Steel Pulse Talk 50th Anniversary Celebration 2025 UK Tour

Vocalist and guitarist of Steel Pulse David Hinds very kindly took time out of his busy schedule to chat to us about the band’s 50th Anniversary Celebration 2025 UK Tour and more: 

Who is in Steel Pulse, what do they play and how did you meet?

The current of Steel Pulse is as follows:

David Hinds – vocals & guitar

Selwyn Brown-keyboards & vocals

Wayne Clarke – drums

Amlak Tafari – bass

David Elecciri – lead guitar & vocals

Wes Etienne – trombone

Wes Perry – tenor saxophone

John Avery- tenor saxophone

When did you begin songwriting?

I began song writing around age 19. It’s kinda hard to say really, because I loved to rhyme words as a kid during English classes at school. 

What is your earliest musical memory?

My earliest musical memory was that of listening to calypso and blue beat on a gramophone box in our family’s living room.  Back then the radio was also tuned to mento music like that of Harry Belafonte and the ballads of Nat King Cole.

Congratulations on your 50th Anniversary. Do you have any specific memories or highlights from your career?

There have been several highlights to my career, but the immediate few that comes to mind have been, touring with Bob Marley and The Wailers; our very first time in Africa, Nigeria; and The Bill Clinton Inauguration; just to name a few.

Steel Pulse will be embarking a five-date headline 50th Anniversary Celebration UK Tour in March 2025. How are you feeling about the tour and are there any venues/cities that hold any particular significance to you?

My feelings towards this U.K. tour has been a mixed one. I rather if it would actually start later in 2025, when England is a lot warmer. I’ve never been a fan of touring Europe in the winter months. Having said this, we are looking forward to perform in all the cities listed; some with great anticipation. London for example; such an action packed city that has always been in full support of the band who we still give thanks for embracing us 50 years ago. Then there’s Birmingham too, our hometown. We use to get that feeling that we’re under a microscope every time we played there. But over the years and for the mere fact that we have lasted so long as a band we have now become the cities pride and joy.

Your special guests joining you on the tour will be The Selecter. How long have you known them and have you toured together previously?

We have known The Selecter from the beginning of time but have never actually been out together as a package. I’ve met Pauline Black a couple of times who in turn has expressed her admiration for us.  However, I’m a lot more familiar with Charlie Anderson, who I met in Panama of all places, several years ago.  We are looking forward to this “West Midlands Union.” Both bands have been tried and tested. We know the industry has not been an easy ride..

You also have released your twelfth studio release ‘Mass Manipulation’ as well. How did you want to approach the making of the record?

Mass Manipulation, has been our last studio recorded album to date. Some five years now. And the subject matters that were selected have been so prophetic and remain current in regard to today’s happenings.  The song “World Gone Mad,” just about sums up the characteristics of mankind, right now.

Where did you record it and who produced the record?

This album took a different twist than the others. It was recorded in several different countries, due to our touring commitments and the need to finance the project ourselves.  It was produced by myself with David Elecciri and Sidney Mills as co-producers.  Both guys doing a great job.  Ultimately, it got mixed in a tiny town called, Hemet, in California; mixed by, Jelani Jones and Jelani Diaz.

Which of your new album tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?

Strange question, but a good one, because I’ve never really analysed this exactly along those lines. Normally, I just look at the world around me and write. Now taking a closer look at the subjects, I can say “No Satan Side,” has to be my most angered. It angers me that Africa is still looted and pilfered by the ex colonisers whilst millions still remain poor on a continent that is the most mineral rich. The happiest; I would say, “Higher Love Rasta Love.” Love is happiness and I do recognise Rasta love to be the happiest love of all, whose mission is to unite mankind…because that’s what reggae music does. The most reflective; well, it’s a toss up between, “World Gone Mad,” and “Mass Manipulation.” But on an even deeper reflection, I would say, “World Gone Mad” pips the post. We have witnessed a deterioration of the world in so many ways… and let’s put it in a nutshell, the “polishitsters” have indeed failed the people, with lies, deceit, high taxation, and the ultimate intention to line their own pockets. Right winged governments have surfaced everywhere where; racism and wars have become centre stage. Then there’s religion; another manipulative tool. It beats me how people are still entrapped with old ideals in a new world where the words, science and technology, are not written in the bible, yet it’s the tool that is used by religion to prolong the brainwashing. For example, I know religious fanatics that strongly criticise science and technology whilst expressing themselves to me on a mobile phone. If that’s not a mix message right there, then I don’t know what is.

Was it a difficult album to write?

To me, a difficult album to write is an album of 12 love songs. How can anyone sit there and write a whole album, with endless different ways of saying I love you, is beyond me. That’s why I have to tip my hat to acts like Luther Vandross and The Whispers.  I find that to be an incredible feat. Reason? My mind is just not wired that way.  I’m from the ghetto with ghetto instincts.  My life evolved out of hardship and the recognition of others subjected to the same or similar disadvantages.  Therefore, I’m more prone to express the ailments a system has projected on me and my kind.

