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WATCH: AUSTRALIAN EXCLUSIVE – JOHN MCLAUGHLIN ‘LIBERATION TIME ‘ INTERVIEW 0

Frustrated with not being able to tour due to the pandemic, guitar legend John McLaughlin sought out his musician friends around the globe, along with some newer shining lights in music, to assist him in remotely recording a new album of material titled Liberation Time. From the opening notes of the first track As The Spring Sings, John comes out swinging. There’s no easing into it, straight into the frenetic guitar licks. It’s almost like he’s saying ‘I cant be contained anymore, I have to play, it’s liberation time’. Despite not being able to record face to face in the studio with his fellow musicians, he’s still captured an incredible energy that pervades throughout the entire album. On Liberation Time, John also returns to the piano for two short but beautiful piano pieces, Singing Our Secrets and Mila Repa, which serve as brilliant interludes between the lively guitar-based tracks. The piano is an instrument he has not recorded on since his 1973 collaboration with Carlos Santana, Love Devotion Surrender. Interestingly, the piano pieces were actually recorded 40 years ago as MIDI files and via a software application, were outputted as  Bösendorfer  piano files. The result is stunning. Liberation Time is an album of it’s time. It’s the album John needed to make and it’s the album all jazz fusion fans around the world needed to hear.

Featured musicians on the album include: John McLaughlin – Guitar / Guitar synth / Piano, Roger Rossignol – Piano, Ranjit Barot – Drums / Konokol, Jean Michel. ‘Kiki’ Aublette – Drums / Bass, Vinnie Colaiuta – Drums, Nicolas Viccaro -Drums, Julian Siegel – Tenor Sax, Etienne MBappe – Bass, Gary Husband – Drums / Piano, Sam Burgess – Bass, Jerome Regard-  Bass, Oz Esseldin – Piano.

In an Australian exclusive, Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips speaks in-depth with guitar legend John McLaughlin about the creation of his new album Liberation Time and his approach to music in general.

John McLaughlin is a true pioneer of jazz fusion, his music combines elements of jazz with rock, world music, Indian classical music, Western classical music, flamenco, and blues.

After contributing to several key British groups of the early 1960s, McLaughlin made Extrapolation, his first album as a bandleader, in 1969. He then moved to the U.S., where he played with Tony Williams’s group Lifetime and then with Miles Davis on his electric jazz-fusion albums In a Silent Way, Bitches Brew, Jack Johnson, and On the Corner. His 1970s electric band, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, performed a technically virtuosic and complex style of music that fused electric jazz and rock with Indian influences.

McLaughlin’s solo on “Miles Beyond” from his album Live at Ronnie Scott’s won the 2018 Grammy Award for the Best Improvised Jazz Solo. He has been awarded multiple “Guitarist of the Year” and “Best Jazz Guitarist” awards from magazines such as DownBeat and Guitar Player based on reader polls. In 2003, he was ranked 49th in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. In 2009, DownBeat included McLaughlin in its unranked list of “75 Great Guitarists”, in the “Modern Jazz Maestros” category. In 2012, Guitar World magazine ranked him 63rd on its top 100 list. In 2010, Jeff Beck called McLaughlin “the best guitarist alive,” and Pat Metheny has also described him as the world’s greatest guitarist. In 2017, McLaughlin was awarded an honorary doctorate of music from Berklee College of Music. (Bio courtesy Nocapshows)

Liberation Time is out now  https://www.johnmclaughlin.com/

  • Dom DiSisto

OUR SOUNDTRACK, OUR STORIES INITIATIVE TO HELP LOCAL ARTISTS 0

 

JOIN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY’S CALL TO ARMS

Australian music’s artists, leading businesses and industry bodies are sending out a different kind of S.O.S. to the nation’s corporations, media and anyone willing to listen: it’s time to add our soundtrack to our stories.

What is ‘Our Soundtrack Our Stories’?

