bader and his filmproduction<br />

„Rocksteady - The Roots Of Reggae“<br />

Pat Kelly can`t tell anyhing. In fact he haven`t<br />

heard of it, though many of the protagonists<br />

are friends of him.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: In 2009 and 2010 at performances<br />

like the Chiemsee Reggae Festival<br />

Pat Kelly was regonized as one of the greats<br />

of Jamaican music easily: ‚No fillers - all killers‘<br />

one might say, because with „Somebody‘s<br />

Baby“, „I‘m In The Mood For Love“, „Little Boy<br />

Blue“ and „There Comes A Time“ you still have<br />

published lots of other musical highlights<br />

between 1967 and 1972, as inter alia the album<br />

“Pat Kelly Sings”, recorded with the assistance<br />

of Lee ‚Scratch‘ Perry. Nevertheless, It you went<br />

underground then?<br />

Pat Kelly: It wasn`t just me at that time. There<br />

were some colleagues such as Stranger Cole,<br />

Derrick Morgan, Max Romeo and Slim Smith,<br />

who were all under contract to the leading<br />

label Pama. I even had an offer from the Beatles<br />

label Apple, but Pama doesn`t wan`t me to<br />

change. Then one has been just too dependent<br />

on the label and who went and knocked elsewhere,<br />

was usually sent back to Pama, whose<br />

leadership was very influential ...<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: Over the years, many of<br />

your songs have been re-released. Did you<br />

follow those releases or haven`t you been interested<br />

in this aspects of your career anymore?<br />

Pat Kelly: I have always tried to retrace all<br />

songs I have made in terms of publication.<br />

My songs have actually been attributed to me<br />

always, I have even almost all my records at<br />

home. So the producers were not able to take<br />

tracks, if the singer / composer was called. A<br />

hard and opaque business ... until now. Just<br />

take the time when I named myself Little Boy<br />

Blue or Boy Blue for marketing reasons: the<br />

people thought there are various interpreters,<br />

but everything was the same person.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: To talk about home: Many<br />

of your colleagues settled down in England<br />

and only returned back to Jamaica as a visitor.<br />

What about you?<br />

Pat Kelly: I never planned to leave Jamaica.<br />

We always toured a few month throughout<br />

England, but Kingston/Uptown stayed my<br />

home. Today I‘m there with my companion, a<br />

nurse, a beautiful house and garden, in which I<br />

live rather withdrawn.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: Up to your comeback in<br />

2009, some years have passed. How did you<br />

earn your living and how did your ‚comeback‘<br />

arise?<br />

Pat Kelly: In the mid-70s I got back to my<br />

profession as a sound engineer and have<br />

worked in different studios for King Tubby and<br />

other producers. In addition, I continued to write,<br />

record and occasionally publish songs. There<br />

was an album Youth & Youth, the publication<br />

„The Impressable John Holt” and some more.<br />

For live shows I flew to the USA and Canada<br />

(where today the way inter alia Stranger Cole<br />

and Lynn Taitt live. (Lynn Taitt unfortunately<br />

died this year – editorial office note). Of course I<br />

followed the Jamaican Music scene at home,<br />

but because of my age, I am much more closer<br />

to Ska, Rock <strong>Steady</strong> and Reggae than to Raggamuffin<br />

or Dancehall. But I am already available<br />

for dubplates and something like that. Since<br />

2009, there are some new songs by Pat Kelly<br />

you can listen to at least via youtube.com. They<br />

have been placed over there with the help of a<br />

friend under the CD title “No Further Fears”.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: In the late 70s a large<br />

wave of British ska spilled over the island to the<br />

continent. By merging of the reggae with the<br />

energy of punk, reggae and also the ska had<br />

an amazing revival, that continues to this day.<br />

Bands and the audience made black and white<br />

to the colors of the scene. The most successful<br />

artists of these also strongly anti-racist and<br />

politically motivated wave were Madness, The<br />

Selecter and the Specials, stars of the legendary<br />

2 Tone label, which many bands in Germany<br />

and abroad followed with success.<br />

Pat Kelly: One can say without lying, the Ska<br />

fever is rampant again in the world. No matter<br />

05<br />

in which direction the band‘s groove mixes<br />

develope, everything is very complex and<br />

interrelated, but the base remains our Jamaican<br />

dance music with a strong emphasis on<br />

rhythm. For me it‘s less about politics rather to<br />

human love and respect. I am grateful that there<br />

is so much passion for this music, because<br />

with the help of Doreen Shaffer (the Voice of<br />

the Skatalites), a friend since the beginning of<br />

my career, I got in touch with Oswald Münnig<br />

from the German booking agency Moskito<br />

Promotion. Oswald then invited me for a few<br />

shows, the first in Europe outside England in<br />

general.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: This became a fixed collaboration<br />

due to the truly magnificent Moon<br />

Invaders from Belgium?<br />

Pat Kelly: Their understanding of music, their<br />

skills and stage presence according to ska, rock<br />

steady and reggae is so unbelievable. They are<br />

definitely on the same level with my accompanying<br />

musicians from the former time. So I<br />

am looking forward to the next performances<br />

with them, cause the guys have really Rhythm&<br />

Blues and Soul. And the greatest thing would<br />

be to record an album with them as quick as<br />

possible. For if we continue to achieve people<br />

all over the world with our music, we did<br />

everything right!<br />

Frank Keil<br />

www.rockingsteady.com<br />

cD<br />

available Soon!


Roy Ellis aka. Mr. Symarip<br />

interview back From the moon<br />

www.roy-ellis.ch<br />

The pioneer of yesteryear is back!: Roy Ellis a.k.a.<br />

Mr. Symarip, a vital senior and also a fixture in<br />

the musical tension between ska, reggae and<br />

rock steady. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, being<br />

a school friend of Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley<br />

with whom he made his first musical experiences<br />

together. When the ‚Jamaican Blue Beat‘<br />

captured England in the early 60‘s, Roy Ellis<br />

was also on hand, and could end up his first hit<br />

with „Everyday You Got Me Crying Girl“. Inspired<br />

by Don Drummond, Roland Alphonso and<br />

Rico Rodriguez, Ellis was not only singer, but<br />

also learned to play trombone. He joined the<br />

band The Bees, to which he also took Monty<br />

Neysmith and toured with Laurel Aitken, Prince<br />

Buster, Desmond Dekker and The Maytals. A<br />

little later the friend Eddy Grant advised the<br />

Bees to change their name and from now they<br />

created a sensation as Pyramids and shared the<br />

stage with such known acts like The Who and<br />

Pink Floyd. Almost simultaneously with Derrick<br />

Morgan and his „Moon Hop“, the Pyramids<br />

aimed in the direction of Mods & Skinheads.<br />

With „Skinhead Moon Stomp“ they did a sought<br />

today top hit, which they published under the<br />

band name Symarip because of contractual obligations<br />

end of the 60s. At that time a growing<br />

audience got enthusiastic about Ska, Reggae &<br />

Rock <strong>Steady</strong>. Not surprising then, that in 1970<br />

even a reggae-documentary film in London‘s<br />

Wembley Stadium was turned, for which Ellis<br />

interpreted some gospel songs in reggae<br />

style. In the 70s and 80s, Roy Ellis oriented<br />

more toward gospel and soul and moved to<br />

Switzerland for personal reasons. 2001 he was<br />

found by the Lucerne Rudeattack crew and he<br />

returned back into the ska scene together with<br />

the Swiss backing band Kalles Kaviar with great<br />

success. With other groups like the Teenagers<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

(Spain), Soulfood International (Germany), the<br />

Aggrolites (USA) or the Ratazanas (Portugal),<br />

he is touring again around the world. As Mr.<br />

Symarip he put out „The Skinheads Dem A<br />

Come“ on Liquidator Records in 2006 and most<br />

recently the equally popular single „Let Me Take<br />

You Higher“ followed with The Teenagers. His<br />

shows are still energetic and extremely and Roy<br />

Ellis remained a star at your fingertips. He likes<br />

to take his fans on stage to dance, as he did<br />

at the Summer Safari 2010 in Halle, Germany,<br />

where <strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>! met the „skinhead boss“<br />

for a detailed interview. Frank Keil<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>: When in the early 60s<br />

jamaican skamusic reached England, you have<br />

already been on the spot. But before you did<br />

not plan to earn your living as a singer.<br />

Roy Ellis: That‘s right. My mother was already<br />

in London and she got her ”rude boy” to<br />

join her in 1962. I went into the school a few<br />

months and then began to work in various<br />

restaurants as a kitchen porter and cook. Today<br />

cooking is only a hobby. I also trained a lot to<br />

make career as a boxer, while I also sang and<br />

recorded „You Got Me Crying Everyday Girl“<br />

on Sonny Burke`s small Ember label. I was not<br />

paid for it, but at least the Jamaican immigrants<br />

knew me now.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>: Don Drummond (The<br />

Skatalites) inspired you to learn trombone, Rico<br />

Rodriguez has been your teacher for some time.<br />

And when the organist Monty Neysmith came<br />

to London to study, the idea to form a band<br />

took shape.<br />

Roy Ellis: Yes, I was friends with Monty‘s<br />

cousin Barry Biggs, so we played with the Bees,<br />

a young band from the neighborhood. First,<br />

pop, then after some changes Ska. With me<br />

as a singer and trombonist. Laurel Aitken was<br />

looking for a backing band, we got the job and<br />

toured with him in England. He also introduced<br />

us to the producer Siggy Jackson of the Blue<br />

Beat label, for which we recorded „Jesse James<br />

Rides Again” in 1967.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>: Then Prince Buster came<br />

from Jamaica to England, an icon between ska<br />

and rocksteady. As the backing band for him<br />

you could reach a white audience for the first<br />

time.<br />

Roy Ellis: Yes, the Bees had great success at<br />

that time and now Eddy Grant came into the<br />

game, which debuted with the Equals huge<br />

success. He liked our mix of ska, rock steady<br />

and early reggea and produced many of our<br />

recordings for the label “President”. By touring<br />

with Desmond Dekker, The Pioneers and The<br />

Maytals, our popularity became bigger and<br />

bigger. Eddy, who did not like our band name,<br />

advised us to change the name. From then on<br />

we played as The Pyramids and shared the stage<br />

with The Who and Pink Floyd from then on.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>: Sound like a big amount of<br />

sex, alcohol and drugs ...<br />

Roy Ellis: We all were not saints at that time<br />

and had a great time! Despite our agreement<br />

with President, we recorded for other labels<br />

under names like Symarip, Alterations, Rough<br />

Riders, bed bugs, EK Bunch and Seven Letters. It<br />

was a turbulent time in which also the landing<br />

of Americans on the moon happened in July<br />

1969. And while Derrick Morgan caused a<br />

sensation with his „Moon Hop“, reggae slowly<br />

replaced rock steady and ska.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>: A development in which<br />

your „Skinhead Moon Stomp”‘ had significant<br />

contribution. To this skinhead reggae more and<br />

more whites began to dance, but the single<br />

and the album could not be marketed without<br />

a trick.<br />

Roy Ellis: Right. We still had the contract with<br />

President, but spelled The Pyramids backwards<br />

without D and Symarip came out. President<br />

received the success of Symarip in the charts,<br />

so we had to make two more LPs for them,<br />

including songs like „Banana“, before they let<br />

us out of the contract. One of our fans, who


also works as a bodyguard for us was Judge<br />

Dread, who later became the star of the scene<br />

himself. The highlights of our performances was<br />

certainly the show in April 1970 at Wembley<br />

Stadium, which takes an important part in the<br />

film documentary „Reggae“.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>: Somehow, after that your<br />

success slackened. The band toured in Germany,<br />

Austria and Switzerland for Creole Records,<br />

but with Afro-rock under the name of Osibisa.<br />

A change, that is difficult to comprehend.<br />

Roy Ellis: Ska, Rock <strong>Steady</strong>, Reggae doesn`t<br />

suit them, people over there wanted some<br />

soul and funk. And we had to make money ...<br />

and later in England under the name Zubaba,<br />

then again as The Pyramids, always alternating<br />

between the UK and Europe by the end of the<br />

70s. As The Specials (2Tone) entered the charts<br />

and became No. 1 in England with the cover<br />

of „Skinhead Moon Stomp” (1980), there was a<br />

short time interest in us again, but we could not<br />

go back, because we had contracts in Europe.<br />

We did this until 1988, then we separated and<br />

finally there is only sporadic contact among the<br />

seven original members of Symarip today.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>: In 1980 you already have<br />

been familiar with your present wife in Switzerland,<br />

in 1988 you have married and you live<br />

happily together in Buchs until now. But you<br />

did not say goodbye to the music, but started a<br />

second career immediately.<br />

Roy Ellis: Correct. I have accompanied many<br />

international stars and established myself as a<br />

successful gospel, blues and soul singer. There<br />

is no shortage of gigs, I‘m on the radio and you<br />

could see me on TV last year. Among others I<br />

sung at the wedding of Boris Becker and his wife.<br />

I am a professional and I am doing it all, whether<br />

baptism or funeral. And so, of course, many CD<br />

releases have come together, resembling a declaration<br />

of love for gospel, blues and soul.<br />

Discography (extract)<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>: We have met frequently<br />

in recent years. Not only to me you are a sympathetic,<br />

open-minded, your accompanying<br />

musicians, fans and media over a very loyal<br />

artist. Certainly one of the reasons that your<br />

comeback in the ska scene is so successful.<br />

How did you get involved into the ska scene<br />

again?<br />

Roy Ellis: The skinheads of Rudeattack of<br />

Lucerne located me in 2001 after a concert of<br />

Laurel Aitken and arranged the contact with<br />

the band Kalles Kaviar. First concerts followed<br />

and we quickly realized the huge demand for<br />

old Symarip hits. Moskito Promotion (Germany)<br />

and Liquidator Music (Spain) have supported<br />

me regarding booking and publications, so<br />

among others tours in Colombia, Mexico, Japan<br />

and Europe took place. And of course it makes<br />

me proud when I see young people celebrate<br />

with old hits and anthems like „Skinhead Girl,“<br />

„Must Catch A Train“ or „Flour Dumpling“.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>: Then the „Boss Skinhead‘<br />

won`t cease soon. What are your plans for the<br />

next few months?<br />

Roy Ellis: I will be active for both scenes a lot.<br />

Regarding to Ska, there are shows planned in<br />

The Bees 7“ Jesse James Rides Again/The Girl In My Dreams Blue Beat 1967<br />

The Pyramids 7“ Train Tour To Rainbow City/John Chewey President 1967<br />

Symarip 7“ I´m A Puppet/Vindication Attack 1969<br />

Symarip 7“ Skinhead Moonstomp/Must Catch A Train Treasure Isle 1969<br />

The Pyramids LP The Pyramids President 1969<br />

Symarip LP Skinhead Moonstomp Trojan 1969<br />

Mr. Symarip CD The Skinheads Dem A Come Liquidator 2006<br />

Mr. Symarip 7“ Shine, Shine, Shine & 2 weitere Titel Liquidator 2008<br />

Symarip CD Skinhead Moonstomp Trojan 2008<br />

Roy Ellis & The Teenagers 7“ Let Me Take You Higher/The Sweetest Rumour Liquidator 2009<br />

