Reggae and Ska

“Stop your messing around, Better think of your future.” The Specials, ‘A Message To You, Rudy’, 1979

Although punk stole the major headlines of this period, reggae and dub were very popular from the mid-1970s. It was a golden age for Jamaican music, and from 1977 home-grown reggae artists like Matumbi, Aswad, Eddy Grant and Steel Pulse made an impact with their songs about urban living and racism.

Reggae’s impact on the punk audience had been boosted by endorsements from leading bands like The Clash. In 1978, the anti-fascist movement Rock Against Racism held a deliberate policy of integrating punk and reggae groups in the same shows, which further popularised reggae among the white audience.

The fusion of the two styles was embodied in the 2 Tone movement spearheaded by The Specials in 1979. With hits like ‘A Message To You, Rudy’, they encouraged a number of other groups including The Selecter and The Beat. The most successful 2 Tone group, Madness, integrated ska with music hall to produce 15 Top 10 hits.

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