Ska Boom - An American Ska & Reggae Podcast
105 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 22 ratingsSka Boom - An American Ska & Reggae Podcast is hosted by Marc Wasserman, author of Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History published by DiWulf Publishing. Wasserman helped to found Bigger Thomas -- the first ska band from New Jersey -- in 1988 and had a front row seat to watch the growth of American ska. Ska Boom is the audio companion to the book, which tells the origin stories of 18 American ska and reggae bands and one national tour from the early 80s through the mid 90s that helped to give birth to and define a uniquely American version of ska and reggae. The podcast explores the impact of ska and reggae on popular music and features interviews with key ska and reggae musicians, audio documentaries about the history of ska and reggae and special episodes based on news and developments in the world of ska.
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Episodes
2 Tone Legacy - The Untold Story of The Beat Girl
September 10, 2022 21:00 - 1 hour - 42 MBWelcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. When it came time for The English Beat to create a logo for their first album and for marketing posters and advertisements they called upon Hunt Emerson who is a noted British cartoonist and comic book artist. Emerson drew the Beat Girl from an original phot...
Ska Boom Stories - Eddy Grant & Electric Avenue
June 03, 2022 14:00 - 24 minutes - 16.7 MBIn this episode, I focus on the incredibly influential and often overlooked role that Eddy Grant has played in merging the sounds of ska, reggae, pop, dance and rock music. I’ve always been a huge fan and consider Grant a musical futurist who has successfully combined the best of James Brown, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley into something completely unique. I’ll be taking a look at Grant’s diverse musical career and will also dig into his most well known American hit “Electric Avenue” which went ...
2 Tone Legacy - Easy Life
May 26, 2022 16:28 - 19 minutes - 13.3 MBWelcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. In each episode, I'll be joined by Paul Williams, author of "You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception to Reunion" and lead singer of UK 2-Tone band The Skapones. Paul is a noted 2 Tone expert and he'll be sharing his memories and insights on all the so...
2 Tone Legacy - Geno
May 20, 2022 14:00 - 14 minutes - 10.3 MBWelcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. In each episode, I'll be joined by Paul Williams, author of "You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception to Reunion" and lead singer of UK 2-Tone band The Skapones. Paul is a noted 2 Tone expert and he'll be sharing his memories and insights on all the so...
2 Tone Legacy - Mirror In The Bathroom
May 13, 2022 14:00 - 20 minutes - 13.8 MBWelcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. In each episode, I'll be joined by Paul Williams, author of "You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception to Reunion" and lead singer of UK 2-Tone band The Skapones. Paul is a noted 2 Tone expert and he'll be sharing his memories and insights on all the so...
2 Tone Legacy - Madam Medusa
May 06, 2022 13:00 - 26 minutes - 18.5 MBWelcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. In each episode, I'll be joined by Paul Williams, author of "You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception to Reunion" and lead singer of UK 2-Tone band The Skapones. Paul is a noted 2 Tone expert and he'll be sharing his memories and insights on all the so...
2 Tone Legacy - Inner London Violence
April 29, 2022 14:00 - 38 minutes - 26.2 MBWelcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. In each episode, I'll be joined by Paul Williams, author of "You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception to Reunion" and lead singer of UK 2-Tone band The Skapones. Paul is a noted 2 Tone expert and he'll be sharing his memories and insights on all the so...
2 Tone Legacy - Celebrate the Bullet
April 22, 2022 14:00 - 25 minutes - 17.6 MBWelcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. In each episode, I'll be joined by Paul Williams, author of "You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception to Reunion" and lead singer of UK 2-Tone band The Skapones. Paul is a noted 2 Tone expert and he'll be sharing his memories and insights on all the so...
2 Tone Legacy - Embarrassment
April 15, 2022 14:00 - 22 minutes - 15.8 MBWelcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. In each episode, I'll be joined by Paul Williams, author of "You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception to Reunion" and lead singer of UK 2-Tone band The Skapones. Paul is a noted 2 Tone expert and he'll be sharing his memories and insights on all the so...