07<br />

the United States and Japan. Furthermore, there<br />

is a new CD for Liquidator Music. The first songs<br />

I‘ve done yet. And while I‘m still physically fit,<br />

my vote is still up to all challenges, I see no<br />

reason to leave the stage at the age of 62!<br />

now on tour<br />

dates on page 28


Derrick Morgan<br />

interview pioneer oF jamaican pop muSic<br />

In the summer of 2010, the Riverside Stomp<br />

Open Air in Mainz-Kastel was in the sixth round.<br />

Still one of the most famous ska and reggaeopen-air-festivals<br />

in Germany, it was presented<br />

in front of the beautiful scenery at the Reduit on<br />

the banks of the Rhine. Among others Derrick<br />

‚The Conqueror‘ Morgan entered the stage. So<br />

it was a must for <strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>! to interview<br />

the in the scene well known, globally successful<br />

personality. At this the incomparable entertainer<br />

despite all the successes turned out as a likeable,<br />

eloquent interlocutor. The now 70-year old<br />

Derrick Morgan, blinded in a car accident and<br />

unable to walk further, made himself comfortable<br />

on his bed while I took a chair at his side<br />

square. A friendly handshake (we‘ve known each<br />

other for some years) and we were right in the<br />

middle of the interview.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>: The<br />

beginning of your career<br />

was in the late 50‘s when<br />

you won the Vere John‘s<br />

talent show with the<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

Little Richard cover „Long Tall Sally“ and went on<br />

tour with the comedy duo Bim & Bam two years<br />

throughout Jamaica. From which year is your<br />

first own recording and how did you get into<br />

music?<br />

Derrick Morgan: I was born on the land in<br />

Mocho Clarendon and when I was three, my<br />

mother and I went to Kingston because of<br />

my night blindness. In the church choir and<br />

in school I came into contact with music and<br />

on the radio we heard many good songs. And<br />

thanks to John Vere and Bim & Bam I collected<br />

plenty of stage experience in 1957 , before I<br />

recorded the songs „Lover Boy“ and „Oh My<br />

Love is Gone“ for the Duke Reid in 1959, which<br />

he played only on its sound system. The first<br />

buyable record was the from LS Smith produced<br />

hit „Fat Man“, which also appeared in England.<br />

Then came singles for Clement ‚Coxsone‘<br />

Dodd, eg „Leave Earth“ and „Wigger<br />

Wee Shuffle“.<br />

Derrick Morgan became addicted<br />

to the traditional music<br />

styles of the small Caribbean<br />

island early - and he kept face<br />

with them until today ...<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>: In the early 60s<br />

there was a ska boom and there<br />

were many musicians, producers<br />

and promoters<br />

and a tough<br />

competition.<br />

At<br />

that<br />

time the title ‚Hitmaker‘ was given to you,<br />

because you managed to place seven singles<br />

(including „Be Still“, „Sunday Monday“ and „The<br />

Hop“) in the top ten. But success had its downside<br />

too, so there was a legendary musical dispute<br />

with Prince Buster, who first produced so many<br />

of your songs. And he was a good friend as well.<br />

Derrick Morgan: Reid, Smith, Buster - they<br />

were the first with whom I worked. A very<br />

good time in which even the duet „Housewife‘s<br />

Choice“ (No. 1 in Jamaica) with singer Millicent<br />

„Patsy“ Todd was born, with whom I later worked<br />

on and off. She lived so long in my neighborhood,<br />

near the Orange Street in Kingston. Then<br />

came Jimmy Cliff (at that time known as James<br />

Chambers) to my house and brought the song<br />

suggestions „Dearest Beverly“ and „Hurricane<br />

Hattie“. He wanted me to advertise for Leslie<br />

Kong and his label Beverly Records. The offer<br />

was good, Kong paid the first £ 10 per song, so<br />

I accepted and so Jimmy Cliff, Owen Gray and I<br />

went to the studio with some musicians, known<br />

as Drumbago, rehearsed and recorded some<br />

songs, including „She‘s Gone“.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>: In 1962, when Jamaica<br />

became independent from British rule, „Forward<br />

March“ was as a promising tune. Almost<br />

simultaneously there was a dispute with singer /<br />

producer Prince Buster. Can you still remember<br />

exactly why?<br />

Derrick Morgan:The saxophone solo in it was<br />

from Headly Bennet, Prince Buster said it was<br />

stolen from his song „They Got To Come“. He<br />

then attacked me with „Blackhead Chinaman“<br />

which we countered with „Blazing Fire“ and „No<br />

Raise, No Praise.“ These mutual insults meant<br />

that there was unrest in the population, the fans<br />

fought out the conflict even violently. As the<br />

government stepped in and asked us to settle<br />

the dispute. Then we gave a statement in the<br />

Daily Gleaner that the dispute was only one out<br />

of control sales gimmick ... And from that time<br />

on we were good friends again. But this kind<br />

of fighting has followed in the Jamaican<br />

music scene again and again until today,<br />

especially in the Dancehall.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>: 1962 appeared also<br />

the name of Bob Marley in connection<br />

with Derrick Morgan for the first time. Is<br />

there an anecdote behind it?<br />

Derrick Morgan: A friend, Pat Stewart,<br />

pointed out his skills to me, but<br />

at first he was a better dancer than


singer. I introduced him to Leslie Kong, who recorded<br />

„Judge Not,“ „Terrorist“ and „One Cup Of<br />

Coffee“, the first tunes under the name of Bob<br />

Marley. Before I left England in 1963, there were<br />

two farewell shows in Jamaica for me. Also Bob<br />

Marley appeared on stage. Then I didn`t see<br />

him for a long time, but the rest of the singer<br />

from Trench Town is history nowadays.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>: First there was Mento,<br />

Calypso and Rhythm and Blues. Then ska, so to<br />

speak, the founder-period music of Jamaica.<br />

And in the aftermath Rock <strong>Steady</strong>, that was<br />

launched with your song „Tougher Than Tough“.<br />

Last year the interesting film and DVD documentary<br />

„Rock <strong>Steady</strong>-The Roots Of Reggae“<br />

from the Swiss Stascha Bader was published<br />

(Switzerland, 2009, 95 minutes, English), in that<br />

you were also heavily involved. What‘s the rock<br />

steady periods need-to-knows?<br />

Derrick Morgan: „Tougher Than Tough“ aka<br />

„Rudies Dont`t Fear“ referred to a Rudeboy<br />

named Busby, who was shot shortly after the<br />

creation of the songs by a hostile gang on<br />

a “Dance”. In the Dynamic recording studio<br />

George and Desmond Dekker (The Pioneers)<br />

supported me. That was 1966 and I superimposed<br />

on with „Cool Off Rudies“ a more soothing<br />

song, so that all calmed down. From 1967, I<br />

then run my own label hop, on which I initially<br />

produced a lot of Rock <strong>Steady</strong>, relaxed style,<br />

before it was replaced by reggae with all its<br />

facets.<br />

More than five decades in the international<br />

music business. The Jamaican Derrick Morgan<br />

has played a major role for styles like<br />

ska, rocksteady and reggae.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>: Where we were already in<br />

skinhead reggae. By today, in any of your sets,<br />

whether in the U.S. or Europe (at Chiemsee<br />

Reggae Summer Festival or the This Is Ska in<br />

Rosslau), where you‘re still often on tour, the hit<br />

„Moon Hop“ is a must.<br />

Derrick Morgan: Unlike many colleagues, I<br />

have been often in England to work, but I never<br />

took up residence there. I‘m still in Jamaica.<br />

Clearly, 1969 was the year of the skinheads in<br />

England and they celebrated me for my „Moon<br />

Hop“, it was a great success. And the fans still<br />

like this song, especially the sound systems<br />

play it again and again in the clubs after the<br />

concerts. Just like the version of Symarip,<br />

known under the title „Skinhead Moon Stomp!.<br />

„Moon Hop“ today may not lack like „Reggae<br />

Train,“ „Miss Lulu,“ „Conquering Ruler“, „Don‘t<br />

Call Me Daddy,“ „Tougher Than Tough“, „Fat<br />

Man“ or „Blazing Fire“. Otherwise the people are<br />

really disappointed. Ok, I almost forgot „Seven<br />

Letters“, the first reggae song that I created<br />

Discography (excerpt):<br />

„Forward March w 1963 LP<br />

The Best of Derrick Morgan 1969 LP<br />

Moon Hop 1970 LP<br />

Development 1975 LP<br />

Derrick Morgan & Yebo, Conquering Ruler & Eastern Standard 1992 Double CD<br />

Time Marches On 1996 CD<br />

Derrick Morgan Meets The High Notes Live 2003 CD<br />

Derrick Morgan Ska Vol. 1 2003 CD<br />

09<br />

with Bunny Lee, reminiscent of Ben E. King. Or<br />

„Bangarang“, which then Stranger Cole and Lester<br />

Sterling (The Skatalites) were involved.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>: Also from the 70s to today<br />

you have been very active. Publications worldwide<br />

performances, production and label work<br />

(Hop) alternated constantly.<br />

Derrick Morgan:Yes, I stayed active and thus<br />

young in some way. I have been married since<br />

1968 with my wife, Nellie, have children, so I<br />

have to pay financially for a large family. Nellie<br />

the way, is the sister of Bunny Lee, with whom<br />

I‘ve worked a lot. Later came Max Romeo, Tony<br />

Rebel and Garnet Silk, The Jets, The Soul Syndicate<br />

Band and the German group Yebo. And<br />

the Dutch from Rude Rich & The High Notes.<br />

Many who did not come from Jamaica, have<br />

mastered the task to back me with my classics<br />

with flying colors. And that should calm remain<br />

in the coming years, however, for I will not<br />

even say goodbye from the music business!<br />

Frank Keil<br />

www.rockingsteady.com<br />

cD<br />

available Soon!


