Steel Pulse

Steel Pulse are a roots reggae musical band, from the Handsworth area of Birmingham, England. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, and are composed of David Hinds (lead vocals, guitar), Basil Gabbidon (lead guitar, vocals), and Ronald McQueen (bass). They were the first non-Jamaican act to win the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. After the band formed in 1975, their debut release, Kibudu, Mansetta And Abuku, arrived on the small independent label Dip, and linked the plight of urban black youth with the image of a greater African homeland. They followed it with Nyah Luv for Anchor. They were initially refused live dates in Caribbean venues in Birmingham due to their Rastafarian beliefs. Aligning themselves closely with the Rock Against Racism organisation and featuring in its first music festival in early 1978, they chose to tour with sympathetic elements of the punk movement, including the Stranglers, XTC and so on.... (Read more)

Links to Peel
It is said that the band's first session came about as a result of Peel playing a tape of their music on air: the same source claims that they were the first reggae band to record a second session for Kat's Karavan. They went on to record five, four of which John repeated at Christmas but none of which have seen a complete official release.

Another JP favourite, John Cooper Clarke, said, "I knew Steel Pulse really well – those dudes were terrific, fabulous men. Handsforth (sic) Revolution was a big album. Rotten [Johnny] was a massive fan and he used to always wear their promo badges for photo shoots."

Festive Fifty Entries

 * None

Sessions

 * Five sessions. 'Jah Pickney (Rock Against Racism)' (from #2) available on Movement: BBC Radio 1 Peel Sessions 1977-1979 (BBC Worldwide Ltd.)

1. Recorded: 1977-08-31. First broadcast: 29 September 1977. Repeated: 25 October 1977, 22 November 1977, 28 December 1977 2. Recorded: 1978-04-04. First broadcast: 27 April 1978. Repeated: 18 May 1978, 07 June 1978, 27 December 1978 3. Recorded: 1979-07-16. First broadcast: 13 August 1979. Repeated: 27 August 1979, 24 December 1979 4. Recorded: 1980-04-09. First broadcast: 07 May 1980. Repeated: 20 May 1980, 16 June 1980, 23 December 1980 5. Recorded: 1981-12-05. First broadcast: 06 January 1982, 27 January 1982, 17 February 1982, 10 May 1982
 * Prodigal Son / Ku Klux Klan / Bad Man / Prediction
 * Handsworth Revolution / Jah Pickney (Rock Against Racism) / Makka Splaff
 * Unseen Guest / Uncle George / Reggae Fever
 * Drug Squad / Shinin' / Nyahbingi
 * Ravers / Man No Sober / Blues Dance

Other Shows Played

 * 10 July 1978: 'Prodigal Son (7")' (Island)STEEL PULSE John Peel 4th April 1978
 * 14 July 1978: 'Handsworth Revolution (LP-Handsworth Revolution)' (Island)
 * 27 July 1978: 'Bad Man (LP-Handsworth Revolution)' (Island)
 * 31 July 1978: 'Soldiers (LP-Handsworth Revolution)' (Island)
 * 06 September 1978: 'Handsworth Revolution (LP-Handsworth Revolution)' (Island)
 * 08 November 1978: 'Revolution Dub Take 2 (12"-Prediction)' (Island)
 * 09 May 1979: unknown
 * 21 May 1979: 'Babylon Makes The Rules (12"-Sound System)' (Island)
 * 11 June 1979: 'A Dub (?)'
 * 11 June 1979: 'Tribute To The Martyrs (LP-Tribute To The Martyrs)' (Island)
 * 18 June 1979: 'Biko's Kindred Lament (LP-Tribute To The Martyrs)' (Island)
 * 25 June 1979: 'Unseen Guest (LP-Tribute To The Martyrs)' (Island)
 * 26 June 1979: 'Blasphemy (Selah) (LP-Tribute To The Martyrs)' (Island)
 * 27 June 1979: 'Tribute To The Martyrs (LP-Tribute To The Martyrs)' (Island)
 * 28 June 1979: 'Unseen Guest (LP-Tribute To The Martyrs)' (Island)
 * 18 July 1979: 'Tribute To The Martyrs (LP-Tribute To The Martyrs)' (Island)
 * 23 July 1979: 'Biko's Kindred Lament (LP-Tribute To The Martyrs)' (Island)
 * 03 March 1980: 'Don't Give In (7")' (Island)
 * 13 March 1980: 'Don't Give In (7")' (Island)
 * 17 March 1980: 'Don't Give In (7")' (Island)
 * 20 March 1980: 'Don't Give In (7")' (Island)
 * 26 May 1980: 'Caught You Dancing (7")' (Island)
 * 02 June 1980: 'Drug Squad (LP-Caught You)' (Island)
 * 12 June 1980: 'Nyahbingi Voyage (LP-Caught You)' (Island)
 * 23 June 1980: 'Reggae Fever (LP-Caught You)' (Island)
 * 25 June 1980: 'Nyahbingi Voyage (LP-Caught You)' (Island)
 * Karl's Tape - Mid-Late February 1982: 'Ravers (7")' (Wiseman Doctrine)
 * 18 March 1982: 'Ravers (7")' (Wiseman Doctrine)
 * Karl's Tape 06 - June 1982: session repeat
 * Peel 1983 Bits And Pieces: 2nd session repeat
 * Peel Mid Feb 1984: 'Stepping Out (LP-Earth Crisis)' (Wiseman Doctrine)
 * Peel March 1984: 'Earth Crisis (LP-Earth Crisis)' (Wiseman Doctrine)
 * 24 May 1984: 'Your House'
 * 28 May 1985: 'Prodigal Son (Compilation LP-Reggae Greats)' (Island)
 * 04 March 1986: 'Blessed Is The Man (LP-Babylon The Bandit)' (Elektra)
 * Peel March 1986: 'Blessed Is The Man (LP-Babylon The Bandit)' (Elektra)
 * Mostly Peel Spring 1986: 'Not King James Version (LP-Babylon The Bandit)' (Elektra)