2 Tone Legacy - The Boiler
April 08, 2022 14:00 - 21 minutes - 14.9 MBWelcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. In each episode, I'll be joined by Paul Williams, author of "You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception to Reunion" and lead singer of UK 2-Tone band The Skapones. Paul is a noted 2 Tone expert and he'll be sharing his memories and insights on all the so...
2 Tone Legacy - Free Nelson Mandela
April 01, 2022 13:51 - 16 minutes - 11.4 MBWelcome to 2 Tone Legacy a special 10-part audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the stories behind the songs that contribute to the enduring legacy of 2 Tone music and its ongoing impact on popular culture. In each episode, I'll be joined by Paul Williams, author of "You're Wondering Now: The Specials from Conception to Reunion" and lead singer of UK 2-Tone band The Skapones. Paul is a noted 2 Tone expert and he'll be sharing his memories and insights on all the so...
Ska Boom Interviews - Noah Shachtman of Rolling Stone Magazine
March 25, 2022 14:00 - 1 hour - 64.9 MBWelcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon. The goal of this podcast is talk about ska with an emphasis on American ska history and the bands, musicians and people who have helped to create and influence a uniquely American version of ska and reggae that spans from the late 70s until today. In this episode, I’m speaking with Noah Shachtman, the editor in chief of Rolli...
Ska Boom Stories - Ode To The Melodica & Augustus Pablo
March 18, 2022 14:00 - 25 minutes - 17.7 MBWelcome to Ska Boom Stories which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon. The goal of the Ska Boom podcast is talk about ska with an emphasis on American ska history and the bands, musicians and people who have helped to create and influence a uniquely American version of ska and reggae that spans from the late 70s until today. Though Augustus Pablo never gained the international recognition of a Bob M...
Ska Boom Stories - Musical Youth
March 11, 2022 14:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MBWelcome to Ska Boom Stories which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon. The goal of the Ska Boom podcast is talk about ska with an emphasis on American ska history and the bands, musicians and people who have helped to create and influence a uniquely American version of ska and reggae that spans from the late 70s until today. Like me, you’ve probably heard 'Pass the Dutchie' many times. And it probab...
Ska Boom Stories - Musical Youth
March 11, 2022 14:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MBWelcome to Ska Boom Stories which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon. The goal of the Ska Boom podcast is talk about ska with an emphasis on American ska history and the bands, musicians and people who have helped to create and influence a uniquely American version of ska and reggae that spans from the late 70s until today. Like me, you’ve probably heard 'Pass the Dutchie' many times. And it probab...
Ska Boom Interviews - The Stubborn Records Story with King Django & Matt Wixson
March 04, 2022 15:00 - 1 hour - 67.7 MBWelcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon. The goal of this podcast is talk about ska with an emphasis on American ska history and the bands, musicians and people who have helped to create and influence a uniquely American version of ska and reggae that spans from the late 70s until today. In honor of the 30th anniversary of Stubborn Records, I interview Jeff Baker (K...
Ska Boom Interviews - The Stubborn Records Story with King Django & Matt Wixson
March 04, 2022 15:00 - 1 hour - 67.7 MBWelcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon. The goal of this podcast is talk about ska with an emphasis on American ska history and the bands, musicians and people who have helped to create and influence a uniquely American version of ska and reggae that spans from the late 70s until today. In honor of the 30th anniversary of Stubborn Records, I interview Jeff Baker (K...
Punky Reggae Party - Oingo Boingo
February 25, 2022 15:00 - 25 minutes - 17.4 MBWelcome to “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggae. The musical development which ignited Danny Elfman’s interest in starting Oingo Boingo and inspired him to start writing his first conventional pop songs was the emergence of British 2 Tone ska bands whose music reminded him of the Highl...
Ska Boom Stories - Remembering John Spence of No Doubt
February 18, 2022 15:00 - 20 minutes - 13.8 MBIn honor of Black History Month and as part of my mission to share unique and often untold American ska stories, this episode of Ska Boom Stories is dedicated to John Spence the original lead singer of No Doubt.Spence often gets short shrift whenever the story of No Doubt is told and regrettably his contribution to the band has been somewhat overlooked and slightly scrubbed from No Doubt’s history. On the one hand I understand that because his story is a sad one. But the truth is that without...