Our Soundtrack Our Stories is an open invitation from our country’s music community to the rest of Australia to discover, champion, share, and consume more local music. It exists to promote our artists, promote the enormous economic and cultural contribution of local music, and to ensure a bright, bold, diverse and exciting future for the next generation of musicians and music lovers alike. The initiative arrives exactly one week after Jack River, real name Holly Rankin, posted the now viral call-to-arms for Australian media and business to get behind homegrown music as it struggles under the pressure of a new wave of lockdowns, all but eliminating prospects for live touring for the foreseeable future. The initiative calls for a public commitment from media and business to increase the inclusion of diverse Australian artists in the commercial and mainstream landscape.

How will ‘Our Soundtrack Our Stories’ help home grown artists?

Greater support from corporate Australia means greater reach for our artists, which translates to everything from higher streams and new fans to increased royalty revenue. That support could not come at a more important time, with over $64 million in revenue lost since 1 July 2021 among just 2,000 respondents to the I Lost My Gig survey. With 99% of that revenue revealed to be uninsurable, the real figure is significantly higher.  This push will invite everyday people to view Australian music in a new light. 

BUSINESS OWNERS

I am a local business owner, how can I support ‘Our Soundtrack Our Stories’?

  1. Make sure you are playing homegrown music in your store or business and obtaining the right licence, so that these artists can get properly reimbursed for their music, you can find out what licence is best applicable to your business by visiting OneMusic.
  2. Play a radio station that champions local artists.
  3. Seek out the services of a Background Music Supplier to help curate the sound of your business.
  4. Share any of the Our Soundtrack Our Stories social assets on your business and personal channels and encourage your followers to do the same.
  5. Set yourself a goal and share your commitment to using more local music and keep your followers up to date on your progress. Share your own personal wins, that is how we keep momentum and positive change!

     

What do you mean by local/homegrown/Australian Artists?

While we appreciate the cultural impact of music released in the past few decades of Australian music this initiative puts particular emphasis on championing artists from a diverse range of genres and backgrounds, with a push towards music released in the past decade. 

What is a Background Music Supplier?

There are a number of different Background Music Suppliers in Australia who are able to create playlists that are best suited to your customers and update these playlists so that the music they supply you with is kept fresh. Some of these suppliers will have existing licences with organisations such as One Music so that the fees can be accurately distributed to the creators of the music. 

Costs range between around $35 and $200 a month, excluding music licensing fees, depending on the supplier and what other services and hardware are included. If you are a retailer, service provider or dining establishment, your OneMusic Australia music licence fees can also be bundled into the overall fees charged by the supplier.

For more information visit OneMusic Australia

Why do I need a licence to play music in my shop or business?

Firstly, it shows that your organisation respects and supports songwriters and recording artists – creators of Australian culture. Secondly, if you use music that is protected by copyright within your business, Commonwealth legislation requires permission (a licence) from the creators of that music. And last but not least – you benefit by using music: keeping your patrons and staff entertained, engaged and creating a better atmosphere.

By obtaining the correct music licence or enlisting the help of background music suppliers you can make sure that the artists you are playing are getting paid correctly.

Why can’t these businesses just change the music they play?

While we would love for these businesses to start playing local music overnight, in some cases, in particular with larger businesses, there are existing licensing deals in place that directly relate to the music they play in store, or in their hold music. That is why it is important to approach this initiative on every level so that we can preserve these existing relationships while making local music more accessible and these businesses accountable.

MUSICIANS

How can I get involved in ‘Our Soundtrack Our Stories’?

  1. Share the artist assets.
  2. Tag businesses that you would like to play more local music.
  3. Use your music to re-soundtrack iconic Australian events.
  4. Create your own themed playlists and share with your fans that is music you would like to hear at your local supermarket.

I am an Aussie musician; how do I make sure that I am getting paid if my music is played?

If you release recorded music in Australia, there are two copyrights attached to those recordings: one for the composition and one for the recording. The composition’s rights are overseen by APRA AMCOS, while the recording’s rights are handled by PPCA. It is free to register with both organisations and only takes a few minutes.