Doreen Shaffner<br />

interview muSic From paSSion<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: I have read your real name<br />

is Monica Johnson!?<br />

Doreen Shaffer: Yes, that‘s right. But Schaeffer<br />

is my real last name. My maiden name!<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: Doreen Shaeffer is not<br />

your stage name?<br />

Doreen Shaffer: No! In fact I have German<br />

ancestors - my grandfather.<br />

Well, I do not know much about him. He was a<br />

migrant, always on tour until he came to. I do<br />

not know much about it. I was only one year<br />

old!<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: So you don‘t know where<br />

he has lived in Germany before his emigration?<br />

Doreen Shaffer: No, I had a sister who told<br />

me a few things about it. Unfortunately she is<br />

not alive! I went on tour when she was sick and<br />

when I came home I had to learn that she died.<br />

She was much older than me and told me<br />

about it, but I do not know much about it yet.<br />

We had different mothers. I grew up without<br />

my father. I only know that he my grandfather<br />

came to Jamaica, bought land here and traded.<br />

One day he left the island.<br />

However, due to him my name<br />

is Shaffer. Actually it<br />

was written with<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

c, but when I was in Jamaica and my husband<br />

in the United States the c lacked on my papers<br />

that I needed to join him. Of course I was<br />

annoyed about that, and I wanted him to<br />

cause a correction. But that would have last at<br />

least two weeks and he asked me if I wanted<br />

to stay in Jamaica because of a letter or rather<br />

come to him. Despite my anger, I said to him<br />

that he should send me the ticket and I flew<br />

immediately. Therefore on my recordings there<br />

are different spellings. When I started at Studio<br />

One, I still wrote me with c. Later it was lost and<br />

I had to get along with it.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: Since many years your are<br />

touring throughout the whole planet and present<br />

very authentic ska as the „Queen of Ska“!.<br />

Where do you prefer to perform?<br />

Doreen Shaffer: That‘s very interesting. I love<br />

Japan! And I love Germany, really, because I<br />

like to come back here, where I can play a lot<br />

and I am so appreciated. But the first time I<br />

was in Japan, the people have such a pleasant<br />

discipline, almost a kind of humility. They are<br />

wonderful people, who always want to do<br />

something for you, make everything to your<br />

favour. This is wonderful, and everyone makes<br />

an effort and invites you to come to him. And<br />

this was not just the first time I was there, but<br />

I‘ve been there four times and it‘s still so enjoyable.<br />

They are so nice, they want you to feel<br />

comfortable and have a strong tradition. But<br />

I‘ve been in so many places. I went to Russia.<br />

I never thought that I would be there ... and I<br />

found myself in Russia. End everyone is so kind<br />

over there. But I was in many places. It‘s hard to<br />

say, but it‘s always nice when one is adopted,<br />

no matter where.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: You talked about the Japanese<br />

culture and that you like their resistance.<br />

What about Jamaica? Is there a change? A<br />

musical change?<br />

Doreen Shaffer: Yes, absolutely. You can<br />

identify Jamaica with Reggae, who has its<br />

origin here or with ska. Two Tone is a different<br />

thing and has little to do with Jamaica. The<br />

birthplace of ska is Jamaica. It was the Skatalites<br />

drummer Lloyd Knibb. He was the one at<br />

Studio One, where we met all the time. Coxsone<br />

was traveling and brought Rhythm and<br />

Blues and Cuban music, such as merengue, to<br />

Jamaica. In the studio, the musicians renewed<br />

these sytyles.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: So Coxsonne was the<br />

source?<br />

Doreen Shaffer: Yes, Coxsonne and the<br />

musicians who were in the studio all the time.<br />

And at a certain moment, he must have heard<br />

something, something that Lloyd played - I‘m<br />

not sure, because I was not there as it happened.<br />

I think Coxsonne wants him to change<br />

the beat, rather than enact, what he brought<br />

with him: Merengue, Samba, etc. He got the<br />

idea to mix the rhythms. And so the Ska was<br />

done. Lloyd could play the songs so, that they<br />

got a completely new character. So, I would<br />

say, Lloyd Knibb was the one who originated<br />

the ska. And I am very happy that there are still<br />

young musicians who are very interested in<br />

playing the ska instead of the reggae.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: There are young Jamaican<br />

musicians who still play ska?


Doreen Shaffer: Yes, yes, all the young<br />

bands. And it‘s good to know that they do it<br />

still, after all these years.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: I‘m not sure, but if younger<br />

people speak about reggae in Europe these<br />

days, Dancehall is the thing, they mean.<br />

Doreen Shaffer: Yes, of course, there is a new<br />

thing today, music has to get along with that.<br />

Sooner or later there is someone with a new<br />

idea. No matter if Bob Marley has changed the<br />

music culture or other Jamaican artists such as<br />

Beenie Man and Lady Saw do currently with<br />

Dancehall. About Ska, they still know everything<br />

and it‘s good that ska is still alive and<br />

they talk about it.<br />

So the bottom line is you can get young<br />

musicians for the music, if you make them<br />

understand that they can do what you are<br />

doing. That does not mean that a musician‘s<br />

life would be easy. It often looks simple and<br />

exciting, but it is not easy. Not everyone wants<br />

to get up at two o‘ clockin‘ the night to drive to<br />

the next concert. As a musician, I have to travel<br />

a lot and need a lot of time for my job. It is the<br />

devotion, you dedicate your life to music, if you<br />

really want to get ahead.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: So you could say that the<br />

unlimited passion for music is the core of the<br />

Jamaican sounds? So there is no problem with<br />

the dancehall thing?<br />

Doreen Shaffer: No, there is no problem.<br />

Everyone is influenced by his style of music, of<br />

which there are many in Jamaica. That there is<br />

an interest in what was going on, where that<br />

music comes from, is important and good to<br />

know.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: OK! But what do you think<br />

about Europe. Here, the Dancehall has got a<br />

very young audience, mostly doesn`t know<br />

much about the roots of it.<br />

Doreen Shaffer: No, no, no, for sure not in<br />

Jamaica. I‘m sure they will learn the basics in<br />

school. There is a curriculum for music, starting<br />

from Mento of Rhythm and Blues, to merengue,<br />

waltz and whatever, finally processing ska,<br />

rock steady and finally Dancehall.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: Thus is taught at the<br />

school or the music-school?<br />

Doreen Shaffer: Yes, in the music school in<br />

Jamaica. The musicians of the Skatalites grew<br />

up with the Alpha Boys School. That was her<br />

chance to do what they wanted. Not every proposed<br />

a musical career. The school stands for<br />

competence. Those who leave school has got<br />

particular skills. So we went to this school. And<br />

so it is today, with new students. The Alpha Boy<br />

School produces outstanding young musicians,<br />

who learned all about the history of Jamaican<br />

music very well. And that is good to know.<br />

This does not mean that young musicians<br />

tour around the world with new Jamaican ska<br />

music projects, but they learn all about the ska<br />

in the school. Take the Skatalites: From the original<br />

cast only Lloyd Knibb, Lester Sterling and<br />

myself are left. All the other musicians are new<br />

people, but they are very good musicians. And<br />

they keep this music alive. Or let‘s look at the<br />

Moon Invaders. They are very good musicians,<br />

veeery good musicians. I‘m impressed.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: So you like the sound of<br />

the Moon Invaders. Are there other European<br />

ska bands you like?<br />

11<br />

Doreen Shaffer: Yes, when I was here for a<br />

solo performance the first time, I played with<br />

the Senior Allstars. Then I played for Moskito /<br />

Grover Records and I have been introduced to<br />

some other musicians from Texas, The Stingers,<br />

with whom I played. This time I play with Soulfood<br />

International, as the Moon Invaders are<br />

on the road. I‘ve already played with them in<br />

a concert in Rosslau, along with Norma Frazer<br />

and Dawn Penn. It was beautiful. They have it<br />

out. They are very good musicians.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: What about bands in<br />

general, in spite of your backing bands. Are you<br />

interested in European bands or artists from<br />

Japan?<br />

Doreen Shaffer: I was on tour with „Soul International.<br />

They are also very good musicians.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: Are there still Mento bands<br />

in Jamaica?


Doreen Shaffer: Mento is to be found in the<br />

hotels. It is played for tourists, not too much musicians,<br />

but some do. Without great claims, only<br />

for entertainment as on the beach next to a fire.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: What about politics, the<br />

Rastafarian movement, and these issues?<br />

Doreen Shaffer: Well, I have a lot of friends,<br />

but I do not really discuss politics. There is a<br />

good saying „It‘s up to you, make of it what you<br />

want“. This applies to me.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: There is no necessary connection<br />

to ska music?<br />

Doreen Shaffer: No, no, no. There currently<br />

are Rastafarian, playing ska, because they work<br />

in a band. I would love to sing, but I won`t impose<br />

a culture or religion on anyone. All that I care<br />

is about the music.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: So you think it is more a<br />

matter of Great Britain and Europe to combine<br />

ska and policy?<br />

Doreen Shaffer: Yes, that‘s what I think. I have<br />

no problem, so I won`t construct any. I have no<br />

problem, I can go anywhere and work, without<br />

getting into trouble.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: Do you know the german<br />

artist Gentleman?<br />

Doreen Shaffer: Gentleman? We met on one<br />

or the other festival. I believe in Cologne for the<br />

first time. I‘m not sure. I was on stage before<br />

him. However, I know that name. But we have<br />

not really worked together. He is a very good<br />

performer, as well as Dr. Ring Ding.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: What do you think about<br />

European artists coming to jamaica to let themselves<br />

down?<br />

Doreen Shaffer: Well, I do not know. I guess<br />

they want to know something about Jamaica.<br />

Then they come here. Most of them will not<br />

settle. I treat this very respectful.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: Ska is a Jamaican style that is<br />

played by many bands around the world, which<br />

often also cover songs on stage. Is this a problem<br />

for you?<br />

Doreen Shaffer: When I write songs, then I<br />

registrate it to avoid the trouble that someone<br />

claims them for hisself. In interviews, I am often<br />

asked about „Sugar, Sugar“. Well, „Sugar, Sugar“ is a<br />

song from my Studio One time. I had it on paper<br />

and went into the studio, where Laurel Aitken<br />

was. Sir Coxsonne asked Laurel in my presence to<br />

dip into my songpaper. When I showed him my<br />

notes, he just said: the second verse should be<br />

the first verse and vice versa. So it was no writing<br />

or something like that. So he has not intervened<br />

further, but he played this song. I was annoyed,<br />

because no one has granted me the song.<br />

So I have no problem if Laurel sang the song, but<br />

it‘s not his song. I went into the studio with a prepared<br />

song. I wanted to make clear that these are<br />

my songs, that I was the one who wrote „Sugar,<br />

Sugar“. As soon as my music is finished, I registrate<br />

it. When a song is covered for a live concert, that‘s<br />

fine. The situation is different with recordings.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: What about the many bands<br />

who try to be authentic and fail.<br />

Doreen Shaffer: You know, everyone should<br />

get his chance. They play as good as they can and<br />

by the practice they get better. I respect that!<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: What do you think about<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>! ? An internet magazine for ska<br />

and reggae, where you can also buy songs and<br />

albums digital?<br />

Discography (excerp):<br />

A Rainbow / Just You And I 7“ Caltone 1967<br />

The Vow / Why Didn‘t You Say 7“ GAS 1969<br />

Ten Cent / Stay with me forever 7“ Unity 1970<br />

Midnight 7“, Single Jackpot 1971<br />

Adorable Album Grover Records 1997<br />

Doreen Shaffer - Groovin with the Moon Invaders<br />

... and on many many compilations<br />

Album Grover Records 2009<br />

Doreen Shaffer: Yes, yes, I know there<br />

are many people with a passion for modern<br />

techniques. I know the Internet a little! They<br />

have books there, why not a magazine. The<br />

technology transforms our habits. I know this<br />

not too much, but I am trying it.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: Shortly before the release<br />

of issue 1 of <strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!, we have operated<br />

a large research on the Internet. We have come<br />

across many bands that we have never heard<br />

about before, although we are into ska for<br />

many years! We want to bring all this music<br />

together.<br />

Doreen Shaffer: Yes, yes, there are many<br />

musicians out there. Some of them promise<br />

a lot. Perhaps within the audience there will<br />

be a producer who likes a song or a band and<br />

offers a production or a job. The opportunities<br />

are here!<br />

OW<br />

now on tour<br />

dates on page 28<br />

www.rockingsteady.com<br />

cD available Soon!