Punky Reggae Party - Steel Pulse
February 11, 2022 15:00 - 20 minutes - 14.4 MBWelcome to “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggae.If any band deserves the title of punky reggae kings its Steel Pulse. They helped invent British reggae and their debut single "Ku Klux Klan: is definitely one of the great punk singles, without actually being a punk record. Steel Pulse w...
Punky Reggae Party - Gang of Four
February 04, 2022 15:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MBWelcome to “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggae.If any band could give the 2 Tone bands and The Clash a run for their money when it came to singing about the state of politics in the late 70s and early 80s, it was the Gang Of Four. And, if you listen carefully, many of the band’s earli...
Punky Reggae Party - Black Uhuru Bring Reggae to America
January 28, 2022 14:11 - 21 minutes - 14.9 MBWelcome to “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggae.On February 27, 1986, the Cosby Show, then the most popular TV show in America aired an episode that featured the music of Black Uhuru. Let that sink in for a moment. How often did you hear roots reggae on American network television in t...
Punky Reggae Party - Grace Jones & the Compass Point All Stars
January 21, 2022 14:46 - 22 minutes - 15.7 MBWelcome to “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggae.I first became aware of Grace Jones late one night during the mid 80s when I happened upon her video for “My Jamaican Guy” on Friday Night Videos. For younger listeners, Friday Night Videos aired on NBC and was an attempt by the network t...
Punky Reggae Party - Grace Jones & the Compass Point All Stars
January 21, 2022 14:46 - 22 minutes - 15.7 MBWelcome to “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggae.I first became aware of Grace Jones late one night during the mid 80s when I happened upon her video for “My Jamaican Guy” on Friday Night Videos. For younger listeners, Friday Night Videos aired on NBC and was an attempt by the network t...
Ska Boom Interviews - Pato Banton
January 14, 2022 14:14 - 1 hour - 75.9 MBWelcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon. The goal of this podcast is talk about ska and reggae with an emphasis on American ska and reggae history and the bands, musicians and people who have helped to create and influence a uniquely American version of ska and reggae that spans from the late 70s until today. In this episode, I’m speaking with Grammy nominated regga...
Punky Reggae Party - The Members
January 07, 2022 15:00 - 22 minutes - 15.8 MBWelcome to “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggae.The Members were one of the prime movers in the era's cross-cultural mix of reggae and punk. The NME wrote of the band in 1978: “Of the many rock bands co-opting reggae into their act, few do so with as much love and style as the The Memb...
Punky Reggae Party - The Police
December 31, 2021 15:00 - 19 minutes - 13.4 MBWelcome to “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggae.So it was only a matter of time before I got around to talking about The Police and their embrace of reggae. If you are of a certain age -- I’m looking at all of my fellow Gen X-ers – then the band’s early records Outlandos D'Amour and Re...
Ska Boom Interviews - Horace Panter of The Specials
December 24, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 51.4 MBWelcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon. The goal of this podcast is talk about ska with an emphasis on American ska history and the bands, musicians and people who have helped to create and influence a uniquely American version of ska and reggae that spans from the late 70s until today. In this episode, I’m speaking with Horace Panter – bassist for The Specials. Ho...
Ska Boom Interviews - Jayson Nugent of The Slackers
December 17, 2021 14:35 - 1 hour - 54 MBWelcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon. The goal of this podcast is talk about ska with an emphasis on American ska history and the bands, musicians and people who have helped to create and influence a uniquely American version of ska and reggae that spans from the late 70s until today. In this episode, I’m speaking with Jayson Nugent – guitarist for The Slackers.N...
Punky Reggae Party - Basement 5
December 10, 2021 15:00 - 20 minutes - 14.3 MBWelcome to “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggaeThe convergence of punk with reggae and ska in the late 70's and early 80's resulted in some significant musical developments leading some punk and post-punk bands in England to experiment with the sound of reggae and dub in particular.Reg...
