Steel Pulse

Steel Pulse is a British roots reggae group formed in 1975 in Handsworth, Birmingham. The band begins at Handsworth Wood Boys School and is originally made up of David Hinds on lead vocals and guitar, Basil Gabbidon on lead guitar and vocals, and Ronnie McQueen on bass. Over time, its line-up expands to include Selwyn Brown on keyboards, Steve Nisbett on drums, Alphonso Martin on vocals and percussion, and Michael Riley on vocals, among others. The group continues to record and tour, with members including Conrad Kelly, Selwyn Brown, Alvin Ewen, Basil Gabbidon, David Hinds, Jerry Johnson, Alphonso Martin, Ronald McQueen, Sidney Mills, Steve Nisbett, Errol Reid and Mykaell Riley.

Career and style

David Hinds is the main songwriter and remains the central creative force behind Steel Pulse. The band develops in the Birmingham club scene and builds an early reputation through songs that connect urban black experience with Rastafarian themes and wider African identity. Their first release is Kibudu, Mansetta And Abuku on the small label Dip, followed by Nyah Love on Anchor.

The group also becomes associated with Rock Against Racism and tours with punk acts including the Stranglers and XTC. They later gain support slots with Burning Spear, which leads to a deal with Island Records. Their Island single Ku Klux Klan tackles racism and is often paired with a stage parody of the sect.

Albums and recognition

Handsworth Revolution is the band’s debut album and is regarded as a major landmark in British reggae. After three albums with Island, Steel Pulse move to Elektra and release True Democracy, Earth Crisis and Babylon the Bandit. True Democracy includes the song Rally Around, while Babylon the Bandit includes Not King James Version, a song that criticises the exclusion of black people and history from some Bible versions. The album Babylon the Bandit wins the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album, making Steel Pulse the first non-Jamaican act to receive that award.

The band later records State of Emergency for MCA, with more synthesised dance elements, and Rastafari Centennial, a live recording from the Elysée Montmartre in Paris dedicated to the centenary of Haile Selassie’s birth.

Notable appearances

Steel Pulse become the first reggae band to appear on the Tonight television show in the United States. They also gain wider attention after David Hinds challenges the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission in the Supreme High Court over discrimination against black people and Rastas.

Later history

Drummer Steve Nisbett dies in 2018. The group remains active and is still recording and touring, releasing music through Pulse Music Ltd.