This is how the history of Dave Wakeling goes: The English Beat, General Public, solo career, then back to General Public, and then to bring it nicely full circle, back to the English Beat once more, which is where he currently resides.
Granted, the current incarnation of the band that’s touring North America at the moment isn’t quite the same as you remember it from the 1980s…Wakeling fronts the English Beat here, while Ranking Roger and Everett Morton are at the helm of the Beat in the UK, while Andy Cox and David Steele sit at home on piles of Fine Young Cannibals cash…but the moment the instant familiarity of Dave’s voice washes over you, you’ll most likely make the snap decision to just shut up and dance.
Popdose had the opportunity to chat with Mr. Wakeling not only about the past history and present state of the English Beat but about his entire career, making stops to check on the status of Saxa, to get a little bit of the lowdown on all three General Public albums, to find out why it took so long between the release of Wakeling’s first solo single (”She’s Having A Baby”) and the subsequent album (No Warning), and to see what he thinks about his former boss at IRS Records, Miles Copeland.
Popdose: Well, I know you’re on tour, but where are you at the moment?
Dave Wakeling: I’m in Calgary, in a carpark at a Best Western Hotel. It’s beautiful, and we’re just heading out in about an hour to the university, where we’ll play a show tonight. And then we’ve got a beautiful drive to Minneapolis.
Ah, very nice.
Yeah, 1,400 miles of very nice. (Laughs)
(Laughs) I hope you guys get along.
Yes!
So how’s the tour been going thus far?
The tour has been going absolutely fantastic. You know, you never want to tempt fate, but it feels like we’re on a bit of a roll, to be honest. The capacities are all bigger than last time, the reviews are better than last time, and just everything seems to be heading in a very positive direction. The new songs in the set are going down great, and people are lining up at the t-shirt stand, asking where they can buy a new CD, so I should say that everything’s heading in the direction of my dreams at the moment.
It certainly sounds as though it bodes well.
Yes!
Well, the idea of the English Beat doing a 30th anniversary tour makes me feel old, so I can only imagine how it makes you feel. Or does playing music keep you feeling young?
Well, there is that as well. Thank heavens that there’s something timeless about music, and so that helps you get through the thinking about all the years. Luckily, I was drunk for half the time, so I don’t remember much of it. (Laughs)
Well, that does help.
It did at the time. Now, I’m happily and gratefully sober, so I can sort of appreciate a bit more of it whilst I’m actually doing it.