Punky Reggae Party - How The Drum Machine Changed The Sound Of Reggae
December 03, 2021 14:00 - 18 minutes - 13.1 MBWelcome to “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggaeThough drum and bass rhythms drive the various eras of ska, rocksteady, reggae, 2-Tone, dancehall and beyond, drums and drummers have defined each distinct phase. And like the divide in rock music that occurred in the mid 70's when synthe...
Punky Reggae Party - The Secret Dub Life of The Flying Lizards
November 26, 2021 14:00 - 20 minutes - 13.8 MBWelcome to “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggaeThe convergence of punk with reggae and ska in the late 70's and early 80's resulted in some significant musical developments leading some punk and post-punk bands in England to experiment with the sound of reggae and dub in particular.Reg...
Punky Reggae Party: Scritti Politti & The "Sweetest Girl"
November 19, 2021 14:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MBWelcome to the first episode of “Punky Reggae Party” a special audio documentary series of the Ska Boom podcast that focuses on the historical origins and impact of reggae on popular music that will explore the phenomenon of punk and post-punk bands adopting the sounds of reggae The convergence of punk with reggae and ska in the late 70's and early 80's resulted in some significant musical developments leading some punk and post-punk bands in England to experiment with the sound of reggae and...
Ska Boom Tribute - Astro of UB40
November 12, 2021 14:00 - 18 minutes - 12.5 MBWelcome to a special edition of the Ska Boom podcast which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History. I was very sad to hear that Astro, the vocalist and DJ for UB40 and later the splinter group UB40 featuring Ali and Astro passed away at the age 64 on Saturday November 6th. This episode is a tribute to him and the iconic role he and UB40 have played in popularizing reggae around the world. Astro – born Terrence Wilson – got his nickname as a kid becaus...
Ska Boom Interviews - Brendan Tween of Mephiskapheles/Barbicide on the 30th Anniversary of Satanic Ska
November 05, 2021 14:00 - 58 minutes - 40.6 MBWelcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon. In this episode, I’m speaking with Brendan Tween the guitarist and vocalist who co-founded Mephiskapheles along with drummer Mikal Reich. The two now play together in the New York-based ska band Barbicide Mephiskapheles started in New York City in 1990 after Brendan's hardcore band The Shaved Pigs split up and he and Mikal ...
Ska Boom Interviews - Dave Kirchgessner of Mustard Plug on 30 Years of Ska Punk
October 29, 2021 14:00 - 1 hour - 46.9 MBWelcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon. In this episode, I’m speaking with Dave Kirchgessner, who is the lead singer of Mustard Plug. 2021 is the band’s 30th anniversary and as of this recording they have played 1,900 shows, recorded 8 albums and sold hundreds of thousands of records, becoming one of the most well-known and popular American ska punk bands.I firs...
Ska Boom Stories - Top Rankin': The ON Klub & Birth of the L.A. Ska Boom Event
October 20, 2021 14:00 - 16 minutes - 11.4 MBWelcome to Ska Boom Stories, which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon. I’m heading out to Los Angeles this week to take part in Top Rankin’: The ON Klub & Birth of the LA Ska Boom -- at the Grammy Museum on Saturday 10/23 this episode celebrates the 40th anniversary of the O.N. Klub and the two bands –The Boxboys and The Untouchables -- that were responsible for giving rise to the LA ska scene an...
Ska Boom Interviews - Mike Sosinski of Kill Lincoln & Bad Time Records
October 15, 2021 13:00 - 1 hour - 53.2 MBWelcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available from DiWulf Publishing and Amazon. In this episode, I’m speaking with Mike Sosinski -- who is the guitarist and lead singer of ska punk band Kill Lincoln and also the head honcho of Bad Time Records, a ska punk label based in Alameda, California. Bands on the Bad Time label include many of the bands now making waves in the American ska and ska punk scene and ...
Ska Boom Tribute: Everett Morton of The English Beat
October 09, 2021 21:00 - 13 minutes - 9.65 MBWelcome to a special edition of the Ska Boom podcast which is the audio companion to my book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History. I was very saddened to hear that news that Everett Morton, the original drummer of the English Beat passed away at the age 70 and this episode is a tribute to him and the iconic role he played in creating the unique sound of the English Beat and 2 Tone ska. I think its fair to say that the timeless quality of The Beat's sound is defined by Morton's dist...
