Coventry Music Museum Curator Pete Chambers BEM writes for the Observer.
The Beat featuring Dave Wakeling exclusive interview
The bEAT featuring Dave Wakeling are due to play Coventry’s HMV Empire on June 22 as part of the ‘The bEAT Skavival Tour 2023’ with special guests Bow Wow Wow.
I caught up with the legendary Beat man himself and put a few questions to him.
Dave, I saw you and the band last year in Coventry, despite the coach breaking down you made it on stage on time and put on a sensational set. The band were tight as could be, but your voice as always stood out. After all these years you still have it, do you have any special ways of looking after your voice?
Thanks Pete, the tour bus broke down 90 miles away from Cov, and we had to rush by taxi to get there – phew. After years of sore throats and scar tissue, I have now found a way to sing that improves rather than grinds my throat. I learned all the wrong things to do first, then stopped them and I warm up my voice for 10 minutes before the show, as I visualise what a great, connected night it is going to be.
What did you make of the new remastered Dance Craze album and DVD?
The Dance Craze re-release was wonderful – it looked and sounded better than ever. I was thrilled by it, but I also remembered the conversations amongst the bands and fans at the time. ‘What’s this trickledown economics then, will it help? and why the austerity then?’ Sadly, Brexit, foodbanks and yes we have no tomatoes was the kind of result we all feared, and here we are.
Q. Steven Knight of Peaky Blinders fame has produced a 2-Tone Drama set in Birmingham and Coventry (This Town), have you heard about it and does the Birmingham connection make it more interesting for you?
I called Steven when I heard about the TV show, as I was worried it might turn into a 2-Tone version of Peaky Blinders, because of his love for the theatrical ketchup.
However, he reassured me, and seems like an honest decent fan of a music that made a big difference to him as a youth.
We had a great chat and he said he would offer me a consultancy on the show, but sadly, I never heard from him again. Perhaps they warned him off? lol
I know you get asked this all the time, but how did the passing of Saxa and later Roger effect you?
Yes, Saxa, Rog, and Everett, all gone, and I think fondly about them all the time. Black Lives Matter, and disproportional healthcare still seems to be an issue both sides of The Pond.
It makes you treasure the great moments together and it also makes you regret the spats all the more, as nothing can now be done.
So you live your life as kindly as you can, in the memory of missing loved ones, and those still around, and forgive more than chide, including yourself.
Is there another album due?
I have some songs spinning in my head, and forming up, but have not decided whether to record again.
I’m tempted, after years of promoting my songs, to keep these to myself, my own private album, in my head.
That might change though, and we’ll see how things develop. Many thanks to you too Pete, for your kindness and support over the decades, Cheers, Dave.
MISSED LAST WEEK’S MUSIC MATTERS? Read Pete’s take on why vinyl is the answer for music here