Find out more from APRA AMCOS and PPCA.

CONSUMERS

How do I get involved?

  1. Share the Our Soundtrack Our Stories social assets across all the channels that you use and share with friends and your favourite artists you are fans of to show your support. If you see a local business getting behind the initiative then like their posts as well!
  2. Get creative, as there are no limits to how you can get involved. Here are a few ideas that some of our team are doing:
    • Create themed playlists with all homegrown artists to share with your friends that soundtrack your everyday moments. 
    • Tag five brands or businesses that you support and challenge them to play more local music.
    • Re-soundtrack iconic moments with local artists and their songs that you think would be great.
    • Set yourself a challenge to discover, play and share one or more Aussie artists every day for a week.

PARTNERS (Alphabetical order):

AAM, AMPAL, APRA AMCOS, ARIA, Australian Festival Association, BMG, Bolster, Chugg Music, CMAA, Disco, Eleven, EMC, EMI, Habit Music, Hutch Collective, Inertia, John Watson Management, Kobalt Music, Lemontree Music, Level Two, Linktree, Live Music Office, Live Nation, Made In Katana MEAA, Mirror Music Group, Mushroom Labels and Mushroom Group, Music ACT, Music NSW, Music NT, Music SA, Music Victoria, Nightlife, PPCA, Q Music, Sony Music, Sony Music Publishing, Sounds Australia, Support Act, The Annex, The Process, TMWR, UNIFIED, Universal Music Group Australia, Universal Music Publishing Australia, Warner Music Australia, Warner Chappell Australia.

 

  • Dom DiSisto

GOLDEN ROBOT RECORDS VACCINATION INCENTIVE IS A HIT AND CONTINUES ON 0

With almost every artist interview we’ve done recently here at Australian Musician, the interviewee at some point pleads with the public to get vaccinated so that they can get back on the road and bring their music to you. Record label Golden Robot Records has taken that plea a step further and has come up with a brilliant incentive to get people vaccinated.

It’s called Rock The Vax, and it’s a fantastic initiative to encourage Australian music lovers to go out and get vaccinated in exchange for a free album (vinyl or CD) from the extensive Golden Robot Records back catalogue. Their remarkable back catalogue includes huge artists such as Rose Tattoo, Dizzy Reed (Guns N’ Roses), LA Guns, Jefferson Starship, Gilby Clarke (Guns N’ Roses), Horsehead, The Cherry Dolls, The Lockhearts, Steve Kilbey, David Campbell, MiSex, Toe to Toe, Groom Epoch, Kilby Kennedy, A New Revenge, Destinia, Hayley Jensen, Palace of the King, Reece Mastin, Glenn Shorrock sings The Little River Band and Nick Barker to name just a few artists, there is sure to be something of interest for everyone.

And the numbers speak for themselves – the Rock The Vax initiative had over 500 submissions on day one, and those numbers are set to grow exponentially over the next few weeks. After receiving feedback, Golden Robot Records have extended their deadline for registrations until August 15 to ensure that those who are having trouble booking a vaccination appointment due to queues can still have a chance to get involved with Rock The Vax.

For those who are keen to secure their free album, all they have to do is email rockthevax@goldenrobotrecords.com with their digital certificate from the medicare app to prove vaccination through this mid-July to mid-August period, along with their GRR album request and postal address.

“As the owner of a record label and a dedicated music lover, I just can’t sit back and watch a country I love have one of the lowest vax rates in the world,” impassions Mark Alexander-Erber, President and Founder of Golden Robot Global Entertainment. “The music industry has suffered terribly since the start of this pandemic, as many bands rely on touring for the majority of their income. COVID-19 caused touring to come to a grinding halt and vaccination seems to be the only way to bring normality back to touring and our lives. Bands need to tour to promote albums and album sales can be elevated by touring.”

