Skabilly Rebels are a British skabilly band led by Roddy Byers, the former lead guitarist of The Specials. Byers steps out from his role at the side of the stage to front the group as singer and guitarist, building on a style he develops over many years: a mix of ska rhythm and rockabilly edge.

Style and line-up

The band works in the skabilly form that Byers names as a fusion of ska and rockabilly. Their music combines rocksteady beats, vocal twang and guitar-driven riffs, with songs that move between ska, roots rock, blues and cajun influences.

The line-up on the debut album Blues Attack! includes Sam Smith on rhythm guitar, Matt Hart on drums, Mac on bass and Jay Jones on keyboards, alongside Byers on vocals and guitar.

Debut album

Blues Attack! is the band’s debut album and presents 16 original tracks written by Byers. It includes songs such as “Black Zodiac”, “Desire”, “Judgement Day” and “Another Rusty Nail”, which show the range of the group’s sound, from cajun-edged and breezy ska to roots rock and blues.

Background

Byers develops the project after 32 years of performing his own ska-rockabilly style while playing with The Specials. Skabilly Rebels represent the next stage of that approach, turning a long-running idea into a full band centred on his own songwriting and guitar work.