The Beat (Band)

The Beat (known as the English Beat in the United States and Canada, and the British Beat in Australia) are a band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1978, during the ska revival that also produced acts like The Specials and Madness. Their music blended ska, reggae, pop, soul and punk energy, distinguished by the interplay between co-vocalists Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger and by the saxophone contributions of veteran Jamaican player Saxa. The group also included guitarist Andy Cox, bassist David Steele and drummer Everett Morton, later expanding with a full horn section as the Beat Girls and Beat Boys.

Signed to the 2 Tone label before launching their own imprint, Go-Feet, the band released three studio albums between 1980 and 1982: «I Just Can't Stop It», «Wha'ppen?» and «Special Beat Service». Singles such as «Mirror in the Bathroom», «Save It for Later» and «Can't Get Used to Losing You» became defining tracks of the 2 Tone and post-punk era, blending danceable rhythms with socially conscious and introspective lyrics.

The Beat split in 1983, with Wakeling and Roger going on to form General Public, and Cox and Steele forming the pop duo Fine Young Cannibals. The band's influence carried into later ska-punk and third-wave ska movements, and various lineups have continued to tour under the Beat name in subsequent decades.