Alexander-Erber continues, “We did so well as a Nation to beat this horrid virus that affected so many in the community. But right now, we have to double and triple our vaccination efforts, so we can eventually (hopefully sooner rather than later) gain a sense of normality in our lives and not let it creep back into our community and cause ongoing lockdowns and inflict further pain and hardship. This latest Sydney lockdown for me was enough, I feel the need to act, as beating this virus is the most important thing right now and as an Australian company working on a global scale, I can see what is happening internationally and I believe people understand they need to get fully vaccinated eventually, but may just need an extra incentive to do it right now. There is no more time to waste, we need to avoid the risk of further lockdowns by getting vaccinated now!”

For more information, head to www.goldenrobotrecords.com

  • Dom DiSisto

BON SCOTT GETS A WEBSITE FOR HIS 75TH BIRTHDAY 0

Iconic AC/DC singer Ronald Belford “Bon” Scott would have turned 75 years old on Friday, July 9, 2021. To mark this occasion, Bon’s family is launching the first ever official Bon Scott website which will serve as a destination for fans keen to discover more about the legendary singer, including tributes from renowned rockers.

They will also be able to leave testimonials about seeing or meeting Bon and purchase newly-available official merchandise.

The Bon Scott Estate said: “On the occasion of what would have been his 75th birthday, the Bon Scott Estate (Ron’s two brothers and his nephew) are proud to launch the new website and take this important step toward elevating Bon’s legend and tending to his legacy.  Bon was a unique singer, songwriter and character that the world should never forget.”

Few rock singers were as unforgettable – and have proved as enduring – as Bon Scott. As the frontman of AC/DC from 1974 until his tragic passing in 1980 (at the age of 33), his “rock n’ roll pirate persona,” street poet lyrics, and striking image (one of the first rockers to proudly sport multiple tattoos) have made him an absolute legend. Additionally, Bon’s vocals were featured in several pre-AC/DC bands, including Fraternity, the Valentines, and the Spektors.

But really, it is the quality of the songs of the “Bon-era” of AC/DC that serve as his greatest legacy – “Highway to Hell,” “Sin City,” “Whole Lotta Rosie,” “Let There Be Rock,” “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” “TNT,” and “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)”…the list is seemingly endless.

How does Bon measure up to rock’s all-time great frontmen? Classic Rock Magazine declared him “The Greatest Rock n’ Roll Front Man of All Time” in 2004, beating out the lofty likes of Freddie Mercury, Robert Plant, and Axl Rose in the process.

And now, The Bon Scott Estate will oversee the new official Bon Scott site, which will both pay tribute to the singer and help keep his memory alive for new and old fans alike.

The Estate added: “This is an invitation for Bon’s fans and friends to gather and share their memories and observations of him and his music.  His legacy lives in the hearts and minds of those who love him.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:

www.bonscottofficial.com

Click Here For The Official Playlist Of All Bon Scott Tracks Available To Stream

BON SCOTT 75th BIRTHDAY TESTIMONIALS

Ronald Belford Scott came into my life in 1974. After meeting Bon backstage at that first Sydney gig in Rockdale, I described him as a very cocky and charismatic Scotsman and I felt that my working relationship with this man was not going to be dull, and the next six years proved just how right I was!
– FIFA RICCOBONO (former CEO of Alberts)

Bon was a funny guy. Everybody liked him, but what made him stand out was his talent for rock lyrics. I don’t think he will ever be bettered.  Respect.
– HARRY VANDA

I saw Bon Scott performing up close only once when we supported AC/DC in Sydney decades long gone and I never forgot it. The cheeky gap-toothed grin and cocky promenading were added layers that fleshed out a consummate professional. He owned the stage and the song with precision and spunk. Whilst never appearing to take anything too seriously, he was leading one of the most formidable guitar bands we’ve ever seen or heard to the very top. Writing, singing and performing at a level most only dream about. And then he was gone too soon – what an incredible legacy.
-PETER GARRETT (Midnight Oil)

