Steel Pulse Interview

Welcome back to Reggae Land! how does it feel to be returning?

Returning back so soon has been a big surprise for me. Festivals usually skip a year or two. It’s demand, I guess.

What do you enjoy most about performing for UK reggae fans & how does performing at Reggae Land compare to other festivals?

Performing at festivals all become a blurr to me after a while. But for this one, I remember it being cold and we had to be rushing one place to the next in order to get to Reggaeland to perform. Because of our shows generally being few and far between in the UK, it’s a case of wearing a different hat on our heads. It’s like going back 45 years, whereas, we’re still having to delve into the songs from our first 3 albums. This means having key changes and slightly different arrangements. For example, I no longer sing Handworth Revolution in its original key. Although my voice is still easily recognisable, the timbre has taken on a different texture. Not that I’m complaining. Over time, 90% of pop musicians that have toured their hearts out have to find away to sustain that energy to perform as the years go by. So to be candid, I do find it a bit nerve racking having to go back into the oldies for the sake of an audience that may not have kept up with our recording catalog. Playing it safe, that’s what I do. The worse thing you can do to a fan is to do a 90 minute set with songs they don’t happen to know..

Your music has been part of our lives for years. Is there a particular song you never get tired of performing?

Yes, there’s one song I have never gotten tired of performing; SOLDIERS. The lyrical content still resonates with me as if I wrote it only yesterday.

You use your music to address social issues. What message do you hope younger generations take from your songs today?

I hope the younger generation take with them that energy and that wealth of knowledge to strengthen their intellect and courage. Courage to know that collectively, they can topple any negative imperialistic system without lifting a finger to promote violence. Although, I do believe in a man defending himself. The status quo has tricked us all, over the years.

Reggae has changed a lot over the years. How do you feel about the direction reggae music is heading in 2025?

Reggae’s direction can only get better. The direction I see is that it’s spreading and copied by other cultures and races that have learned to embrace the message of peace and positivity that comes with it. I just left Thailand and India the other day and was surprised, witnessing the amount of sound systems that they had there. Their local reggae bands were forces to be reckoned with. Their only setback is that they don’t have the commercial exposure and machinery available to be recognised, like the way we have it living in the west. When it comes to reggae lovers across the planet, their knowledge on the history of our music is immeasurable.

If you could collaborate with any current artist, who would it be and why?

In regard to collaboration, I have this tendency of not being selective and go for whoever reaches out to me. But if I were to stand back and have my way, I would definitely go for all the elderly Jamaican artists, first. Acts like Don Carlos, Burning Spear and Max Romeo have been on the cards for some time. I admire the fact they still have that mental, physical and spiritual energy to still remain current and relevant all these years. To be trading lyrics with my teachers would be a “pleasure to treasure.”

Your live performances are legendary—do you have a favourite memory from a past UK show or festival?

Decades of U.K. shows can’t erase the memory of the two events I still hold close to heart; Rock Against Racism, held at Victoria Park, and the Stafford Bingley Hall gig that we did along side Bob Marley and the Wailers (July 1978). Those were the days. You simply can’t beat a music that was in the motion of growing and being supported by tens of thousands that were completely hypnotised by the spirituality of it all. Steel Pulse played a major part in all of that unraveling.

What inspires you to keep creating new music after 50 years in the game?

My biggest inspiration to be still creating music after 5 decades has been Jah and the people. We have watched the world through, binoculars, telescopes, microscopes kaleidoscopes, television, TikTok, YouTube; you name it, and the common thread has been people with all kinds of issues that for the most part defy nature and peace. Jah still gives me the insight to be able to formulate words to help change any negative situation. Right about now. I have this thing for the 3% of mankind that have 97% of us subjected to poverty and bondage.

As fans, we’re curious—what does your pre-show ritual look like before you hit the stage?

My pre-show ritual is very much straight forward; rest, rest and rest. It’s a bit of a juggling act at times because soundcheck times and meal times often upsets that flow of me resting. I never enjoy a show if I don’t feel rested. It makes me feel like I have not given the audience my all. Come to think of it, in the past the band would gather in a circle and pray. But with the influx of new band members, that ritual slowly eroded away. Upon this questioning, I will initiate this practice once again.

What was it like to play at a President’s inauguration?

My memories of playing at the Clinton Inauguration is one of being so cold that I never thought our fingers would have been able to move on our instruments. It was also memorable watching the motorcade with the new sworn in President cruise by as we performed the song the President actually requested. There was this feeling that reggae has reached its highest point of recognition. To be invited by the most important political figure the world had at that time, spoke volumes.

Which historical figures have had the greatest influence on your music and message?

When it comes to historical figures, there have been many. But if I were to fine tune it to one particular person, then that person would be Malcolm X. Malcolm X was about growing and correcting himself as he gained knowledge. He was about change and selflessness. He was fearless, sincere and forever being analytical. It takes a special kind of demeanor to be writing songs in a particular kind of way. I would like to know that my songs take on the cutting edge Malcolm X had; that can still resonate after decades of being unleashed.

What’s next from Steel Pulse?

What’s next for Steel Pulse? Many things. For me it will be about taking those lonesome ventures across the world hitting countries that I have yet to visit and study them. The western world is so far removed from the east, it’s unreal. The northern hemisphere is equally as far removed from the from its southern counterpart. As for the band itself; the aim is to perform to as many African countries as we can. It’s crazy just to utter these words, but Steel Pulse has never performed in places like Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa. All these countries have a rich history in regard to fighting for their freedom. Of course there will be a product out as a symbol of celebrating our 50th anniversary. The real challenge of making all this happen is that there is just not enough hours in a day to do all this. Thanks our bucket.

If you could describe this year’s Reggae Land performance in three words,
what would they be?

The three words to describe REGGAELAND’s performance would be; SALUTE OUR ANNIVERSARY…