The Equators

The Equators

The Equators are a reggae and ska group from Birmingham, United Kingdom. They form in 1977 around brothers Donald Bailey, Leo Bailey and Rocky Bailey, with Cleveland Clarke and Dennis Fletcher joining on guitar. The band remains active and is associated with the Birmingham music scene and the wider 2 Tone-era reggae and ska movement.

Career

The Equators develop a 2 Tone-influenced reggae sound and are signed early on by 20/21 Management, the management company linked to The Beat. While supporting The Beat, Dave Robinson notices the group and signs them to Stiff Records. The band chooses Stiff rather than a local 2 Tone label, saying they already play this style of music before the 2 Tone movement appears and wanting to keep their own sound independent.

On Stiff, they record with Eddy Grant, the pop-reggae producer and musician, and release their first single, “Baby Come Back” (BUY 95), which reaches the European top 10 in 1980. They also record with Desmond Dekker and The Pioneers on “Long Shot Kick the Bucket”. Although they do not make an impact on the UK charts, they influence The Untouchables, Joe “King” Carrasco and, in particular, The Beat.

Style and legacy

The Equators are described as having a sound that combines reggae rhythm with the energy and intensity associated with punk. Their work is noted for helping shape early ideas that also appear in The Beat’s music, and The Beat’s Dave Wakeling later points to the group as an important local precedent in Birmingham.