I met Bon back when he joined ACDC…Bon WAS a rockstar…cheeky fun loving and oh so talented…a voice that could cut steel and a master of lyrics…we owe a lot to Bon he gave the world so much!
-JOHN PAUL YOUNG

Some thoughts about Bon Scott,
We, The Angels, became friends with AC/DC in 1975 when we supported them through three regional SA shows, Port Pirie, Whyalla and Port Augusta. Bon, Angus and Malcolm approached us in Whyalla and said they’d like to tell Harry Vanda and George Young about us. True to their word that’s exactly what they did and not long after we were signed to Alberts. Those days were incredible, to work with Vanda/Young, to hang out with the AC/DC guys in the studio, on occasion swapping instruments and jamming and to be part of such an amazing stable of artists, JPY, TMG, Rose Tattoo, Stevie Wright and George and Harry. Also we formed a close relationship with Mark Opitz, Fifa Riccobono and Sam Horsburgh.

Back to those first three gigs, I remember sitting with Bon in AC/DC’s tour bus, an old Pioneer, in Port Augusta after the show sharing a drink and chatting. Bon told me their plans to go overseas as soon as possible and take on the World. He said “…we’ll be one of the biggest bands in the World because we’ve got Angus”. I said “…don’t sell yourself short Bon, they’ve got you!” To me that’s a good example of Bon being typically humble.

We did quite a lot of gigs with AC/DC in those days and, on one occasion, in Adelaide, all of us staying in the Australia Hotel, Bon said he wanted to go for a walk. I went with him down the hill to the Parklands that surround the city. Within minutes there were quite a number of people who just fell in line silently following. He was a kind of rock n’ roll Pied Piper, so charismatic, a genuine star.

Bon was the only singer that got up and sang with The Angels. It was at Selinas, I’ve no idea what song, but it was just fantastic! My memories of Bon and all from those days remain as some of my most precious.
-JOHN BREWSTER (The Angels)

  The first time I saw ACDC was on television and I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. It wasn’t just the sound, or the song, or Angus’ schoolboy outfit, it was Bon Scott, the lead singer. He had a classic rock n’ roll voice that sat perfectly atop the Young brothers’ twin guitar assault. But he had something else – an amazing charisma born of a cheeky smile and a twinkle in his eyes that told you he was clever, a lot of fun and a little bit dangerous. Then he played the bagpipes! I nearly fell off the lounge.

I was devastated when he passed away. But his music lives on as a testament to just how good that combination of drums, bass, guitars and vocals can be. Here’s to Bon Scott, a true original.
-MARK CALLAGHAN (GANGgajang)

I remember the first time I saw AC/DC. Journey was continuing our quest to become headliners and Van Halen, who were our opener, were with us for about a month and had just left the tour to pursue their headlining dreams.

The next thing I know, I’m in Corpus Christi, Texas showing up for our set and a new opening act from Australia was just added to our tour. I had heard about AC/DC but never seen them live.

When I walked in I heard this Massive pumping Drum, Bass and Rhythm Guitar groove with an amazing Lead Guitar and a voice soaring above it all like no other. I walked over to stage left to see what the heck was happening and there he was, Bon Scott with a bottle of Jack, no shirt, Levis and cowboy boots, singing like a cross between Steve Marriott and a Cat. His voice was so fucking powerful that he changed me for ever. He lived what he was.
-STEVE PERRY

Bon’s attitude demeanour and front man swagger gave him the Everyman persona that the world loved him for. His voice look and on stage character drew us all in – there’s an unmatched uniqueness that solidifies Bon’s legendary status in rock and roll…..

