Which differences have you found between your starting times and now in the Ska
scene?
Well, I think the main difference is that all the audience now is nicer and bring
you flowers! [smiling]. Well, even in the early times there was nice people doing
nice things. I am just really amused that people is still into the music, come to gigs and
we are still allowed to put out new albums with new music that people still like as well.
Where do you take your inspiration? Jamaican roots or modern influences?
From a lot of different sources, really. When we first started we took a basic Ska
rhythm. But all the people in the band wanted a different kind of thing, some was Soul
influences, some Rock, some Punk influences…
I would still say I’d probably take most of my influences from Punk-rock than any
other sources.
Which are your favourite musicians in any kind of music?
Any kind of music? Bjork, I like here, Massive Attack, Tricky, old school Ska like
Skatalites, Ethiopians, Desmond Dekker…these are the people I listen to.
And during the Two-Tone era, which band did you like most?
I’d probably say The Specials for musical content but The Beat for that kind
of vibe I really liked.
How does it fill performing hit like "On My Radio" and seeing those
teenagers who don’t know the story behind The Selecter, and still dancing at it?
Fine! I’m quite happy because this means that those records, you know,
"Too Much Pressure", "Missing Words", "3 Minute Hero" stood
the test of time.
I mean, music from that era, the early ‘80s, if you listen back to it now, sounds
kind strange and outdated. While those things (Selecter hits) still really sound Ok.
I always like songs as "On My Radio".
What do you think of those new bands like New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble, Hepcat…?
Yes, the Americans? The so-called 3rd wave of Ska? I mean, it’s
different from anything we ever did, some are more punky…It’s very American, but
it’s fine. If you go to America now there are hundreds and hundreds Ska bands, a
ridiculous amount of Ska bands, Ska bands everywhere.
No Doubt?
No Doubt are not really a Ska band…we toured for ten dates with them on the
East Cost…I wouldn’t call them "Ska". They took some influences from
Ska music and they really like these bands [The Two-Tone bands]; Gwen [Stefan,
No Doubt singer] told me she went into a kind of talent contest and song "On My
Radio"! Yes, She’s really nice.
I think music is people doing their own thing they want to do.
Our Ska was like the rhythmic of Ska from the Skatalites time updated into a kind of
‘80s so they are taking Ska from whatever influences, you know, the Two-Tone thing
etc…any form of music like Rock music, Rock music was born in the ‘50s and
people continually updating that music and you can do that with any kind of music as well
as Ska too…
What do you think about Specials’ new album?
I heard about it, but I haven’t listen to it yet. It’s like all of this, I
mean Madness are doing a new album as well. I have heard that the new one is better than
the last. When we do a new album with new songs, everyone is so worried about the new
songs couldn’t be considered as good as the oldest and so the are scared to go and do
it, doing different kind of things.
Our newest album that will be out soon called "Cruel Britannia" is my
favourite album so far. We recorded and mixed in 12 days with live drums…and, you
know, in my mind is how The Selecter should sound.
The last question…tell us the secret of your perfect shape…
[Smiling] Italian food!
If you sing in a band and do those kind of things you have to play some sport…I play
tennis, I like it.
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