New Age Steppers were a dub collective from the United Kingdom, formed by producer Adrian Sherwood and featuring members of various prominent 1970s UK post-punk groups, including Ari Up and Viv Albertine of the Slits, Mark Stewart of The Pop Group, Keith Levene of Public Image Ltd, John Waddington and Bruce Smith of Rip Rig + Panic, and Vicky Aspinall of The Raincoats. Other musicians included associates of Sherwood's On-U Sound label, including George Oban, Style Scott, and Eskimo Fox.
Peel was initially interested in New Age Steppers due to their appearance on the early releases of the new On-U Sound label of British dub producer Adrian Sherwood, including its first single and LP. He would subsequently play numerous tracks on the label, which adopted the slogan "Disturbing The Comfortable, Comforting The Disturbed", from similarly loose collectives such as African Head Charge, Barmy Army and Dub Syndicate.
The shifting grouping of post-punk and reggae musicians operating under the NAS name did a session for Peel's show in 1983, produced by Sherwood himself, and were played quite significantly on his shows during the early 80's, including "Threat To Creation", a wildly experimental tie-up with Creation Rebel.
The NAS name later dropped out of sight, resurrected occasionally for Sherwood's collaborations with Ari Up.
Sessions[]
New Age Steppers - Peel Session 1983
One session only, recorded Southern Studios, produced by Adrian Sherwood. "Send For Me" released on Avant Gardening (On-U Sounds, LP / digital, 2021).
1. Recorded: 1983-06-12. Broadcast: 18 August 1983. Repeated: 29 September 1983.
Not A Nobody / Send For Me / John Peel Session Pt 1 1983 / The Riddle
Other Shows Played[]
1980
16 December 1980: Fade Away (split 7" with London Underground - Fade Away / Learn A Language) On-U Sound
1981
Fade Away
03 January 1981 (BFBS): Fade Away (split 7" with London Underground - Fade Away c/w Learn A Language) On-U Sound
11 January 1981 (BFBS): Fade Away (split 7" with London Underground - Fade Away c/w Learn A Language) On-U Sound
14 January 1981: Fade Away (split 7" with London Underground - Fade Away / Learn A Language) On-U Sound
22 January 1981: Fade Away (split 7" with London Underground - Fade Away / Learn A Language) On-U Sound
28 January 1981: Fade Away (split 7" with London Underground - Fade Away / Learn A Language) On-U Sound
02 February 1981: Crazy Dreams And High Ideals (album - New Age Steppers) On-U Sound
04 February 1981: Private Armies (LP - The New Age Steppers) On-U Sound
05 February 1981 (BFBS): Fade Away (split 7" with London Underground - Fade Away c/w Learn A Language) On-U Sound