I would watch him work from the side of the stage and out front and the magnetism he projected was non-stop. You felt the pure love energy and honesty he belted out with his band. He and I had down to earth wholesome encounters in the dressing room and on the bus that I cherish in that he talked from the heart uncluttered and with no ego. As a singer he can’t be matched by virtue of style and sound….we love and miss you Bon…..!
– ROB HALFORD/JUDAS PRIEST

Hands down, Bon Scott is one of the greatest frontmen to ever set foot on a stage. Sly, cheeky and a little bit dangerous, he had charisma to burn and it was impossible to take your eyes off him. He always looked like he was having the time of his life and he made you want to be a part of it.  Then there was his amazing voice – bratty and gruff with a bright edge that cut through even the dirtiest mix, Bon’s howling and yowling gave every note a pure rock and roll intensity. The only other singer I can compare him to is Little Richard, not so much in the tone of his voice but more in the raw honesty and his fierce individuality. Just like Little Richard, Bon Scott was one of a kind.
 DAVE FAULKNER (Hoodoo Gurus)

  • Dom DiSisto

LISTEN UP! $10,000 SINGER SONGWRITER PRIZE FOR LOW INCOME ARTISTS 0

Award-winning mental health music charity Listen Up Music and philanthropic group Wyatt Trust have joined forces to create a songwriting competition to campaign the need for increased support for JobSeeker.

A new song competition with a $10,000 cash prize will be launched on 6 July 2021 to give voice to those who are unemployed or underemployed.  Australian musicians are asked to write and record their best anthem, one that represents those unable to make ends meet on current income support and submit this by 5 September 2021 to be in the running for the prize.

The one-off song competition is responding to the community outrage that people on JobSeeker Payment, and similar income support payments, are being forced to live below the poverty line.  A payment of $44 a day results in people having to choose between things like providing food for their family or paying an electricity bill.

Raising awareness of the plight of people forced to live below the poverty line, when they are unable to secure work or underemployed, is the aim of the competition. Competition co-convenor Stacey Thomas, CEO of The Wyatt Trust states, ‘There was widespread support for a raise in income support rates but the resulting $4 per day earlier this year did little to change things for people living in poverty. We need to continue to give voice to those on JobSeeker and having an anthem that speaks to the dilemmas they face is a new way of doing this.’

In providing the platform for the competition, Ali Taylor, Listen Up Music Co-Founder and CEO says, ‘Music is a universal language. We know that people experiencing different forms of adversity find not only solace, but voice and community through song. This competition expands our reach from those passionate about positive mental health to a larger group whose financial hardship has far-reaching health and wellbeing impacts.’

The support for the message of raising the rate of income support has not only been evidenced in public sentiment from politicians and business leaders, but also the 100+ people who are contributing to the crowdfunding campaign to raise the cash prize.

Song contest co-convenor, Paul Madden, says, ‘Providing, along with others, a donation towards the $10,000 anthem prize was easy. The hard part is understanding why our government persists in refusing to provide a basic safety net for those who are unemployed or underemployed.’

The JobSeeker Anthem Song Contest will be open from 6 July 2021 and submissions close at 11:59 pm Sunday 5 September 2021.

Entries can be lodged online at www.listenupmusic.com.au/events/jobseeker-anthem

  • Dom DiSisto

UB40’S ROBIN CAMPBELL: ‘BIGGA BAGGARIDDIM’ INTERVIEW 2021 0

To celebrate the release of Bigga Baggariddim the new album from British reggae legends UB40 (out today), we chat to the band’s co-founder and guitarist Robin Campbell about their career, gear and new record.

UB40 started out as a group of young friends from Birmingham and transcended their working-class origins to become the world’s most successful reggae bands, selling over 100 million records and spending over a combined 11 years in the UK album charts. From their politically charged debut album Signing Off  in 1980 to the successful Labour of Love covers albums and the scores of hit singles, UB40 have left a significant mark in the annals of music history.

Following 2019’s critically acclaimed original album For The Many, UB40 have today (June 29) released Bigga Baggariddim, which is an album of seminal reggae collaborations with artists spanning four continents and seven decades of recording experience.  It is an incredible celebration of the genre they love featuring House of Shem, Tippa Irie, BLVK H3RO, Inner Circle, Pablo Rider, KIOKO, Gilly G, Slinger, Winston Francis, Leno Banton and General Zooz (Reggae Rajahs).

