In this episode, I’m going back to one of my first interviews from the WMS. It’s with Dave Wakeling, English Beat or The Beat’s—depending on where they were at the time, frontman.

The writer and icon who wrote Save it for Later, and covered Smokey Robinson’s Tears of Clown, and the epic Mirror in the Bathroom. Along with bands like Madness, Dexy Midnight Runners, and the Specials, Wakeling was a major part of the Two-tone revival, which is an update of early Ska. His music has continued to show up in movies and on tv shows like the Bear or when musicians like Eddy Vedder cover them (like on the Bear).

I caught up with Wakeling back in 2016!! When he had just finished a show the night before at the National in Richmond. I can’t remember now though, if he was doing another show that night or if they were getting ready to take off again. Either way, I was lucky enough to chat with him in their big tour bus–and I’m not sure if you can tell when you hear this, but I was really nervous. The English Beat’s music was a big part of my high school years growing up in LA, which is where Wakeling lives now.

We talk about how the Beat formed, his writing style, politics and how his new record Here we go Love was coming along. And if you stick it out until the end, you can hear Dave do a couple of Legal IDs for the show I used to have.

Check out Ian’s World O’ Music show on Mixcloud. For 17 years, I had a world music show on a local public radio station. Be sure to check out my other podcasts: History Reinvented, which covers the history and future of places in the city, including the Mayo Bridge and Island and the area known as Pine Camp in Richmond ,VA; And the Mechanics of Transportation/RVA Bike Scene. I’m also on YouTube at IanStewartCycles.

Plus, you can always look for my freelance work on outlets like Virginia Mercury, The Richmonder, Richmond Magazine and on the podcast Full Disclosure with Roben Farzad.

The World Music Show — Interviews from the archives podcast is a Big Soap Production. I’m Ian Stewart, thanks for tagging along.

Music by: dance-with-the-masters-joe-montague-main-version-28682-02-09 and was downloaded with permission at Upbeat Music

Follow me on social media at: just_ianstewart on Threads and Instagram.

IanStewartCycles on YouTube