Clinton Fearon<br />

review the glaDiator FightS again!<br />

Clinton Fearon is a living legend of reggae<br />

history. At the age of 17 he formed his first<br />

band. A year later, in 1969, he was taken to<br />

The Gladiators by Erroll Grandisson, which just<br />

celebrated their first major success with „Hello<br />

Caroll“. As Gladiator Fearon did numerous recordings<br />

for various producers and labels (Coxsone<br />

Dodd / Studio 1, Virgin UK, Nighthawk,<br />

Heart Beat) and contributed significantly to<br />

the great success of „Chatty Chatty Mouth“,<br />

„Richman Poorman“, „On The Other Side“ and<br />

„Can You Imagine How I Feel“. As a regular musician<br />

for Coxsone Dodd‘s Studio One and Lee<br />

Perry‘s Black Ark studio, he shaped the sound<br />

of Junior Byles, Max Romeo and other artists.<br />

Since 1987 Seattle is the adopted home of<br />

the Jamaican. He set up new<br />

projects and thus began<br />

his solo career,<br />

which he used for<br />

experiments, but<br />

not for compromise.<br />

The<br />

publications by<br />

The Defenders,<br />

as well as his<br />

later albums<br />

have always<br />

got new ideas<br />

and a special<br />

aim, which<br />

always fetched<br />

the best of<br />

Clinton Fearon.<br />

Accordingly,<br />

the discography<br />

is<br />

extensive.<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

It is noticeable that the albums are highlighted<br />

anyway: Fearon goes Dub, Feoron live on fire<br />

or Fearon on an acoustic set. All productions<br />

have been praised very much. They show<br />

the versatility of Fearon and his loyalty to his<br />

musical attitude.<br />

„Mi Deh Yah“<br />

And he stands there today, as many records<br />

before, with a new concept: he has found even<br />

more to himself and crowned his definition of<br />

Roots Reggae with the current release. And it<br />

sounds as if he had arrived once again, where<br />

it all began, only more mature, better, more experienced<br />

and with a grown love to his music.<br />

„Mi Deh Yah“ sounds as contemporary as well<br />

as authentic. On the sophisticated production<br />

that Clinton Fearon has taken over himself, he<br />

moves gracefully and skillfully through various<br />

facets of reggae, as if he had never done<br />

anything else! He lets his selected musicians<br />

from the Boogie Brown Band sufficient space,<br />

so that they can contribute their enviable<br />

talent and experience without losing the core<br />

of his compositions. Each song is enhanced<br />

optimal with skilful instrumentation. Whether<br />

excellent background vocals, a prominent organ<br />

or the use of stringed instruments. The fact<br />

that he has devoted his life entirely to music<br />

is clearly audible. Already the first track „Life is<br />

a Yourney“ confirms the general impression: „I<br />

have got a song, the story of my life, i will sing<br />

that song, and I hope you understand.“ In „What<br />

a World,“ he asks in seasoned reggae style for<br />

our values. Clinton Fearon shows optimism<br />

(„Better Days“) and combat power. Virtues that<br />

characterize his music as stylistically authentic<br />

reggae music. With „Focus“, he produces a<br />

13<br />

wonderful ska instrumental, which surpasses<br />

many of today‘s instrumental publications.<br />

The chorus sounds like a cleverly harmonized<br />

reminiscence to the well known track „Don` t<br />

stay out late „.<br />

At least five songs from the album could be<br />

succesful singles. They all have good chances<br />

to reach a very good place in the top list of<br />

reggae music. „What a world,“ „Rock and a hard<br />

place“ and „Are you ready”, are comparable<br />

with good, successful Bob Marley productions.<br />

For the big hit they are just too late. Even“ Mi<br />

Deh Yah“ and „Jamaica“ belong to the upper<br />

class of Roots Reggae. It was to be expected.<br />

Clinton Fearon proves once again that he<br />

has a trained, fine ear for reggae music. The<br />

originator indicates that roots reggae today<br />

can be just as alive as in former glorious days.<br />

His adherence to the great days of the vocal<br />

trio highlights the importance of polyphonic<br />

singing for an authentic roots sound. „Mi Deh<br />

Yah“ is equally a masterpiece for all roots fans<br />

as well as teaching material for the younger<br />

generation of ambitious roots musicians. The<br />

album has got the potential to become the<br />

current favorite album of all reggae fans.<br />

now on tour<br />

dates on page 28<br />

www.rockingsteady.com<br />

cD available Soon!<br />

LP- / CD-Veröffentlichungen (Auszug):<br />

Disturb the Devil 1994<br />

Mystic Whisper 1997<br />

What a System 1999<br />

Soon Come 2002<br />

Give and Take 2005<br />

Mi An‘ Mi Guitar 2005<br />

Vision 2006<br />

Faculty of Dub 2008<br />

Mi Deh Yah 2010


Rocksteady - the roots of reggae<br />

review DvD out now !<br />

www.rocksteadyrootsofreggae.com | Foto: © Madelene Gentinetta<br />

After the Swiss / Canadian co-production directed<br />

by Stascha Bader debut last year, it recently<br />

could be seen in the cinemas in germany and<br />

switzerland. Previously the brilliant soundtrack<br />

to the film was published by the Hamburg label<br />

Moll-Selekta. Since 15 October the declaration of<br />

love for the traditional Jamaican style of music is<br />

available on DVD as well.<br />

The journey to the Golden Age of Rock <strong>Steady</strong>,<br />

whose lead Stranger Cole has personally taken<br />

over, shows the meeting of those who have<br />

invented and marked the rock steady by today,<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

those who still wear this time untarnished in<br />

their hearts and those for whome it was important<br />

to capture their chapter in reggae history<br />

for posterity. For the documentary „Rocksteady<br />

- The Roots of Reggae“ numerous Caribbean<br />

musicians reunited after 40 years in Jamaica: Hopeton<br />

Lewis, now a gospel reggae singer in New<br />

York, which started with 16 with his first rock<br />

steady song „Take It Easy“; Dawn Penn, now working<br />

as a social worker in London, whose Rock<br />

<strong>Steady</strong> song „You Do not Love Me, No, No, No“<br />

became a world hit and was covered by many<br />

other bands, Stranger Cole („Love Me Today“),<br />

who left Jamaica for a new life in Canada, Marcia<br />

Griffiths, the „Queen of Reggae“, which has<br />

never interrupted her solo career („The Tide Is<br />

High“), Ken Boothe, who is still active on reggae<br />

festivals around the planet („Shanty Town (007)“);<br />

Derrick Morgan („Thougher Than Though“), the<br />

famous ska singer, who had many rock steady<br />

hits, Leroy Sibbles („Equal Rights“), who wrote<br />

countless rock steady and reggae songs as part<br />

of the „Heptones“, U Roy („ Stop That Train „), the<br />

famous „toaster“, which is considered one of<br />

the godfathers of American rap, Judy Mowatt<br />

(„Silent River Runs Deep“), the Marcia Griffiths<br />

and Rita Marley, the former „I-Three“, the famous<br />

singing trio of Bob Marley and the Wailers. They<br />

gladly remember the good old days and enjoy<br />

making music together after so many years. As<br />

„Rock <strong>Steady</strong> All Stars“ they recorded an album<br />

with legendary hits of the Rock <strong>Steady</strong> era at<br />

their meeting, which, like the film, is highly<br />

recommended to any reggae fan.<br />

www.rocksteadyrootsofreggae.com<br />

<strong>Download</strong> Special<br />

“No, No, No”-Remix with<br />

best greetings from Stascha Bader


Ska Boomtown Berlin<br />

berlin aS city oF muSic<br />

titelthema<br />

Berlin as a city of music! This is nothing new.<br />

Lately „The Seed“ brought their hometown<br />

inflationary into their musical accomplishments.<br />

Peter Fox also did solo. With „Schwarz zu<br />

Blau,“ he wins the Federal Vision Song Contest<br />

representative for Berlin. His first album he<br />

calls „Stadtaffe“ and includes the city into his<br />

musical approach again. This, however, he is<br />

anything but a pioneer. For no less than The<br />

Scorpions had linked the city with popular<br />

music with their anthem „Wind of Change“, by<br />

sealing the fall of the Berlin Wall 20 years ago<br />

with music. Previously, Alphaville sung „Summer<br />

in Berlin“ (1984). Or Reinhard Fendrich,<br />

who evokes the „Spring in Berlin,“ as Reinhard<br />

Mey did before him numerous times. The list of<br />

musical contributions is really long: Falco, U2,<br />

Pink Floyd, Exploited, Ute Lemper, the Prince,<br />

Pussycat Dolls, Bushido, the one-hit TV Wonder<br />

Martin Kesici, BAP, In Extremo, Madsen, the<br />

Pudhys and Karat.<br />

And and and!<br />

It`s good that Berlin has to offer some other<br />

songs, which bear the title: Marlene Dietrich<br />

sang Berlin in almost all of her songs, Hildegard<br />

Knef did also, Frank Sinatra and Rio Reiser, Ton<br />

Steine Scherben, Udo Lindenberg , Einstürzende<br />

Neubauten, Die Ärzte, Nina Hagen, Element<br />

of Crime, Virginia now as well as MIA did again<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

and again. Roger Cicero presented it with his<br />

song „So geil Berlin“ and Leonard Cohen taught<br />

us long ago: „First you take Manhattan, then<br />

you take Berlin“ (1988). Harald Juhnke alone<br />

and the Ramones finally ensure that Berlin can<br />

be proud of its musically blarney. And then<br />

there were a lot of really good ska-projects<br />

that make Berlin these days a Ska Boom Town,<br />

against which it is not easy to pass in terms of<br />

offbeat.<br />

It is the new single of the Berlin ska stalwarts<br />

“The Butlers”, which after their comeback a<br />

year ago, most recently published “Ich steh auf<br />

Berlin” as the herald for their for January 2011<br />

planned album. How could it be otherwise –<br />

their single is almost certainly the latest release<br />

in the round of berlin-affine song poets. The<br />

song itself is known from the heyday of the<br />

German New Wave, performed by the group<br />

“Ideal” in 1980 as their contribution to the<br />

„Berlin Songbook.“ How did it happen, that<br />

The Butlers will warm up the “Neue Deutsche<br />

Welle” and what we could expect from the new<br />

album, The Butlers revealed in an interview.<br />

Lord Mouse & the Kalypso Katz is the excellent<br />

name for an extraordinary project that must<br />

be one out of the ska-metropolis Berlin. And if<br />

there is already a true Calypso project, we want<br />

15<br />

to know more about the musicians behind it. In<br />

our interview Lord Mouse and General Confusion<br />

told us, why their kittens dance Calypso.<br />

Finally, there are three debut albums, a number<br />

two and an awesome project to discuss to<br />

complete the Berlin-Special: “TheUnlimiters”,<br />

“Arthur and the Spooners” and “The Magic<br />

Touch” have very different, but great new<br />

albums. The Berlin Boom Orchestra is already in<br />

the second round of publication. And Tommy<br />

Tornado realized his dream.


The Butlers<br />

interview ich Steh auF berlin<br />

They are here again! Since about one year, The<br />

Butlers are back again and present their current<br />

single „I steh auf Berlin“ of there upcoming<br />

album, which they will publish in January. We<br />

already had the chance to listen to it and spoke<br />

with The Butlers about the single, the new<br />

album and the rosy future of the famous Berlin<br />

Band:<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: The Butlers aka, ... you also<br />

named your recent “Lionsclub” project. But this<br />

time it does not seem to be an alias instead<br />

of the band name, but the title of the album,<br />

you will release in january? And this time you<br />

do not slip into the role of supposedly socially<br />

committed noble men, but into the role of a<br />

blind butler: BensonMam! The character you<br />

surely took out of the 70‘s parody thriller „Eine<br />

Leiche zum Dessert“!. Is it because of your cineastic<br />

weakness you`ve shown in many of your<br />

works before, or just as a pun, commenting the<br />

matter of you new recordings?<br />

JamesSir BensonMam: We do not have<br />

to start with Alfie and Emma Peel - very nice,<br />

someone with cinematic knowledge - what<br />

would actually be your favorite song to cover,<br />

by the way? The nickname was actually our<br />

companion the last 25 years. At that time because<br />

we have jointly written under this pseudonym<br />

- so we are all BensonMam from time<br />

immemorial. Now, because it simply makes<br />

clear the new section of The Butlers as Benson<br />

Mam. The Butlers of 2011 are BensonMam!<br />

As you say our relation to film music is even<br />

expressed on the „Lionsclub“ recordings, but<br />

we had relations to film music already on the<br />

first disc of us, „No Doubt“. We rocked „Suck it<br />

t em J.B.“ in order not to cover „James Bond<br />

the Killer“ as lots of bands did then and in<br />

order not to forgo to record our homage to<br />

the films of the Sixities. On the 2nd Disc „Time<br />

Tunnel“ finally our version of „The Avengers“,<br />

we performed live before, here better known<br />

as the theme song of „Mit Schirm, Charme und<br />

Melone“. On the „Trash for Cash“-album I think<br />

we had only one track from the movie hit „The<br />

Harder They Come,“ but the „Aktuelle Sportstudio“<br />

and „You Never Walk Alone“ on the scandal<br />

5 - great stuff! The disc „Wanjas Choice“ was<br />

completely dedicated to film and movie tunes<br />

and perhaps some people still do not know,<br />

we developed and recorded it while the first<br />

break of our singer within 14 days. Lions club<br />

became the perfection of what just began. In<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

2002 after the split, Lionsclub was born out of<br />

the necessity to work with guest singers and<br />

guest musicians from around the world (NL,<br />

U.S., JP and RU).<br />

SølveSir BensonMam: I think at this point<br />

we can also say that we will use the name “BensonMam”<br />

more often in the future. Because it<br />

corresponds to what we do and plan more and<br />

more. How JamesSir said, we are all Benson-<br />

Mam from the very first days in 1986. Also as a<br />

tribute to our first organist Thommy who died<br />

much too early.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: In the run up to your next<br />

album you released the single „Ich steh auf<br />

Berlin!“, a selected cover that stands out not<br />

only by the German text, but generally tends<br />

toward a kind of dancehall sound. The album<br />

picks up this tendency only very limited and is<br />

rather a very playful variant of your very own<br />

The Butlers-Sound as a musical new beginning<br />

that could be suggested because of the vanguard<br />

“Ich steh auf Berlin”?<br />

JamesSir BensonMam: Berlin is really<br />

important for us. It is simply a great ode to our<br />

beloved hometown! What could be better than<br />

Oranienburger and Tacheles, Oranienstraße<br />

and SO36, Columbiadamm and C-Club, Schönhauser<br />

and Kesselhaus. But the track represents<br />

our style as always. On the new album we<br />

wanted to record a simple and pure ska sound.<br />

It is typical, then something like that happens.<br />

Ok, by Richie‘s superb guest performance it<br />

gets even this Ragga Stylee, but hey, that‘s our<br />

strength since Lions Club: to involve people<br />

and broaden our style. All due to our passion<br />

for the music styles that we love! Just listen to<br />

the other cover „Back 2 Black“, which handles<br />

the the challenge of interpretation similar: do<br />

something else and let it roll, get some pretty<br />

girls with great voices into the studio.<br />

SølveSir BensonMam:We recorded „Berlin“<br />

in a rocking PunkSka version at the same time<br />

(Released on Pork Pie, The Spirit of Ska), and<br />

the dancehall version nips the PunkSka one,<br />

so we chose to put the first one on “A.K.A. BensonMam”.<br />

And we also did a video from the fast<br />

english version. This again reflects the actual<br />

bandwidth of the Butlers sounds. As a musical<br />

beginning you can`t realize it this way, if you<br />

stay true to yourself and your style - a band will<br />

always sound like it sounds ...<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: There are lots of experiments<br />