A companion to their critically acclaimed 2019 album For The Many, Bigga Baggariddim features the same rhythms and guest artists from different parts of the world including Jamaica, New Zealand, India and UB40’s home town of Birmingham.  New Zealand’s roots reggae band House Of Shem guest on three tracks, led by the irresistible Good Vibes Tonight.  From India, the Reggae Rajahs’ General Zooz adds more diversity to UB40’s most eclectic album yet and as the founders of Goa’s annual reggae festival, are a testament to India’s rapidly growing reggae scene.  They perform on the ear worm, Roots Rocks Reggae.

Joining this selection of international talent are artists from Reggae’s homeland of Jamaica, where a new generation of stars has emerged in the past decade, led by Protoje, Koffee and Chronixx.  After UB40’s management heard a BBC 1Xtra session showcasing new Jamaican artists, BLVK H3RO and Leno Banton (son of legendary dancehall pioneer Burro Banton) were invited to appear on Bigga Baggariddim.

Veteran Jamaican reggae artists are represented by Winston Francis (whose long list of hits includes Mr Fix It, which UB40 covered on Labour Of Love III) and Inner Circle, whose overdubs on the track Rebel Love gives it their distinctive, platinum-selling Inner Circle Sound.

Reggae bands like UB40, who write and produce their own music, had all but disappeared in the UK until fellow Brummie band KIOKO came along.  The two bands met when Kioko performed a tribute to UB40, playing One In Ten live at Birmingham’s annual Music Awards. They join the together on Bigga Baggariddim’s You Don’t Call Anymore.

Alongside UB40’s emergence in the 1980s, there was a UK deejay explosion.  Of this talent, Tippa Irie made his reputation on London Sound Systems – and guests here on On The Road – alongside three Birmingham MC’s: Gilly G (Me Nah Leave Yet), Pablo Rider (Did You See That) and Slinger (My Life Action).

Pablo Rider and Slinger both featured on the original Baggariddim album in 1985 and also made cameo appearances on For The Many. They and Gilly G are all expected to join UB40 on the Bigga Baggariddim UK tour which begins in November.

UB40’s passion for reggae and belief in its cultural importance has led them to create an exceptional reggae collaborations album, which will remind the listener of reggae’s timeless and evolving power, whilst also introducing them to new, vital and emerging reggae talent.

 

TRACKLIST:

1. Good Vibes Tonight – UB40 / House of Shem
2. On The Road – UB40 / Tippa Irie
3. Gravy Train Is Coming – UB40 / BLVK H3RO
4. Rebel Love – UB40 / Inner Circle
5. Did You See That? – UB40 / Pablo Rider
6. You Don’t Call Anymore – UB40 / KIOKO
7. Me Nah Leave Yet – UB40 / Gilly G
8. Love You Now – UB40 / House Of Shem
9. Mi Life Action – UB40 / Slinger
10. My Best Friend’s Girl – UB40 / Winston Francis
11. Message Of Love – UB40 / House Of Shem
12. I’m Alright – UB40 / BLVK H3RO
13. Show And Prove – UB40 / Leno Banton
14. What Happened To The Have Not’s? – UB40 / BLVK H3RO
15. Roots Rock Reggae – UB40 / General Zooz (Reggae Rajahs)

UB40’S 40th ANNIVERSARY ‘FOR THE MANY’ AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES (2022):

Thursday 17 March – Nightquarter – Sunshine Coast, QLD
Friday 18 March – Eatons Hill – Brisbane, QLD
Saturday 19 March – HOTA – Gold Coast, QLD
Tuesday 22 March – Forum – Melbourne, VIC
Thursday 24 March – Waves – Wollongong, NSW
Friday 25 March – Bigtop – Sydney, NSW
Sunday 27 March – Riverside Theatre – Perth, WA

https://ub40.global/

  • Dom DiSisto