Steel Pulse - WikiHQ

Steel Pulse are a British roots reggae band from the Handsworth area of Birmingham, England. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, and were composed of David Hinds (lead vocals, guitar), Basil Gabbidon (lead guitar, vocals), and Ronald McQueen (bass); along with Basil's brother Colin briefly on drums and Mykaell Riley (vocals, percussion). Steel Pulse were the first non-Jamaican act to win the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album., and have gained eight other Grammy nominations. Their next single was "Nyah Luv" on Anchor. They also reached a distribution deal with Elektra Records for the US market.

In 2004, Steel Pulse returned to their militant roots with African Holocaust – their eleventh studio album. With guest appearances by Damian Marley, Capleton, and Tiken Jah Fakoly (on the track African Holocaust), the album is a collection of protest and spiritual songs, including "Global Warning" (a dire warning about climate change), "Tyrant", a protest song against political corruption, and "No More Weapons", an anti-war song. Also featured on the album is a cover of the Bob Dylan song, "George Jackson".

In 2007, the band released a music video for the track "Door of No Return". The video was shot on location in Senegal and New York City. The video was directed by Trishul Thejasvi and produced by Yoni Gal. The video had its world premiere at the Times 51st BFI London Film Festival in October 2007.

In a 2013 interview with Midnight Raver, David Hinds indicated that a new studio album and documentary, tentatively titled Steel Pulse: The Definitive Story, would be released in 2014. However, on 10 July 2014 Midnight Raver reported that, according to Hinds, both the studio album and documentary will be delayed until at least 2015.

In anticipation of a new Steel Pulse album, the Roots Reggae Library has indexed two compilation albums of the latest Steel Pulse singles. The albums are called Positivity and Jah Way, both named after tracks on the albums.

In October 2018, Steel Pulse announced their new album, the first in 14 years, Mass Manipulation, was released on Rootfire Cooperative a non-traditional label that provides interest free loans and label services to independent musicians. The single "Stop You Coming and Come" was released on 7 December. The album was nominated for the 2020 Grammy Awards.

On 22 March 2023, the Easy Star All-Stars released a cover of "Five Years" in collaboration with Steel Pulse, from their album Ziggy Stardub, a reggae reimagining of David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. A music video, directed by Robert Bartolome, was released on the same day.

Former drummer Conrad Kelly died on 8 May 2024, at the age of 65.

Awards and nominations

A Grammy Award was given for their 1986 album Babylon the Bandit. Living Legacy (2000).

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Steel Pulse has received one awards out of nine nominations.

{| class="wikitable sortable"

! Year

! Category

! Nominated work

! Result

|1982

|Best Ethnic Or Traditional Folk Recording

|"Reggae Sunsplash '81, A Tribute To Bob Marley"

|1984

|Best Reggae Recording

|Steppin' Out

|1986

|Best Reggae Recording

|"Babylon The Bandit"

|1991

|Best Reggae Album

|"Victim"

|1993

|Best Reggae Album

|"Rastafari Centennial/Live In Paris - Elysee Montmartre"

|1998

|Best Reggae Album

|"Rage and Fury"

|2000

|Best Reggae Album

|"Living Legacy"

|2005

|Best Reggae Album

|"African Holocaust"

|2020

|Best Reggae Album

|"Mass Manipulation"

Personnel

Current members

David Hinds – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1975–present)
Selwyn Brown – keyboards, backing vocals (1975–present)
Sidney Mills – keyboards, backing vocals (1988–present)
Wayne C# Clarke – drums (2005–present)
Amlak Tafari – bass (2005–present)
David Ellecirri Jr. – lead guitar (2012–present)
Stephen Bradley – trumpet (2017–present)
Zem Audu – saxophone (2017–present)
Baruch Hinds – rap and backing vocals (2017–present)

Former members

;Drummers

Colin Gabbidon – drums (1975–1976)
Donovan Shaw – drums (1976–1977)
Steve Nisbett – drums, percussion (1977–2001; died 2018)
Alphonso Martin – percussion, vocals (1977–1991)
Mykaell Riley – percussion, backing vocals (1977–1978)
Conrad Kelly – drums (1994–2005; died 2024)

;Guitarists

Basil Gabbidon – lead guitar, backing vocals (1975–1982)
Melvin Brown – lead guitar (1982–1989)
Clifford "Moonie" Pusey – lead guitar (1989–2015)
Donovan McKitty – lead guitar (2008–2015; died 2017)

;Bass players

Ronald McQueen – bass (1975–1983)
Alvin Ewen – bass, percussion (1983–2005)

;Keyboard players

Tyrone Downie – keyboards (1985)
Errol Reid – keyboards (1985–1994)

;Horns players

Jerry Johnson – saxophone (1992–1997, 2012–2019)
Steve Morrison – trombone (1991–1992)
James Renford – saxophone (1991–1992)
Kevin Batchelor – trumpet (1992–1997)
Clark Gayton – trombone (1992–1997)
Micah Robinson – trombone (1998–2015)

;Backing vocalists

Makiesha McTaggert – backing vocals (2005–2016)
Yaz Alexander – backing vocals (1991–1997)
Donna Sterling – backing vocals (1998–2004)
Sylvia Tella – backing vocals (1998–1999)
Melanie Lynch – backing vocals (2004–2009)
Traciana Graves – backing vocals (2004)
Marea Wilson – backing vocals (2004–2005)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Handsworth Revolution (1978)
Tribute to the Martyrs (1979)
Caught You (1980)
True Democracy (1982)
Earth Crisis (1984)
Babylon the Bandit (1986) Grammy Award Winner – Best Reggae Album
State of Emergency (1988)
Victims (1991)
Vex (1994)
Rage and Fury (1997)
African Holocaust (2004)
Mass Manipulation (2019)