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Interview Details
Dave Wakeling - Never Too Nice To Talk To
Interview with Dave Wakeling of The Beat
By: Vivien Weimar
Dave Wakeling is a nice guy. I know this not only because his band The English Beat's sang about it, nor simply because his website told me so. I know this because no matter what topic---from politics to rock n' roll'he is pontificating on, Wakeling is not only articulate and funny, but you get the sense that he's entirely a glass-half-full kinda guy.
Dave Wakeling maybe best known for being part of the seminal ska band The English Beat (or just The Beat anywhere outside of the U.S.) Their single "Mirror in the Bathroom" is still played at '80s dance nights everywhere still celebrate exposing the band to an entirely new generation of fans. Their anti-Thatcher song "Stand Down Margaret" showed The English Beat was more than just a one-hit wonder, but a politically-minded group who’s ideals still resonates with their former lead singer today.
By the mid-'80s The Beat broke up, and Wakeling and toaster Ranking Roger went on to form General Public. However, soon both Wakeling and Roger were focusing on other collaborative as well as solo projects.
These days Dave Wakeling resides in sunny California, which seems appropriate for the affable singer-songwriter. He tours both as a solo artist and has just announced plans to tour Europe this summer as The English Beat opening for INXS.
Wakeling sits down to talk to Subculture Magazine about The Beat's upcoming tour, politics and the power of the post-sex nap.
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How's California these days? Quite the change from living in England. Apart from the weather, what is your favorite aspect of the West Coast?
Cali is gorgeous this time of year; my favourite. Everything is green and getting greener, sun is coming out more often, but nothing is burned out and dusty yet. Drive up to Fairfax, north of San Francisco, from LA was delightful this weekend. It reminds me of the original illustrations from the Tales of Narnia books. Apart from the scenery, my favourite part is beautiful people from all over the world on the 3rd Street promenade in Santa Monica.
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The English Beat (forgive me, I am American) often gets categorized as giving way to the rise of 2-tone or "British Ska" movement along with The Selector, The Specials and to some degree Madness. Culturally or personally, what was going on during the early '80s that saw this ska revolution of sorts take place?
Punk had torn down edifices, and Punk and Reggae had become brothers in arms, without the weapons! Racial angst had been confronted and mainly worked out on the factory floors of the Midlands, so having people of different colours in the same band was not such a big deal. We were trying to blend Punk and Reggae for a Punky-Reggae Page 2 Party, and noticed the hybrid sounded similar to the ska/skinhead reggae of the early '70s; so we incorporated that too, along with Soul, Van Morrison, and the Velvet Underground.
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Speaking of politics, you’ve often chosen music as a platform to voice your political views, as well as being active in global organizations such as Greenpeace. Now that you are living in America, what is your take on the direction of politics under the Bush administration? Is there hope in sight in 2008?
Can't hate someone for being an anachronism. They are his granddad's views, and have as much hope of fitting this world as his granddad’s shoes. Would love to go for a drink with him and Bill Clinton; I bet it would be a great night out, but obviously running the world is not his forte. But at least he has an excuse, whereas what Tony Blair has done is absolutely inexcusable. Hope in sight is Barak Obama. Watch the videos of his speeches, feel your skin tingle, your eyes fill with tears, and your heart fill with optimism about a potential future of dignity and compassion.
- What are your thoughts on Inconvenient Truth?
Preaching to the choir for me! I made "Alternative Energy" for Greenpeace, a Solar Powered Benefit Album in 1994, to help raise Atmosphere and Energy issues. It was never my primary concern whether Global warming could be scientifically blamed on us, it seemed common sense that you might want to blow less hot smoke in the air, if at all possible.
Could have done without the bit about the Election though. Al Gore lost the election by being stiff and sluggish and by appearing medicated instead of inspirational. He lost his chance, and hurt all of us by doing so.
- Back to music for a moment, how did The English Beat/ INXS tour come about?
We are at same Agency Group. Our Agents came to me with idea, and frankly, it has been like pulling teeth ever since!
- Will it be all original members on tour for The Beat?
I am the only original member, although I have been playing with some of the musicians in the line up for twice as long as the Original band was together...now they feel like the Ron Woods of Ska!
- Are there any plans on extending the tour to the States?
Would love to travel the world playing the worlds finest venues with INXS, but if would take as long to arrange as these few UK dates have, I think the next Ice Age might be upon us sooner! I'm sure it's not down to the band though, I hear that the INXS chaps are very nice.
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Are you working on any new Beat material?
Lots of new songs, and plans to record in the near future. -
Throughout April you are crisscrossing the States before heading overseas on a solo tour. What can fans expect from these dates? What do you like about playing in intimate club settings?
Playing about 2 hours now; lots of Beat and General Public tunes, and some new ones. Taking requests from the crowd, and we'll try anything if they throw paper money on stage, for our favourite charity, Smile Train, that fixes kids with cleft palettes.
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Walk us through a typical (if there is such a thing) day in the Wakeling household.
Wake just before 6.00am, check Yahoo messages, listen to kids argue as they get ready for school. Drop daughter Chloe off. Rest of day split between computer, TV news, sex and power naps in bed, Pilates, walking the dogs, watching kids sports, and watching kids argue when they get back home. Bed around midnight, and dream of going back on tour, so I can a have a rest!
- Guilty pleasure that you care to share?
I'm in my "don't drink don't smoke what do I do I do" phase, so guilty pleasures are less frequent than ever, and take up very little of my time. Having a siesta still seems wonderfully sinful, and there is no sleep like the sleep of the just and the innocent, apart from the sleep of the just after...
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If there was one thing you could go back and change about your Beat or General Public days, knowing what you do now, especially with regards to the music industry, what would it be?
If you are not a socialist under the age of 40, you have no heart. If you remain a socialist past the age of 40, you have no brain. It would have been great if my Lust for Life hadn't just turned into boring addictions, but I suppose that was what I needed to learn, and I wouldn't want to change anything that got me to where I am now. I' m also sorry my smart mouth hurt some people, but of course it hurt me the most.
For more information on Dave Wakeling see Dave Wakeing Web site