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The English Beat

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Musicians

The Resume

    (1978-1983)
    Born in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom
    2 Tone ska revival band
    Original line-up:
    Dave Wakeling, guitar and vocals
    Ranking Roger, vocals
    Andy Cox, guitar
    David Steele, bass guitar
    Everett Morton, drums
    Saxa, saxophone
    Recorded the albums 'I Just Can't Stop It' (1980), 'Wha'ppen?' (1981) and 'Special Beat Service' (1982)
    Recorded the singles 'Tears of a Clown' (1979), 'Hands Off... She's Mine' (1980), 'Mirror in the Bathroom' (1980), 'Too Nice To Talk To' (1980), 'Save It For Later' (1982) and 'Can't Get Used to Losing You' (1983)

Why they might be annoying:

    They were known as just the Beat in Britain, but had to become the English Beat in North America because there was an LA-based new wave band called the Beat.
    Wakeling admitted he had wanted more of a synth-pop sound for the band: 'I can't imagine how awful those songs would sound today if we'd loaded them down with a bunch of synthesizers.'
    During the 2000s, there were both an England-based Beat, led by Ranking Roger, and a US-based English Beat led by Dave Wakeling.
    Wakeling said about the prospects of a full-blown reunion, 'I think it's a bit like imagine the first six people you had sex with and invite them all to dinner and expect everyone to get along.'

Why they might not be annoying:

    Saxa had played with artists from ska's first wave in the 60s, such as Desmond Dekker and Prince Buster.
    R.E.M. opened for them during a US tour.
    Their songs were featured in the movies 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off,' 'Gross Point Blank,' 'Kingpin' and 'Hot Tub Time Machine.'
    After the band broke up, Wakeling and Ranking Roger formed General Public while Cox and Steele formed Fine Young Cannibals.
    Wakeling said there was no rivalry between the two versions of the band: 'We're all good buddies and everybody's gotta pay their rent.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 58 Votes: 46.55% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 17 Votes: 88.24% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 137 Votes: 46.72% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 66 Votes: 57.58% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 30 Votes: 86.67% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 21 Votes: 61.90% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 54 Votes: 64.81% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 132 Votes: 53.03% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 117 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 12 Votes: 66.67% Annoying