Given your extensive back catalogue, is it difficult picking a setlist? Do you have a specific song selection process?

Picking a set list varies and comes with locations. Location, when it comes to the country we are playing and the songs that are still popular there.  There are songs that we have that have never left the set list. Songs like, Rally Round, Stepping Out, Your House and Roller Skate, owing to their demand by the fans.  Chant A Psalm is also a popular one, but often gets omitted because of the  energy that is required of me to perform it.  If I don’t have the energy on the night, l simply don’t perform it. But for the most part, the set list selected for the U.K. tour shall be based on a lot of the earlier songs of our career.  It always feels like going back into the archives, because the U.K. have been the least up- to-date in regard to the band’s catalog and career.

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?

My 2 main achievements that I aim once I leave the stage, are leaving the fans more than satisfied with what we have accomplished and 2, for those that are seeing the band for the very first time, to remain hooked on our philosophy and energy.  We aim to please…

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?

Favoured instruments for performances is a really good question, never really been asked of me before. Nevertheless, what I like and what is practical are two different things. I like the Mesa boogie amp; a great sounding amp, but travelling from country to country, the hiring of them are extremely limited, so I use a Roland jazz chorus amp. It’s an amp that is industry standard, very much road worthy and has an extremely clean sound; a sound that’s perfect for a reggae rhythm guitar live. And to top it all, it’s extremely easy to operate. No rocket science involved. Guitar; My perfect guitar is the Les Paul of any kind. The problem I have is that over time they become very heavy, so I opt for a Parker Flyer deluxe. It’s by far a much lighter guitar and has a unique design and sound. Quite a few musicians have told me that they bought a Parker Flyer based on watching me play them. Mics; I definitely prefer chord-less microphones because of the way I interchange between instruments and mics on stage. My choice are Shures or Senheissers. As a matter of fact chord-less is the way to go when a lot of choreography is involved. Pedals; I’m very much old school and would grab a WEM copycat or a Roland space echo if I could. But they are no longer in major demand or circulation. I recently changed from years of using several Boss Pedals, to a Line 6 multi effects pedal board. It’s smaller, a lot more reliable and cheaper, with far less cables to go faulty.

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

My home town is the world….Papa is a rolling stone.

How do you look after your voice?

The voice…I’ve been lucky so far. Many vocalists that have been bashing the vocal cords as much as I have, have had nodules removed, etc.  I think what has kept me in the game this long, is that I try not to exert my physical being. I don’t smoke and I don’t really drink.  Besides, with a fair amount  of songs that i wrote in the earlier part of my career, I have bought the original keys down a semi tone or 2.  But there are still a number of them that I still do in their original key.  That brings me back to the reason why I don’t enjoy performing in winter months; ‘cause then I have mother nature’s elements to deal with, too.  As a rule I don’t engage myself into extensive conversations or interviews prior to show time.. both are a drain of energy.  Thank God this interview is not a verbal one. Hahaha.

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

Scoring for films based on novels; that has not been anything I have deeply pondered on or thought about.  I have been given scripts to read and created songs based on what’s depicted.  As you know, there was a scene that Spike Lee had described to me in his movie, “Do The Right Thing.” He wanted a song that gave one the feeling of a hot summer’s day, where one appears to be frustrated by the weather. “Can’t Stand The Heat,” popped right out of my head.  Then there’s a movie, where I actually played a small part in, directed by Mustapha Khan, called “Rocksteady.” And there’s has been others. Let’s put it this way, I keep it simple. Give me the novel to read or the topic of conversation and within a week there will be something on the table for any film producer to listen to.  Then again, it might be a bit of a challenge being as my favourite type of movies are thrillers.  Now ask yourself how many thrillers have you watched where you hear a reggae track in the background? I hope you get my drift.

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

Musical influences… none really. In the past there were several. Bob Marley, of course, Burning Spear, Matumbi, Mandrill, Gil Scot Heron, Jimmy Hendrix and more. Over time one tends to forge one’s own signature and identify and becomes one’s own class act. That’s what we did. I do admire acts that are not on the lips of everyday people, but they have their uniqueness to their sound and appearance. There is this artist called, Keziah Jones, originally from Nigeria, that I am very impressed to see perform. Amy Winehouse, I thought also had a strange and interesting character about her too when she was around. Then there was one band that impressed me to no end, called The Revivalist, that are 90 minutes of pure action on stage. No recommendations, because each act that is on the industry’s treadmill all have something to offer.

What makes Steel Pulse happy and what makes you unhappy?

What makes Steel Pulse happy? To see others enjoying our music. Happiness to me is to know that our efforts have not been in vain. Unhappiness; well, to be continually turning on the TV and hearing that another one of my African brothers, that was unarmed and murdered by police.. The unhappiness comes when I immediately recognise that there are mothers out there that have their world suddenly ending by the pull of a trigger. Losing a youth in their early stages of life makes me unhappy.