Ska’d For Life

Ska’d For Life is a ska band formed in 1993 by lead vocalist Lee. The band starts with an eight-piece line-up that includes three brass players, and plays its first gig on 19 September 1993 in a village pub in St Day, Cornwall. It quickly builds a following on the south-west circuit rather than remaining a local pub act.

Early years and recordings

During its first six months, the band plays throughout the south-west of England and supports acts including The Selecter in Plymouth and Desmond Dekker at Truro City Hall. In that period it records a self-titled cassette album, Ska’d For Life, which contains covers alongside two original songs and sells out quickly. A later live cassette, Ska’d For Life Live, also appears.

Line-up changes and touring

After the first six months, the line-up changes: the brass section leaves, Beki joins on saxophone, one guitarist departs, and a keyboard player is added. Lee and Beki remain central figures through the band’s later history. The band then supports artists including The Toasters, Bad Manners, The Selecter and Desmond Dekker, while also building its own headline audience.

In its second year, the band begins touring Europe and bases itself in Antwerp, Belgium. It carries out 32 European tours and plays to sell-out crowds in Belgium, Germany, Holland, the Czech Republic and Poland, with audiences of up to 7,000. It signs to the Belgian label Shut Up and Eat Records, for which it records the singles Streetlife/Pick It Up and Do the Ska, plus the album Sober. Do the Ska reaches the top fifteen of the Belgian airplay chart.

UK activity and later line-ups

The band also continues to tour extensively in the UK, playing as far south as the Scilly Isles and as far north as the Shetland Islands. By the time it reaches almost 1,400 gigs, the line-up changes again, with the keyboard player, bassist, drummer and guitarist all leaving. Lee and Beki rebuild the group, and a later line-up includes Richard on bass, Tony on guitar, Kirsty on keyboards and Tony on drums.

Broadcast appearances

Other notable activity includes live national radio performances in Belgium, live spots on Belgian national talk shows, and support slots with acts such as The Beat, Bad Manners and The Specials.