Steel Pulse originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, Birmingham, and comprised David Hinds (lead vocals, guitar), Basil Gabbidon (lead guitar, vocals) and Ronnie McQueen (bass).
However, it is Hinds who, as songwriter, has always been the engine behind Steel Pulse, from their early days establishing themselves in the Birmingham club scene onwards. Formed in 1975, their debut release, 'Kibudu, Mansetta And Abuku" arrived on the small independent label Dip, and linked the plight of urban black youth with the image of a greater African homeland. They followed it with 'Nyah Love' for Anchor.
Surprisingly, they were initially refused live dates in Caribbean venues in the Midlands because of their Rastafarian beliefs. Aligning themselves closely with the Rock Against Racism 1 organisation, they chose to tour instead with sympathetic elements of the punk movement, including the Stranglers, XTC etc.: "Punks had a way of enjoying themselves - throw hordes at you, beer, spit at you, that kind of thing".
Eventually they found a more natural home in support slots for Burning Spear, which brought them to the attention of Island Records. Their first release for Island was the 'Ku Klux Klan' 45 rpm, a considered tilt at the evils of racism, and one often accompanied by a visual parody of the sect on stage.
By this time their ranks had swelled to include Selwyn 'Bumbo' Brown (keyboards), Steve 'Grizzly' Nesbitt (drums), Fonso Martin (vocals, percussion) and Michael Riley (vocals). Handsworth Revolution was an accomplished long playing debut and one of the major landmarks in the evolution of British reggae.
However, despite critical and moderate commercial success over three albums, the relationship with Island had soured by the advent of Caught You (released in the US as Reggae Fever). They switched to Elektra, and unveiled their most consistent collection of songs since their debut with True Democracy, distinguished by the Garveyeulogising 'Rally Around' cut.
A further definitive set arrived in Earth Crisis. Unfortunately, Elektra chose to take a leaf out of Island's book in trying to coerce Steel Pulse into a more mainstream vein, asking them to emulate the pop-reggae stance of Eddy Grant. Babylon Bandit was consequently weakened, but did contain the anthemic 'Not King james Version', which was a powerful indictment on the omission of black people and history from certain versions of the Bible.
Their next move was id Hinds of Steel Pulse to MCA for State Of Emergency, which retained some of the synthesized dance elements of its predecessor. Though it was a significantly happier compromise, it still paled before any of their earlier albums.
Rastafari Centennial was recorded live at the Elysee Montmarte in Paris, and dedicated to the hundred year anniversary of the birth of Haile Selassie. It was the first recording since the defection of Fonso Martin, leaving the trio of David Hinds, Steve Nisbett and Selwyn Brown.
While they still faced inverted snobbery at the hands of British reggae fans, in America their reputation was growing, becoming the first ever reggae band to appear on the Tonight television show. Their profile was raised further when, in 1992, Hinds challenged the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission in the Supreme High Court, asserting that their cab drivers discriminated against black people in general and Rastas in particular.
Drummer Steve "Grizzly" Nisbett (15 March 1948 – 18 January 2018) died in 2018.
The band are still recording and touring.
Bad Man
Steel Pulse Lyrics
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Dem dread seh
Dem dread seh
Dem dread seh
No matter how you bad I man badder than you
No matter how you dread I man dreader than you
No matter how you hard I man harder than you
No matter how you raw
I more-weak heart back way so
A bad man no want go back Into captivity
A bad man no want go back to slavery
Uprising from the claws of the wicked
Two bulls can't reign in one pen
Two lions can't roar in a small den
Two scorpions don't sting at the same spot
Two guns can't fire the same bullet shot so
Move right out now
Move right out now
Move right out now
Move right out now
Two kings don't wear the same crown
Two beauties don't have the same gown on
Tomorrow Is too late to leave town
If you're still here at noon,
There'll be one big, big, big showdown so
Uprising, uprising
Uprising, uprising
I give you tlil noon to go
On your way to survival,where
Your heart will beat more fonder
With life
And breath still enters your body
Repeat verse one
If you still coming me nah run
If you still coming, me ah go, drop you
If you still coming me nah run
So better stop running before I, break you
So run and hide before I, find you
Woe betide if I catch up on you
If you still coming I box you down
If you still coming I clart you down
Long time we deh under backraw...