on the album (Caribbean rhythms in<br />

the interlude to “Abbeys Wonderland” mixed<br />

with spoken word and nice trombone-sounds;<br />

guest singer at “It`s raining”, which moves<br />

ventured far away from the ska, usually without<br />

losing your butlers-sound). Is it your experience<br />

that provokes such developments automatically?<br />

JamesSir BensonMam: This is the hottest<br />

disc of our history – hey! how many times can<br />

you release a 25years anniversary album! I<br />

saw Waki and Alfi with „Yebo“ when I was 18. I<br />

admired them in the “Basement”, when we just<br />

have created the Butlers. To have them on our<br />

own recordings now, and not just for one song,<br />

is simply GREAT!<br />

Yes, as I have said since „Lionsclub“ we have<br />

managed to gain a family of friends, who help<br />

us to capture the visual and energetic fireworks<br />

of a „The Butlers aka BensonMam“ live show on<br />

a studio production through their musical work<br />

experience. Daniel from „Time Tough“, Waki<br />

from „Jazzbo“, Alfi from „Seeed“, Rob ... When we<br />

asked Guido from „Engine 54“ to play a roots<br />

reggae Lead-Guitar on „Abbeys Wonderland“<br />

and went to the studio and listened to his super<br />

crazy Africa- styled sounds, I just said „Yesss,<br />

maan, Afrikaa rocks - great!“ The title is from<br />

the same session before our reunion, where<br />

we wanted to get something like a skasession<br />

on the beach into the studio - acoustic guitars,<br />

Cajon, Fender Rhodes and a maximum of a<br />

Sax, should open a „I sit and look at the sunset<br />

„feeling. Nana with her lovely lead vocals surely<br />

adds a new facet to my banging on the new<br />

album, but this is also a reminiscence of the<br />

„Time Tunnel“ (1994) on which she already<br />

warbled „Love Street“ and the backing vocals.<br />

Who knows the album „Tribute“ from „Engine<br />

54“ (where SølveSir rocked guitar for years and<br />

Wowo played drums from time to time ), is<br />

aware of her as one of the sweetest singers of<br />

the skascene. Incidentally, you should incorporate<br />

this record on <strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!<br />

SølveSir BensonMam:JamesSir has already<br />

said everything. Especially, the „Time Tunnel“<br />

disc was blistered for the mix then, and for the<br />

„experiments“ you mentioned, (which aren`t<br />

experiments). Years later we were praised for<br />

this type of extreme interpretation of ska.


<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: Is the single release in this<br />

respect a taste of your flexibility, or simply due<br />

to the great musical open-mindedness, as it<br />

can be heard clearly at BensonMam?<br />

JamesSir BensonMam: We love Soul,<br />

traditional Ska, Roots-Reggae and Rocksteady.<br />

At last we are able to implement this to<br />

some extent - I mean, we‘ve got a super tight<br />

drummer SlySir BensonMam, a fresh and gifted<br />

organist MarqueeSir, the lovely backing Girls:<br />

KristinMam, BensonSir and SeldaMam ... Move<br />

on up! up, up!<br />

SølveSir BensonMam:The main thing is not<br />

to play just common ska, it should push. Flexible<br />

yes, but not ordinary ... “Berlin” is a tribute to<br />

our hometown. Non-Berlin people please do<br />

not take this amiss, but the city still feels very<br />

good and we can think of no other in Germany<br />

to live there. A major reason for this title.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: It is quite possible the<br />

most soulful disc, „The Butlers“ presented so<br />

far. With skillful, background vocals, good<br />

arrangements, very pithy winds and strong<br />

organ sound you built soulful walls in front<br />

of your offbeats. Isn`t this a very own Butlers<br />

feature that turned out on “a.k.a. BensonMam”<br />

like never before?<br />

JamesSir BensonMam: It was the bitter<br />

taste then – as we tried to integrate soul<br />

influences and were brought back into line by<br />

the Ska-Police - at the shows people did not<br />

even know how to dance to it and that it is the<br />

coolest stuff. - That was really hard pioneering<br />

work with blood, sweat and depression. Today<br />

the boys and girls down are much more open,<br />

even now many people know Northern Soul<br />

and how to jerk. Now we get the tributes,<br />

which we have so desired then. Of course<br />

nowadays we can realize much better what we<br />

want to say musically. Just compare a „Real Hot<br />

Day“ („No Doubt“) Caribic-try with a „Butterfly“<br />

skinhead reggae or a „Wake Up“ Rock <strong>Steady</strong>.<br />

It`s far away from the nowadays-compositons –<br />

there is a quarter century inbetween.<br />

If someone don`t like it – so what! I think you‘re<br />

right, with “aka BensonMam” our vision became<br />

the strongest output so far. And it is all about<br />

the making of, to have fun and enjoy, that we<br />

can still make the music that we honour.<br />

SølveSir BensonMam:That`s it. Jerking and<br />

skanking, with a lot of pressure (as already said)<br />

and eggs! Even if we had an eight years break,<br />

we probably haven*t unlearned, quite the<br />

converse...<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: I have the impression that<br />

the album improves, the more often I hear it.<br />

Do you agree?<br />

JamesSir BensonMam: It isn`t a compliment,<br />

but it hits the nail on the head - I think it<br />

was always like that! At that time I always had<br />

to listen to criticism about the strange voice of<br />

our singer, what has annoyed and hurt like hell.<br />

Today this doesn`t matter anyway. We have<br />

such an awesome fan base and credibility that<br />

I‘m just happy when someone likes to listen to<br />

our disc again and again. Recently in Dresden<br />

an 18 year old says he got the disc burned by<br />

his sister (without a label) and so he and his<br />

buddies called us the „All My Money“ band,<br />

because this one fits perfectly to their situation<br />

then. At last he could see us live in the Groove<br />

Station - all my money all my money all my<br />

moneys gone ...<br />

SølveSir BensonMam:Hits on an album or<br />

not. There is nothing worse than a show of<br />

a one-hit-wonder band. You are waiting the<br />

entire show for „one song“. E.g. King Kong - you<br />

know by whom (what a great title) and besides<br />

of it not much more ... We have many albums,<br />

which pack a punch at the second hearing,<br />

which causes huge problem live - we could<br />

play three hours and there would always be<br />

people who have missed a special title for<br />

themselves ...<br />

Thus, a complete album, which wins in the<br />

entirety, the more often one hears it, is a great<br />

compliment and some dynamite, when it is<br />

played live.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: Then you play tracks like<br />

“Berlin-Moskau”, that could be one of your<br />

earliest works. How is that?<br />

JamesSir BensonMam: Haha, „Let‘s make a<br />

track, Matzge would like - you still remember<br />

those days?“ Paranoia I meant as Sølve arrived<br />

with the title. And the result really was an<br />

awesome Sing-a-long heyheeeeyyyheyyy. By<br />

the way, the title was first called “Tokyo lights”<br />

and was about a girl named Ishi before a job in<br />

Moscow intervened.<br />

SølveSir BensonMam:Because we are we.<br />

As I said, we did not want to reinvent ourselves<br />

again. And the title has been consistent and logical<br />

in the tradition of The Butlers. Despite our<br />

advanced age, besides the roots of ska and<br />

17<br />

soul, we`ve got the little punk in our hearts. The<br />

rebel, that changes men to little wayward boys.<br />

This is also a sure sign that rocking keeps you<br />

young ...<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: The only weakness of the<br />

very danceable album is, that according the<br />

melodies and the lyrics it could be something<br />

more. Do you limit the singing front man with<br />

your massive arrangements and lots of background<br />

vocals too much?<br />

JamesSir BensonMam: The title „P.U.S.H.“<br />

(Pray until something happens) makes everything<br />

quite clear (You have a booklet, and<br />

thus the text download included in the download<br />

of the entire album on your side, right?)<br />

And „Stormy Weather“ tells a part of this story ...<br />

When I then sometimes felt quite dirty because<br />

someone has ripped me off totally and the Jaguar<br />

in the garage was gone, we only buyed at<br />

Aldi, asked friends to call back with their flatrate<br />

and my relationship was near the end. There<br />

Sølve came and has saved me with the words,<br />

„Come on, let`s do a reunion - but you have to<br />

sing“ Let`s see how we manage this – forget it,<br />

we will manage it, push it ... and so it started.<br />

The bulky back vocal arrangements are simply<br />

a tribute to the sixties sounds like both, the<br />

Heptones („Bye Bye Butterfly“) and the Marvin<br />

Gays („Stormy Wheather“). And anyway, if you<br />

would have asked Terry H, Bob (ne, not Nesta)<br />

or Joe D. P. 35 years ago such a question! This is<br />

just the beginning! Whoever parts, can tell this<br />

his grandsons.<br />

SølveSir BensonMam:We were always a<br />

conglomerate of all musicians. So the rhythm<br />

section,the horns, the backing vocals and the<br />

singer are combating against each other. But<br />

www.rockingsteady.com<br />

cD available Soon!


not only The Butlers have to get along with<br />

this. In addition, there is another different<br />

question: Why do “The Butlers” have the „best<br />

looking frontman“ in Europe? An absolute<br />

genius and heartthrob entertainer who carries<br />

along the combo and the audience?<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: What could the audience<br />

expect at your upcoming gigs from you? “The<br />

Butlers” or “aka BensonMam”?<br />

JamesSir BensonMam: Concentrated power<br />

with Butlers BensonMams and Sirs!<br />

SølveSir BensonMam:20 years ago I would<br />

have said, we‘ll play naked and burn our instruments<br />

before we fall from the stage drunken.<br />

Don`t miss it ...<br />

But, to be honest, 2 hours of live power with<br />

the Butlers and JamesSir BesonMam. Old hits,<br />

extracts from Lionsclub titles and new won-<br />

derful songs of the upcoming album. We will<br />

always have guests here who perform with us.<br />

An evening full of surprises. And it will be loud<br />

for sure!<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: Is there any plans beyond<br />

“aka BensonMam”? Perhaps some more songs<br />

with german lyrics, which you proved successful<br />

with „Ich steh auf Berlin“, “Kann es sein” and<br />

“Sonnenschein” on “aka BensonMam”?<br />

JamesSir BensonMam: German lyrics has<br />

always been a kind of secret affair for us - great<br />

if you are not married with. With „Kann es sein“<br />

we have just had one of the most honest lyrics<br />

in german, so it is a lot of fun to interpret such<br />

a Highlite again. But the skascene is so international<br />

that it would be a shame to restrict it.<br />

First, there was the idea of a real plate with side<br />

A) in german side B) in english. But hey!; CDs<br />

Lord Mouse & The Kalypso Katz<br />

capital calypSo From the reSt oF the worlD<br />

interview<br />

Countless musicians and dancers, dressed<br />

smart, smiling to the a..rms. Lord Mouse<br />

himself, whom is easy to recognize as frontman<br />

by its presence, beside him the dancing<br />

Kalypso Kats and the party starts.<br />

No, it is not one of those moderately entertaining<br />

holiday-party-band-projects. Lord Mouse<br />

& The Kalypso Katz seem quite serious. The<br />

Berlin group, whose members came together<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

from all over the world, invents the Calypso<br />

again. Lord Mouse dares, what few would<br />

have dared to dream: a traditional calypso<br />

project for the urban entertainment of today<br />

with very much authenticity, as the album<br />

shows in every single note. Our wish is finally<br />

fulfilled, the thin end of the wedge is done:<br />

The Calypso Revival can start now!<br />

We talked with Lord Mouse about his crazy,<br />

are already oldschool. Therefore it hasbecome<br />

only three songs, available somewhere on the<br />

USB stick. On the vinyl album we`ll place wise .<br />

SølveSir BensonMam:So there are enough<br />

plans for 10 more years. First, we shoot a video<br />

in December, tour clubs in February and March<br />

and play a lot of Open Air‘s. Also we`ll play<br />

abroad. We have inquiries from England, Spain<br />

and Japan. Maybe another album. There are<br />

plenty of ideas left. One objective would be to<br />

be nominated for “Eins Live Krone” for the category<br />

„Best Live Band-national“. Think big ...<br />

but great idea and asked General Confusion if<br />

and how good it works:<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: Who the hell had this<br />

crazy and brilliant idea to initiate such a<br />

large-scale calypso project? Why do you speak<br />

about a berlin band, while the musicians<br />

come from all over the world.<br />

General Confusion: Thanks for the compliment.<br />

Lord Mouse himself and me, we had<br />

the idea. Although the musicians are from all<br />

over the world, they currently live in Berlin.<br />

Besides Lord Mouse, who commutes between<br />

Berlin and Paris.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: Is the project based on<br />

your real love to this kind of music or to fill the<br />

large gap in the European market, speaking<br />

to the peoples need of holiday feeling in<br />

the club next door? Could one accuse Lord<br />

Mouse, that it is not really about the music,<br />

although it definitely sounds very authentic?<br />

Where is your connection to the calypso<br />

from? You did not really drop from a caribbean<br />

tourist fleet, right?<br />

Lord Mouse: We love calypso music and<br />

think that it is a shame that it has been forgotten<br />

over the years, and we would like to see


the genre gain a little more recognition. There<br />

is no real European market for what we do,<br />

but maybe if we have a good deal of success,<br />

who knows? Of course we met on a cruise<br />

ship!!!<br />

General Confusion: One of the first questions<br />

we are usually asked is: „How is it that<br />

you white guys play calypso?” We resist such<br />

stereotypes that only Blacks play calypso music<br />

or that only white guys do the country, etc.<br />

I think music depends on your soul, not on<br />

the colour of your skin. We even wrote a song<br />

about this. We`ll put it on our next album,<br />

which is in progress.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: Are there any similar<br />

