The Beat Goes On

Arguably the best album of the last decade, “I Just Can’t Stop It” by the English Beat, helped to ignite the ska movement in the early ‘80s that, if anything, is stronger than ever in Southern California.

Dave Wakeling, a founding member of the English Beat, has since relocated to Southern California where he has neither gained a tan nor lost his accent.

But his current band, Bang, knows a lot of English Beat songs, and that always works. All those dancers who will show up Saturday night at Nicholby’s in Ventura will know what to do. Never a huge hit in America, except perhaps in Southern California, the English Beat played Santa Barbara and Ventura countless times before breaking up.

Later, Wakeling was involved in General Public, the Special Beat, the International Beat, then Dave Wakeling & the Free Radicals, and now, Bang. The common thread through the various configurations is all those great Beat songs such as “Mirror in the Bathroom,” “Ranking Full Stop” “Click Click” and plenty more. Also working the ska connection are bands such as No Doubt, Sublime, Goldfinger, and, straight out of Carpinteria, the Upbeat.

During a recent phone conversation, Wakeling discussed beats, bangs, blokes and business in general.

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So how’s the Bang biz?

It’s fantastic. We’re starting to play four times a week instead of three. Bang has been around for 18 months now, and I hoped it would’ve gained name recognition by now. I used to get embarrassed when they billed the band as Dave Wakeling--I don’t want to be prima donna-ish, you know. I’ve been changing the members in the band, and it’s taken quite a while, but it’s finally gotten settled over the last three months.

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What’s it like being the boss instead of just one of the guys?

It’s nice to be the boss because it means you finally get it your way. And it can be really crappy, too, depending on how deceptive and Machiavellian you want to be.

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What do you think is the continuing attraction of all those great English Beat songs?

The beat of it has become part of the American culture and has gained a certain amount of respectability and acceptance. In all these commercials, you hear these reggae bands now just because they think it will make 18- to 34-year-olds buy things. The Beat records, except on KROQ and a couple of other stations, were never big commercial hits. We were always too alternative for Top 40 and too Top 40 to be alternative.

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Why is ska so popular in California?

This current ska and pop thing is OK for the Top 40. Pop music is either a dirty word or a good thing. I myself enjoy a good three-minute pop song. Right now the scene seems very healthy--it’s a lot better than it’s been for a while.

I have noticed, however, that when local bands make it, everyone suddenly hates them. When you say No Doubt, people just roll their eyes. Maybe everyone is a bit jealous.

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Where does Bang fit into all this?

I find the rock part of it more rockin’ than anything I’ve ever done, and the groove part is more groovin’ than anything I’ve ever done. I call our music “Let’s skance,” and I’m sort of like the Ska Father. Right now, I’m politely confident, and I’ll always settle for the sunshine and adulation.

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You’ve been in California for a while now--so are you a dude yet?

Ten years now, and I’m part dude. Actually, I was an apprentice dude once, but now I’m just an American bloke.

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What was the English scene like when the Beat took off?

It was very similar to what’s happening here. It was post punk. Punk burned so hot and so fast, you knew it couldn’t last. Punk was like anything else--the worst of the bands spoiled it for the best of the bands. We wanted something that was fast, but also would cheer us up and was great to dance to.

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So what happened to the Beat?

We did both U.S. festivals, which were amazing. Our last gigs were in 1984, opening for David Bowie. I think we worked a bit too hard, and we were only selling records because we were on the road all year. Some groups stick around too long until their music sucks, which takes away from their good music they made before. I would’ve hated to have made a crappy Beat record.

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What was the most misunderstood thing about the Beat?

People think that we’re so damn happy. It’s weird because when I sing “Mirror in the Bathroom,” a song about mental illness, people smile at me and tell me that our music makes them happy.

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Is there going to be a Bang record?

Oh, yes, sometime in November we’re going to record, and then I’ll get them out to my friends and associates and see what the new year brings. And all those Beat albums are reverting back to us by the first of the year, which is perfect timing. People can’t find our music right now because I.R.S. [the old record label] went away and they’re not making any more.

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So what happened to those Dodgers?

I don’t know. I went to a couple of games and ended up covered in peanut shells and beer. It was all very interesting sociologically, but nothing ever happens in baseball, so I prefer to watch the highlights on CNN. Before that, I was a Rams fan because I thought yellow and blue looked sunny and optimistic, but they sucked. Then they left. I went to quite a few Raiders’ games, but they left, too. I don’t think it’s me, do you?

BE THERE

Bang and Kathleen Wilhoite Band, Saturday, 9:30 p.m., at Nicholby’s, 404 E. Main St., Ventura. $6. (805) 653-2320.