Four hundred years (many, many years)
Slavery days...
Slavery days...
Slavery days...
Oh you've been bought
Oh you've been sold
Oh cast over me
Got strung up for nothing at all
Strange fruit...
The lyrics to Steel Pulse's song "Bad Man" convey a message of empowerment, resistance and strength of character. The song reminds the listener that even though they may be a bad person or a tough individual, there is always someone stronger, braver and more resilient than you. The lyrics also suggest that those who have experienced slavery and captivity, as well as have been oppressed, should aim to rise above it and overthrow it. The song contains a clear allusion to slavery with phrases like "Two bulls can't reign in one pen" and "Oh cast over me, got strung up for nothing at all, strange fruit". The song acknowledges the horrors and injustices inflicted upon Black people throughout history, and highlights the resilience and fighting spirit of those who have been able to rise above it. The lyrics are powerful and the strong beat of the music is an anthem for the oppressed and those fighting for their freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
Dem dread seh
The dreadlocks say
No matter how you bad I man badder than you
No matter how tough you are, I am tougher
No matter how you dread I man dreader than you
No matter how frightening you are, I am scarier
No matter how you hard I man harder than you
No matter how strong you are, I am stronger
No matter how you raw I more-weak heart back way so
Even if you are unpredictable, my heart is more cowardly and will retreat
A bad man no want go back Into captivity
A tough person doesn't want to be enslaved again
Uprising from the claws of the wicked
Revolt against the oppressive people
Two bulls can't reign in one pen
Two strong forces cannot share the same space
Two lions can't roar in a small den
Two powerful people cannot coexist in a small area
Two scorpions don't sting at the same spot
Two malicious persons cannot harm the same target
Two guns can't fire the same bullet shot so
Two weapons cannot aim at the same target
Move right out now
Get away from here immediately
Two kings don't wear the same crown
Two dominant figures cannot have equal power
Two beauties don't have the same gown on
Two attractive people cannot be dressed in the same outfit
Tomorrow Is too late to leave town
Don't wait until tomorrow to escape
If you're still here at noon,
If you are still here by midday,
There'll be one big, big, big showdown so
There'll be a huge fight between us
Uprising, uprising
Rebellion, rebellion
I give you tlil noon to go
I'll give you until midday to leave
On your way to survival,where
Make your way to a place where you can stay alive
Your heart will beat more fonder With life
Your heart will beat more strongly with life
And breath still enters your body
You're still alive and breathing
If you still coming me nah run
If you come after me, I won't run away
If you still coming, me ah go, drop you
If you come after me, I'll knock you out
So better stop running before I, break you
Better stop running away from me before I catch you
So run and hide before I, find you
Hide before I find you
Woe betide if I catch up on you
If I catch up to you, you'll suffer
If you still coming I box you down
If you come after me, I'll punch you down
If you still coming I clart you down
If you come after me, I'll hit you violently
Long time we deh under backraw...
We have been oppressed for a long time
Four hundred years (many, many years)
Four hundred years of slavery
Slavery days...
Days of enduring slavery
Oh you've been bought
You have been purchased
Oh you've been sold
You have been resold
Oh cast over me
I feel stressed and oppressed
Got strung up for nothing at all
I was hanged without reason
Strange fruit...
Objects hung from a tree resembling fruit because of racial violence and lynchings
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: SELWYN DELRAINZE BROWN, BASIL GLENDON GABBIDON, DAVID ROBERT HINDS, ALPHONSO MARTIN, RONNIE MCQUEEN, STEPHEN VINCENT NISBETT, MICHAEL RILEY
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