calypso-bands in Europe, who are producing<br />

and touring these days?<br />

Lord Mouse: There are a few groups around<br />

Europe, but mosty small groups, trios, with<br />

only strings. We are the only calypso group to<br />

have a proper orchestra.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: Can you tell us something<br />

more about the project: How do you combine<br />

so many musicians? Did you play together<br />

previously? Did you meet in the self-helpgroup<br />

for lonely calypsonians or are you a<br />

kind of multi-cultural clique or how did you<br />

come together?<br />

General Confusion: The musicians of<br />

„Lord Mouse & the Kalypso Katz” have already<br />

worked together on various projects in different<br />

styles of music. Also we are coupled not<br />

only for playing music together, we are also<br />

friends since many years, what is quite rare for<br />

such a big band.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: Is there any preference<br />

for ska, rocksteady and reggae music as well?<br />

Do you target this scene anyway? What about<br />

mento?<br />

General Confusion: This scene is definitely<br />

important for us and we hope that our music<br />

takes many adherents therefrom. Our two<br />

saxophonists also play in a ska band. („The<br />

Unlimiters“, former “The Essentials”)<br />

Lord Mouse: Sure, we play Mento, the<br />

Jamaican version of the Calypso. Calypso has<br />

got the Spanish influence, while Mento was<br />

mainly influenced by the British.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: What is the Masterplan<br />

of Lord Mouse & the Kalypso Katz? Ten more<br />

calypso albums in the next five years or gigs,<br />

gigs and above all gigs?<br />

General Confusion: We want to publish a<br />

new album as soon as possible and of course<br />

we want to play as much as possible, in germany<br />

and abroad. We want to shoot a music<br />

video, and perhaps a small film. The cream of<br />

the crop it would be to play calypso in Trinidad<br />

and get approval from the originators.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: Who writes the songs,<br />

who arrange the music and in particular the<br />

horns?<br />

General Confusion: Most of the songs are<br />

written by Lord Mouse and me and I arrange<br />

them involving the creative ideas of all other<br />

musicians.<br />

.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: It is clearly to hear, that<br />

you are all good musicians. Are there any<br />

other projects from you and your musicians?<br />

Lord Mouse: Yes, there are several. In<br />

addition to the ska band already mentioned<br />

above it is a rockabilly group „Teenage Terror“,<br />

a Dubcombo „Brass, Wood and Wires,“ a swing<br />

project „Rue Lascar“ and some country „Comedian<br />

Pharmacists”. I hope I haven‘t`t forgotten<br />

one.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: Please tell me, who is able<br />

to pay a band with 17 musicians?<br />

Lord Mouse: * cough cough * cough ****<br />

General Confusion: Of course we need big<br />

stages with such a large band, and also large<br />

fees. Just the costs for transport and accommodation<br />

are immense. But I am sure, as soon<br />

as we gain our popularity in the near future,<br />

several major events will be on alert.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: It is rare, but sometimes<br />

you can find old singles, where music groups<br />

try to play calypso with german lyrics. Since<br />

some time I myself think about founding such<br />

a project. What do you think, could this be an<br />

idea for your performance? Is there a specialinterested<br />

listenership for calypso music or<br />

19<br />

do you think it is easy to inspire the audience<br />

with this groovy kind of music?<br />

General Confusion: If you have a good<br />

german lyrics, why not. However, I am<br />

not sure if that would be something for us.<br />

Lord Mouse would sing with a pretty funny<br />

accent in this case. And concerning the<br />

audience, I think you can inspire people of all<br />

generations.<br />

now on tour<br />

dates on page 28<br />

www.rockingsteady.de<br />

cD available Soon!


Arthur and the Spooners<br />

review<br />

Berlin Boom Orchestra<br />

review<br />

all SpooneD up (contra recorDS)<br />

The party music from Berlin to the cult series<br />

from New York. The quintet around singer<br />

Artie presents after many years on the stage a<br />

compelling debut with „All Spooned Up“, the cd<br />

is enclosed to the vinylalbum.<br />

And musically, the capital city of many companions<br />

differ from the Oi -, street rock and ska<br />

scene. Arthur And The Spooners have a lot of<br />

humor and have decided to record Oi, new<br />

wave and punk classics as party offbeat versions.<br />

They may not be the most excellent musicians,<br />

but their versions of „Johnny Too Bad,“ „Nice Boys<br />

hin unD weg (pork pie/broken Silence)<br />

Musically, the nine musicians of the Berlin<br />

Boom Orchestra are moving between all facets<br />

of the genres Ska, Rock<strong>Steady</strong> and Reggae<br />

successfully. „Throw Out“ is their second studio<br />

album after their debut in 2008, and above all<br />

the distinctive german-language lyrics characterizes<br />

the 18 tracks.<br />

As currently no other band from the capital,<br />

these Berlin guys make their audience dance.<br />

The recorded tracks like „Zwischen gestern<br />

und morgen”, „Ein Tag im November“ or<br />

The Unlimiters<br />

review the unlimiterS (highScore publiShing)<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

Groovy reggae ballads? They can! („Loophole“).<br />

Melodic mid-tempo ska? They can! („Let It Go,“<br />

„Madhouse“). Authentic Instrumentals? They<br />

can! („Casio Maya“ „Extortion,“ „Peking Chicken,“<br />

„Backdoor Buddies“). Rousing up-tempo ska?<br />

They also can! („The Reaper“). On its debut<br />

album the young formation (named “The<br />

Essentials” first) demonstrates that they can<br />

handle the various facets of the offbeat. The<br />

young musicians know their stuff, they can<br />

arrange, compose, and improvise.<br />

They put a lot of love into some details (For<br />

example, the heavy surf-guitar solo on plutonium,<br />

that is taking us into a good old Western<br />

for a short time) A stroke of luck, that „The<br />

(Don‘t Play Ska & Soul)“ or the Billy Bragg-hit<br />

„New England“ have charm and class. And on<br />

„Skanking With Myself“ they even pay tribute to<br />

Billy Idol. But they do not only copy, but gave<br />

the 12 Skinhits always a personal touch.<br />

Conclusion: Arthur & The Spooners - The perfect<br />

soundtrack to the summer at the bar.<br />

Frank Keil<br />

„Meister aller Klassen“ have been enriched<br />

by the team of Kraan de Lutin, who already<br />

celebrated great success with Culcha Candela.<br />

Nevertheless, the BBO could better be compared<br />

with the early Seed than CCS, what just<br />

makes them more likeable. All in all a clear recommendation<br />

for fans of the aforementioned<br />

genres, because the BBO does not shy away to<br />

upgrade there songs with socially critical lyrics,<br />

far away from ‚Party, Party, Party ‚.<br />

Frank Keil<br />

Unlimiters „ share their passion for playing ska<br />

music. The two harmonic voices of the Berlin<br />

band makes them already unmistakable yet.<br />

But they are not finally unique in their sound.<br />

They aren`t arrived there yet. They show their<br />

potential for different options with their first album.<br />

And, as the biography tells us, they want<br />

to be flexible, what their name is promising.<br />

Their sound could be classed somewhere between<br />

The Selecter, The Skatalites and the Two<br />

Tone Club. And I am sure, until the next review<br />

their name is already enqueued in this series<br />

equal and independent.<br />

Hats off! Buy and dance, dance, dance!<br />

OW


The Magic Touch<br />

review<br />

Tommy Tornado<br />

review<br />

love & hate & politrickS (grover rec.)<br />

Magic Alex was member of Soulfood International,<br />

before he moved. Now he started a new<br />

musical career with “The Magic Touch” (Berlin<br />

/ Leipzig). Musically, he remained loyal to the<br />

Jamaican music of the 60sOn, because on the<br />

debut album of his new band ska, rock steady<br />

and reggae dominate.<br />

Although the quintet foremost exists since<br />

2009, the album offers a total of 16 varied compositions,<br />

that have been recorded under the<br />

direction of Jochen Ströh within a week. And it<br />

is truly difficult to pick out one favorite between<br />

SunriSe (ruDe rich recorDS / groover)<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

Thomas Streutgers alias Tommy Tornado is one<br />

of the best saxophonists of the global ska scene.<br />

On his live in Amsterdam recorded solo debut<br />

„Sunrise“, he is accompanied by the dutch colleagues<br />

“The High Notes”.<br />

The predominant number of the 17 titles on<br />

the album are original compositions, that are<br />

enriched by guests as Dennis Alcapone („Next<br />

Target „), Winston Francis („ Door Peeper „),<br />

Rico Rodriguez („Gladiator“) and other giants<br />

of the Jamaican music scene. With excursions<br />

21<br />

the opener, „Gimme Some More“, to „Keep Me<br />

Up All Night“ to „The Blind Leading The Blind“.<br />

In fact, almost all tracks got the potential to be<br />

a hit. If The Magic Touch keep together in this<br />

constellation, they will cause furore within and<br />

outside of Germany soon.<br />

Frank Keil<br />

now on tour<br />

dates on page 28<br />

towards reggae, dancehall and dub, Tommy<br />

Tornado, who is playing with three other bands<br />

in addition to the High Notes, shows entirely his<br />

sophisticated skills in playing sax. But also his<br />

songwriting makes „Sunrise“ more than a hot tip.<br />

Whoever else outside of Jamaica manages already<br />

to win over Ernest Ranglin, Winston Reedy,<br />

Jah Red, and other guests for an album.<br />

Frank Keil


The World of Ska<br />

cover Story<br />

In the last third of our first edition of our zine<br />

we like to continue with ska & reggae-news<br />

from the entire globe. After they became the<br />

favorite band of our originators, it was a must<br />

to interview „The Moon Invaders“ and „The Caroloregians“<br />

from Belgium. The former almost<br />

constantly tour with the big ones of the<br />

jamaican genres and record fabulous<br />

albums on their own, the latter is<br />

currently on tour and maybe on a the<br />

backing band for a new album of Rico<br />

Rodriguez.<br />

Then we review the publications of<br />

Yellow Umbrella from germany<br />

and Open Season from switzerland,<br />

who present their<br />

anniversary release on a large<br />

tour around the country. Finally,<br />

we complete our list of current<br />

releases with bands from Venezu-<br />

Timely for the U.S. and canada tour of the two<br />

belgian acts “The Moon Invaders” and “The Caroloregians”<br />

in summer 2010, Jump Up Records,<br />

the label from Chicago, published a Split-CD<br />

with 16 previously unreleased tracks. Singer<br />

/ guitarist Matthew Hardison and drummer<br />

Nicolas Leonard, who are the head of both<br />

groups, move stylistcally confident between<br />

ska, rocksteady and reggae together with their<br />

colleagues on the from Grover Records for the<br />

german market licensed CD. Because of the<br />

keen flair of the musicians, they also shine with<br />

excursions to styles like pop, jazz, funk and soul.<br />

So „Hot Blood Cold Weather“ is an inventory,<br />

which will suit old and new friends eminently.<br />

On the occasion of the new cd-release of The<br />

Caroloregians we met with the friendly Belgians<br />

for a conversation about the history and<br />

the future of both bands.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: The two groups have<br />

established themselves in the aforementioned<br />

scene since years and are on the top of the<br />

genre in Europe today. How, when and where<br />

did you start?<br />

arounD the worlD ...<br />

ela, Jamaica, Italy, Finland, Germany, Austria,<br />

Switzerland and the United States.<br />

The Moon Invaders v.s. The Caroloregians<br />

j a m a i c a n m u S i c o F t h e 6 0 S<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

Nicolas Leonard: We started with The Moon<br />

Invaders in 1999. After several line up changes<br />

the band found its present cast with nine musicians<br />

around 2001. Right from the start we did<br />

our own compositions. By the energetic wind<br />

trio, The Moon Invaders got the reputation of a<br />

true dance machine. The Caroloregians could<br />

be seen as the stripped-version without the<br />

horns, that tends more towards “funky reggae<br />

for the working class”. Overall we can draw on<br />

a pool of about 20 musicians for both bands,<br />

so we can be easily ready for upcoming shows,<br />

even if someone neads a break or is diseased.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: In addition to the tireless<br />

touring across Europe, both formations attach<br />

much value on studio recordings and found<br />

a congenial partner, the german label Grover<br />

Records, right from the start. You have even a<br />

studio on your own?<br />

Matthew Hardison: That is correct. Nicolas<br />

has set up a studio at home in Charleroi, where<br />

he produced us and other bands like “The<br />

Ratazanas” from Portugal. Thus, concerning<br />

recordings, we are flexible in time and money.<br />

THE<br />

GLOBAL<br />

SKA<br />

SCENE<br />

AND IT‘S<br />

ENTIRE<br />

RELEASES!<br />

Nevertheless we asked renowned guests to<br />

enrich our recordings from the beginning.<br />

Our self-titled debut from 2004 was produced<br />

by Victor Rice, as the successor „Breakin ‚Free“<br />

one year later. And 2007, Vic Ruggiero, front<br />

man and songwriter of the American Slackers<br />

refined our CD „Moovin ‚N‘ Groovin”! Just for<br />

the current live album, which we recorded in<br />

two days in Brussels prestigious club Ancienne<br />

Belgique, a kind of best-of CD, so to speak, we<br />

trusted successfully the local team and the<br />

postprocessing by Nicolas.<br />

From the opener „I Believe“ to „Can`t Keep<br />

A Good Man Down“ to „Natchez Street” the<br />

Walloons underline with their „Live- Ancienne<br />

Belgique“ their creative potential strongly. Pure<br />

energy, stirring melodies, tense harmonies and<br />

exuberant party atmosphere. In short, a hit<br />

collection with history, and both: dance music<br />

with a strong emphasis on rhythm and interesting<br />

influences from pop, jazz and soul.<br />

They alternate between good own compositions<br />

like ‚Walk Don`t Run“ and classic covers<br />

like „Soon You‘ll Be Gone „(The Blues Busters).<br />

And songs like „Strange Little Angel“, „Big<br />

Bamboo“ or „Congo Square“ guarantee quaking<br />

dancefloors.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: This unique charm is also


inherent in the Clash of the Moon<br />

Invaders vs. Caroloregians, because with the<br />

cd in your baggage you toured successfully<br />

USA and Canada. Can you tell us about the<br />

reactions outside of Europe?<br />

Nicolas Leonard: The Belgian government<br />

promotes bands that occur outside the country.<br />

Through this grant, it became possible for us<br />

at all, to organize this tour. Also with the help of<br />

friendly artists and bands, who all contributed<br />

there part to the concert tour, it became a<br />

success. For Matthew and his brother Thomas,<br />

the singing duo form the Moon Invaders, it was<br />

even more special, because their father is from<br />

New Orleans and both grew up over there.<br />

Next year we will try to get another support,<br />

because we would like to tour South America<br />

and especially Brazil.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: Also the new Caroloregians-Album<br />

should be released soon? The recordings<br />

are made, the album is mixed. Which is<br />

the date for the release?<br />

Nicolas Leonard: It will be published via<br />

Grover Records in November, but there is no<br />

title and no finally cover artwork yet. But of<br />

course we are proud that we continue our<br />

successful story with this band. Despite the<br />

francophile name, we do not even chansons<br />

or pop songs, but commute between Acid<br />

Jazz, Sixties, Boogaloo, Reggae and Funk. For<br />

this you have to find some experienced band<br />

members, who made their hobby to their profession<br />

over the years. Overall, in this band the<br />

Hammond organ by Stephen Orban is much<br />

more prominent. And with the debut „Organic<br />

Coal Beat From The Groovy Mines „ (2006) and<br />

the successor „Pum Pum Hotel“ in 2008 we<br />

have had already recorded two successful CD‘s.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: <strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>! visitors<br />

will be pleased that both formations are vinyl<br />

lovers and in cooperation with Grover Records<br />

they offer something very special for all fans.<br />

Matthew Hardison: Yes, there are in fact the<br />

“vinyl only releases”-series from the Groversub<br />

label Supreme in which there have been<br />

published three Deluxe EP Collections yet: The<br />

Caroloregians with „Super Jet Jet“ and „Supersonic“<br />

and The Moon Invaders with „Creole<br />

Crime.“ Also in 2007 the Swiss label Rudeattack<br />

Records published a colored vinyl split single<br />

of both bands, which was limited to 500 copies<br />

and became a rare collectors piece soon.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: As we know your big desire<br />

for playing live, I am sure the fans in Europe<br />

won`t have to stay without The Moon Invaders<br />

and The Caroloregians any longer. Especially<br />

as you regularly accompany the big ones of<br />

the Jamaican music scene as a backing band.<br />

Whith whom have you been on stage yet?<br />

Nicolas Leonard: We are very happy about<br />

this, because at the shows with them you learn<br />

much about the Jamaican music of the 60s<br />

and also we reach a different audience than<br />

with our own shows. In recent years we have<br />

backed Doreen Shaffer (singer of the Skatalites),<br />

Pat Kelly, Rico Rodriguez, Alton Ellis and<br />

Ken Boothe. And it was much fun for sure every<br />

time, but we improved musically with every<br />

collaboration.<br />

<strong>Rocking</strong> <strong>Steady</strong>!: It is certainly very impor-<br />

The Caroloregians (Belgien)<br />

review FunkiFy your reggay (grover rec./cargo)<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

Taking a look behind the scenes of the Caroloregians<br />

from Charleroi, Belgium, will soon intimate<br />

that the sextet around singer / guitarist Matthew<br />

Hardison and drummer Nicolas Leonard devoted<br />

their energy to Jamaican music between<br />

rock steady and reggae on their third album<br />

„Funkify Your Reggae“ again. After the promising<br />

debut of „Organic Coal Beat From The Groovy<br />

Mines „(2006) and the successful „Pum Pum<br />

Hotel“ (2008), the formation again developed significantly.<br />

Inspired by bands like The Upsetters,<br />

the Harry J Allstars and The Meters, the belgian<br />

group proves with „Wake Up Call“, „Karl King<br />

23<br />

tant for creative musicians, to develop despite<br />

the commitment to a particular musical spectrum.<br />

How do you deal with this?<br />

Matthew Hardison: There are always changes<br />

in the bands, everyone wants to advance<br />

in his own life. Take for example our trumpeter<br />

Rolf Långsjön, he currently has the chance to<br />

play at a theater in Brussels, where he earns<br />

good money and so he took a break from touring<br />

with The Moon Invaders. Sure, he comes<br />

back, but we give this kind of freedom to all<br />

musicians. And a few of the band members<br />

became fathers recently, so we respect their<br />

family-interests for sure. But we share a love to<br />

the jamaican music of the 60s for a very long<br />

time, we are a family of musicians, friends. This<br />

friendship will remain, even if there will be the<br />

resolution to dismiss The Moon Invaders and /<br />

or Caroloregians. But we currently do not think<br />

about that, because everything works better<br />

than ever before these days.<br />

Frank Keil<br />

now on tour<br />

dates on page 28<br />

Bash“ or „All My Love Apologies (I‘m Ashamed)“<br />

enough autonomy and creativity to convince<br />

on international level. The fine sense of the six<br />

musicians (most notably the grooving organist<br />

Stephen Orban), makes the album “Funkify Your<br />

Reggay” a great piece of music for both, listening<br />

at home and out on the dancefloor. Thereby<br />

their excursions to neighboring styles perfect<br />

the unique sound of The Caroloregians. So they<br />

stand out against numerous colleagues.<br />

Frank Keil<br />

now on tour<br />

dates on page 28


The Pepper Pots (Spain)<br />

review<br />

The Jolly Boys (Jamaica)<br />

review<br />

Superskank (Germany)<br />

review<br />

n o w ! - b l a c k p e p p e r r e c o r D S<br />

On their third album “The Pepper Pots” manage<br />

the mixture of old school soul and Jamaican<br />

music almost perfectly. Thereby they sound<br />

fresh and almost unique. The equally charming<br />

as voiced singers Merce Munné, Marina Torres<br />

and Adriana Prunell are accomponied by there<br />

male band throughout the eleven new tracks<br />

like „Real Tru Love“ on, “Time To Live“ and “Take A<br />

Chance „ congenial and on a good musical level.<br />

Producer Binky Griptite in cooperation with the<br />

Catalan did well in mixing the ska, rocksteady<br />

great expec tation ( gee jam / piaS )<br />

They are considered Jamaica‘s longest-serving<br />

band, so to speak as Buena Vista Social Club of<br />

the Caribbean Island. The quintet around the<br />

original member Albert Minott from Port Antonio<br />

plays mento and calypso since the late 50‘s.<br />

Their name was given to them by one of their<br />

biggest fans, the U.S. Actor Errol Flynn. Despite<br />

numerous line-up changes the band remained<br />

alive until today, and their average reached<br />

approximately 80. The currently so successful<br />

album „Great Expectation“ was initiated by the<br />

label boss of Gee Street Records, Mr. Baker, who<br />

runs his studio in Kingston. First, he took vintage<br />

Sicher iSt Sicher (Skank rec./broken Silence)<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

With its third CD since 2004, the frankish party<br />

collective Superskank established theirselves<br />

within the german skascene. „Sicher Ist Sicher“<br />

is the new record of the seven musicians from<br />

Nuremberg presenting songs like „Mein Bruder“,<br />

“Photonenhagelschaden” and „6 Milliarden Terroristen“,<br />

which are full of energy and plenty of<br />

fun, musically classed somewhere between ska,<br />

punk and pop. Whether quiet love songs or flaming<br />

anti-terrorist songs, sassy gangster-ballads<br />

or set to music news from the neighborhood,<br />

and soul sounds in three studios in spain and<br />

the united states well. And whoever likes these<br />

stylistic journey into the 6os should also enjoy<br />

the previous albums „Swingin‘Sixties“ and „Shake<br />

It!“. So it is incomprehensible that the band with<br />

a total of eleven people rarely occurs outside<br />

from Spain. About time for them to increase<br />

touring abroad.<br />

Frank Keil<br />

material of the Jolly Boys to enrich them with<br />

cover versions of international hits of the past<br />

decades. 12 of the tracks have been immortalized<br />

by putting them on „Great Expectation“.<br />

The Jolly Boys refine “Iggy Pop” (The Passenger),<br />

Amy Whinehouse („Rehab“), Blondie („Hanging<br />

On The Telephone“) and The Clash (I Fought<br />

The Law) with modern mento-style. Also they<br />

cover The Doors, New Order or the Stranglers.<br />

Pleasant, unusual and certainly a doubly great<br />

experience live on stage.<br />

Frank Keil<br />

even on the new album Superskank prove their<br />

nose for some delicate earworms. The collective<br />

around singer / guitarist Marc Mega show<br />

ample sensitivity for rousing melodies, coupled<br />

with igniting German texts. The contemporary<br />

sounds are polished by a fine brass group. So<br />

the 14 track-album has got the groove for the<br />

dancefloors, which now and then is even refined<br />

by mandolin, saxhorn and german flute.<br />

Frank Keil


eSKAlation (Austria)<br />

review<br />

kauFrauSch (baumgeiSt recorDS)<br />

The Bullets (U.S.A.)<br />

review<br />

Babayaga (Germany)<br />

review<br />

Postbauer-Heng/Neumarkt, Bavaria. Here too,<br />

there are bands who have dedicated there<br />

music to a mix of ska, punk and reggae. In<br />

this case there are the eight young musicians<br />

from eSKAlation. Equipped with a touch<br />

of latin and a dash of hip-hop the mostly<br />

german lyrics commute between profundity<br />

and entertainment. Everything is garnished<br />

with an expressive singer, an assertive section<br />

of wind instruments and a driving rhythm<br />

section. The 8-Track-EP for sure is expandable,<br />

Sweet miSery ( jump up / grover rec. )<br />

The U.S. sextett around organist Roger Rivas,<br />

who is even still active with The Aggrolites,<br />

presents on “Sweet Misery” a convincing mix<br />

of Chicago soul and early reggae, clearly<br />

inspired by the early Pama-Productions. With<br />

“Chrystal Necklace”, “Canyon City Life” and<br />

“Her Nature” there is definitely more than one<br />

potential hit on the album. Who previously<br />

just knew and loved The Aggrolites, will enjoy<br />

the sound of the creative minds of The Bullets<br />

as well and will love to follow there way to<br />

Funkry Drop ( Skanky‘lil rec. / cargo )<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

Antwerp has become the adopted home of<br />

Mark Foggo, who presents the current cd of<br />

the band Babayaga on his label. With a new<br />

lineup on bass the septet by singer / keyboardist<br />

Hannes Werhan recorded 13 tracks with<br />

the help of producer Jürgen Block. From „I Am<br />

A Train“ to „Sommaw Aso“ the positive development<br />

of the band, compared with their<br />

previous albums, „Only Time Rhythm? „(2001)<br />

and „Hot“ (2006) is significantly. Although the<br />

Thuringian continue with a backbone of ska<br />

and reggae, there expansion with elements of<br />

25<br />

the band around Anna Steckein still convinces<br />

more on stage. Despite harsh social criticism<br />

they perform lots of fun live, not to mention a<br />

natural good deal of spontaneity and youthful<br />

eccentricity. But even regarding „Kaufrausch“<br />

the “DIY-philosophy” is on top of the priority<br />

list of tracks like “Arsch im Anzug” and “Bis<br />

zur Eskalation” Keep it up, because the recipe<br />

of escalation is rather expandable even after<br />

“Kaufrausch”.<br />

Frank Keil<br />

the old jamaica whith their soulful ska and<br />

rocksteady. Apart from the traditional organ<br />

sounds of Rivas, Singer Malik “The FreQ” Moore<br />

provides the hallmarks of The Bullets. As<br />

musicians and as producers, both musicians<br />

worked in harness, to give their original<br />

compositions the necessary and distinctive<br />

Latin-Drive.<br />

Frank Keil<br />

funk and pop But their musical excursions towards<br />

Funk and pop enriches their sound and<br />

makes you dance. Babayaga measure with<br />

„Funky Drop“ not only with anglo-american<br />

colleagues, but attempt to sing spanish („Dos<br />

Alemanes Muertos“) and also german („Der<br />

traurige Clown”). Since the band performs a<br />

lively show, they will win plenty of new fans<br />

for there third cd soon.<br />

Frank Keil


Desorden Público (Venezuela)<br />

review<br />

Patrice<br />

review<br />

eStrellaS Del caoS ( Fak recorDS )<br />

one (univerSal muSic )<br />

After five albums since 2000 Patrice presents<br />

a new collection of 13 Songs with his new album<br />

„ONE“. Stylistically he sticks to his unique<br />

mix of reggae, soul and pop. Always an individualist<br />

and rebel, the Afro-German (mother<br />

from germany, father from Sierra Leone) sets<br />

still great value on his sophisticated poetry<br />

for which he is known since his musical beginnings<br />

at the end of the 90‘s. „One“ benefits<br />

from the cooperation with guests (like the<br />

french artist / filmmaker JR, Matt Kent or the<br />

Supowers Band) which always service him..<br />

Frau Doktor<br />

review grenZen Der gemütlichkeit (rookie recorDS)<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

Desorden Público, are a skand band from<br />

Venezuela, founded in 1985 by singer /<br />

guitarist Horacio Blanco and bassist José Luis<br />

Chacín. Numerous gold and platinum awards<br />

evidence the tremendous success with their<br />

more than ten albums. The full blown „public<br />

disorder“ started in the mid 80s, influenced by<br />

the British Specials and spreads all over America.<br />

Hallmark of the band with nine members,<br />

who are one of the founders of the Latin Ska,<br />

which they mix with salsa and merengue, but<br />

also rockabilly and jazz, is there exuberant<br />

energy carried live shows. Of these, one<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

Simple - easy - good! There won`t be more to<br />

write about the album of Frau Doktor actually,<br />

if there wasn`t their farewell tour recently. Yes,<br />

it`s right, Frau Doktor is not anymore. They said<br />

„Goodbye and thank you!“ and turned there<br />

back on us. For the hours of grief and to make it<br />

easier to say goodbye, the ten men from Wiesbaden<br />

still pressed their best times on vinyl and<br />

added some consolations. A new version of „Alte<br />

Männer“ is recorded, because the Musicians<br />

have to admit that they themselves grow older<br />

and older. We surely all agree, that the four new<br />

songs (including the cover number Venus), and<br />

all the rest of their music doesn`t suffer from<br />

their growing experience. But everybody under-<br />

could be convinced in the last august and<br />

september, when Desorden Público make the<br />

audience dancing and sweating to songs like<br />

„No Valle La Pena” or „Política Criminal“ of their<br />

album “Estrellas Del Caos”. This should not<br />

obscure the fact, that the band attaches value<br />

to its extremely socially and politically critical<br />

lyrics, that despite their leading position in<br />

terms of Latin Ska, grapples critically with the<br />

government of their own country.<br />

Frank Keil<br />

Warm, stylish and carried by his charismatic<br />

voice, the album with tracks like „The Maker“,<br />

“10 Man Down“ and “Don`t Cry” should be his<br />

masterpiece so far. And not only with „Walking<br />

Alone“, the first single from the album, Patrice<br />

will climb the toplists in france and the rest of<br />

europe with ease<br />

Frank Keil<br />

stands the family obligations. A baby break is o.k.<br />

“Mehr Väter braucht das Land” is our suggested<br />

title for the new single for their comeback,<br />

as soon as the kids grew. One thing is clear, it<br />

can not be a permanent waiver. That must be<br />

meant by “Grenzen der Gemütlichkeit”. Yes, we<br />

want Frau Doktor back on stage. Precisely in<br />

the manner that is once more captured on the<br />

current disc: Simple - easy - and with a lot of fun.<br />

If these are not the ingredients for a good band,<br />

then I don`t know. When good german lyrics<br />

nowadays became rarer and rarer. One thing<br />

is for sure: We could easier forebear from the<br />

Sportfreunde Stiller.<br />

OW


Yellow Umbrella<br />

review a thouSanD FaceS (rain rec. / pork pie)<br />

Open Season<br />

review<br />

louDer (leech recorDS)<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

Inspired by the American philosopher Campbell<br />

and his book „The Hero With A Thousand Faces“<br />

Yellow Umbrella present their eighth cd since<br />

its establishment in 1994. The formation around<br />

mastermind Jens Strohschneider continues to<br />

focus on the successful mix of Ska, Rock <strong>Steady</strong>,<br />

Reggae and Dance Hall, with some stylistic excursions<br />

in the direction jazz, rock`n`roll or eastern<br />

european folk music. Successful producer<br />

Victor Rice (e.g. The Slackers & The Toasters) has<br />

prepared the song material congenial. Yellow<br />

Umbrella invited guest musicians like Dr. Ring<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

They are often described as the „Swiss Seed“, but<br />

this is far too simplistic. Open Season prove with<br />

their new publication „Louder!“, that they have<br />

much more to offer than to ride on the waves of<br />

jamaican music in the shadow of the Seed. No –<br />

quite the contrary - they play experienced along<br />

the complete reggae history and demonstrate<br />

more independence than ever before. There are<br />

dancehall experiments („Turn Up The Volume“,<br />

„Hello“), an excellent roots-number („Living on<br />

the edge“), catchy reggae-songs like „I Try“ and<br />

„Kiss Me Goodbye“, as well as ska beats and<br />

27<br />

Ding (“Time Time Time“) and Dr. Volkanikman<br />

(„Almanya“). In addition to the jaunty instrumental<br />

„Arranjuez“ the rock steady hit „Oh Girl“ or the<br />

also very danceable „Plombieres Polonais“ the<br />

septet manages to combine the joy of playing,<br />

songwriting skills and casual grooves even<br />

on the remaining 11 tracks. Yellow Umbrella<br />

have done their Jamaican music lessons well,<br />

transformed it contemporary and will also proof<br />

all that live.<br />

Frank Keil<br />

always pop influences. Finally, with „Iron Dub“<br />

they tried an equally bold but successful outing<br />

to the quietest atmospheres of the musical<br />

landscape of reggae music. For this succeeded<br />

dub-sound they were supported from Sanjay<br />

Tailor of the Asian Dub Foundation. It must not<br />

always be Dr. Ring Ding.! With „Hey Darling“ they<br />

did a big hit. Not for nothing they picket out<br />

this soung for their well done video-clip. Our<br />

recommendation!<br />

OW<br />

now on tour<br />

dates auf Seite 28


Best of Tourdates #1<br />

review tourDateS oF the main ac tS<br />

Roy Ellis a.k.a. Mr. Symarip<br />

Fr | 05. November 2010 McCormacks Ballroom Leipzig Deutschland<br />

Sa | 06. November 2010 Bauteil 5 @ Weberei Gütersloh Deutschland<br />

So | 07. November 2010 Trix Antwerpen Belgien<br />

Lord Mouse & The Kalypso Katz live:<br />

Fr | 05. November 2010 | 23 Uhr Lovelite Berlin Deutschland<br />

Sa | 11. Dezember 2010 | 9 Uhr Festival Poznan Polen<br />

Sa | 18. Dezember 2010 | 18 Uhr Festival Tournai Belgien<br />

Magic Touch, The<br />

Fr | 05. November 2010 McCormacks Ballroom Leipzig Deutschland<br />

Sa | 06. November 2010 Bauteil 5 @ Weberei Gütersloh Deutschland<br />

Sa | 08. Januar 2011 Dynamo Werk 2 Zürich Schweiz<br />

The Caroloregians<br />

Do | 11. November 2010 Tobis Irish Pub Emnden Deutschland<br />

Sa | 13. November 2010 Lovelite Berlin Deutschland<br />

Mo | 15. November 2010 Kassa Blanca Jena Deutschland<br />

Di | 16. November 2010 Ost-Pol Dresden Ostpol<br />

Mi | 17. November 2010 Cross Club Prag Tschechien<br />

Fr | 19. November 2010 Sound & Arts Bamberg Deutschland<br />

Sa | 20. November 2010 Haifischbar Augsburg Deutschland<br />

Fr | 26. November 2010 Landespavillon Suttgart Deutschland<br />

Sa | 27. November 2010 SubClub Bratislava Slowakei<br />

So | 28. November 2010 Club Gromka Ljubljana Slovenien<br />

Mo | 29. November 2010 Ostclub Wien Österreich<br />

Mi | 01. Dezember 2010 Le Baladin Piozzo Italien<br />

Sa | 04. Dezember 2010 Grabenhalle St. Gallen Schweiz<br />

Open Season<br />

Fr | 05. November 2010 Schüür Luzern<br />

Sa | 06. November 2010 Salzhaus Brugg<br />

Fr | 19. November 2010 Café Bar Mokka Thun<br />

Sa | 20. November 2010 Ziegelei Einsiedeln<br />

Fr | 03. Dezember 2010 Selig Chur<br />

Sa | 04. Dezember 2010 Kammgarn Schaffhausen<br />

Fr | 10. Dezember 2010 Sommercasino Basel<br />

Sa | 11. Dezember 2010 Usine-à-Gaz Nyon<br />

Do | 16. Dezember 2010 Abart Zürich<br />

Fr | 17. Dezember 2010 Bierhübeli Bern<br />

Sa | 18. Dezember 2010 Bolgenschanze Davos<br />

The Skatalites European Tour 2010<br />

nov/Dez<br />

2010<br />

Mi | 10. November 2010 Salle du Vigean Eysine Frankreich<br />

(with The Mighty Diamonds and Linval Thompson)<br />

Do | 11. November 2010 Kammgarn Schaffhausen Schweiz<br />

Fr | 12. November 2010 Metropop Festival Lausanne Schweiz<br />

Sa | 13. November 2010 Finos Reggae Festival Balaguer Spanien<br />

Mo | 15. November 2010 Arena Wien Österreich<br />

Di | 16. November 2010 West Balkan Budapest Ungarn<br />

Mi | 17. November 2010 Gala Hala Ljubljana Slovenia<br />

Do | 18. November 2010 Heaven Santander Spanien<br />

Fr | 19. November 2010 El Tren Granada Spanien<br />

Sa | 20. November 2010 Hard Club Porto Portugal<br />

So | 21. November 2010 NASA Santiago de Compostela Spanien<br />

Mi | 24. November 2010 Bloomsbury Ballroom London England<br />

Do | 25. November 2010 Fiddler`s Bristol England<br />

Fr | 26. November 2010 The Arches Glasgow Schottland<br />

Sa | 27. November 2010 HMV Picture House Ediburgh Schottland<br />

Mo | 29. November 2010 HMV Institute Birmingham England<br />

Di | 30. November 2010 The Village Dublin Ireland


The Moon Invaders<br />

So | 07. November 2010 Trix Antwerpen Belgien<br />

Doreen Shaffer on Tour with The Moon Invaders: the voice of the Skatalites<br />

Fr | 17. Dezember 2010 P60 Amstelveen Niederlande<br />

Do | 23. Dezember 2010 Schlachthof Bremen Deutschland<br />

Sa | 25. Dezember 2010 Pressenwerk Bad Salzungen Deutschland<br />

Di | 28. Dezember 2010 East Club Bischofswerda Deutschland<br />

Do | 30. Dezember 2010 Ernesto`s Sittard Niederlande<br />

Mi | 05. Januar 2011 Schlachthof Wels Österreich<br />

Clinton Fearon<br />

Fr | 5. November 2010 Clinton Fearon in solo acoustic<br />

Fr | 12. November 2010 Clinton Fearon in solo acoustic @ Ebullition, Bulle (CH)<br />

Sa | 13. November 2010 Clinton Fearon in solo acoustic<br />

Sa | 20. November 2010 Clinton Fearon & Boogie Brown @ Nectar, Seattle, WA<br />

Sa | 4. Dezember 2010 Clinton Fearon & Boogie Brown<br />

Sa | 11. Dezember 2010 Clinton Fearon @ Lima, Peru<br />

Fr | 17. Dezember 2010 Clinton Fearon & Boogie Brown @ Red Bicycle, Vashon Island, WA<br />

Fr | 5. November 2010 Clinton Fearon in solo acoustic<br />

Fr | 12. November 2010 Clinton Fearon in solo acoustic @ Ebullition, Bulle (CH)<br />

Sa | 13. November 2010 Clinton Fearon in solo acoustic<br />

Sa | 20. November 2010 Clinton Fearon & Boogie Brown @ Nectar, Seattle, WA<br />

Sa | 4. Dezember 2010 Clinton Fearon & Boogie Brown<br />

Sa | 11. Dezember 2010 Clinton Fearon @ Lima, Peru<br />

Fr | 17. Dezember 2010 Clinton Fearon & Boogie Brown @ Red Bicycle, Vashon Island, WA<br />

Next ...<br />

preview ... on rocking SteaDy eZine #2<br />

DuB CiTy ROCKERS<br />

on moon Ska worlD<br />

AT LONG LAST ... THE DuB CiTy ROCKERS<br />

Debute album out in january 2011<br />

jan/Feb<br />

2011<br />

„good things come to those who wait“ .... the british-jamaican Dub,<br />

rock, Ska, hip hop, reggae collective will release his debut album „Faith hope love peace respect co-exist“<br />

in january. praise to the skies preceded him from all corners. the album will be offered as a 15 track cD and<br />

in selected record stores to have. on rocking <strong>Steady</strong>! you‘ll be able to download one special song. See you<br />

soon with number 2.<br />

Interviews with Rico Rodriguez, Patrice,<br />

and with one former musician of the Gaylads<br />

***<br />

Interview with Jada Leblanc - 10 years<br />

***<br />

Reviews: Hotknives, the one droppers, askatasuna Ska band, ronny trettmann,<br />

dub city rockers, red soul community and many more...<br />

MORE NEWS AND ALL TOuR DATES ON:<br />

www.rockingsteady.com<br />

29

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