Ska Boom Interviews - Heather Augustyn: Ska Historian & Author
October 08, 2021 13:00 - 1 hour - 53.8 MBWelcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing and Amazon. In this episode, I’m speaking with Heather Augustyn who writes extensively about the history of ska music in Jamaica, the U.K., the U.S., and all over the world. Her books, scholarly journals, magazines, newspapers, and online publications aim to give recognition of these artists and this marginalized genre of music. ...
Ska Boom Interviews - Andrew Sacher Senior Editor at BrooklynVegan on Ska in 2021
October 01, 2021 13:00 - 47 minutes - 33 MBWelcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing and Amazon. In this episode, I’m speaking with Andrew Sacher, who is a senior editor at BrooklynVegan and one of the few music journalists who is regularly writing about and covering ska and ska music. I'm turning the tables on Andrew and interviewing him about his ska origin story and the important role that he is playing in ...
Ska Boom Interviews - Ken Partridge: Author of Hell of a Hat: The Rise of 90s Ska and Swing
September 24, 2021 13:00 - 1 hour - 54.5 MBWelcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing. Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/books In this episode, I’m speaking with music journalist and author Ken Partridge, whose new book "Hell of a Hat: The Rise of 90s Ska and Swing" is now out and available. Ken is a writer and editor with bylines in leading music publications including Billboard, The AV Club, Pitchfork,...
Ska Boom Interviews - Jenny Whiskey
September 17, 2021 13:00 - 1 hour - 56.1 MBWelcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing. Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/books In this episode, I’m speaking with my Rude Boy George bandmate Jenny Whiskey about her American ska story. I’ve known Jenny since the mid 90s when her band Professor Plum opened for my band Bigger Thomas at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ. She was just 16 and decked out in g...
Ska Boom Interviews - Jenny Whiskey of Rude Girl Revue
September 17, 2021 13:00 - 1 hour - 56.1 MBWelcome to Ska Boom Interviews, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing. Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/booksIn this episode, I’m speaking with my Rude Boy George bandmate Jenny Whiskey about her American ska story. I’ve known Jenny since the mid 90s when her band Professor Plum opened for my band Bigger Thomas at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ. She was just 16 and decked out in gian...
Ska Boom Interviews - Roger Apollon Jr. of Bigger Thomas
September 10, 2021 13:00 - 1 hour - 63.6 MBWelcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing. Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/books Though my band Bigger Thomas –originally called Panic! -- is not featured in Ska Boom, our 80s American ska story contains a lot of the same trials and tribulations experienced by the 18 bands whose stories I've documented. That is to say, the human condition set to a ska and reggae...
Ska Boom Stories - Bigger Thomas: 2 Tone Ska In A Jersey Style
September 10, 2021 13:00 - 1 hour - 63.6 MBWelcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing. Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/books Though my band Bigger Thomas –originally called Panic! -- is not featured in Ska Boom, our 80s American ska story contains a lot of the same trials and tribulations experienced by the 18 bands whose stories I've documented. That is to say, the human condition set to a ska and reg...
Ska Boom Stories - The X-Streams: Sex, Drugs & 2 Tone Ska
September 03, 2021 14:00 - 24 minutes - 17.2 MBWelcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing. Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/books The X-Streams remain the band I wished I had seen live and their story is one that continues to draw me in. Perhaps because they came so close to success before self-destructing. Perhaps because they brought an energy and intensity that was both mesmerizing and a little bit frighte...
Ska Boom Stories - Babylon Warriors: Reggae In Hollywood
August 27, 2021 14:00 - 19 minutes - 13.4 MBWelcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing. Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/booksOften compared in look and sound to Steel Pulse, the Babylon Warriors were one of the first bands in Los Angeles in the early 80s to play nothing but reggae. Though the never became a big name in the U.S. reggae scene of the late 70's and early 80's, they did manage to build a subst...
Ska Boom Stories - The Offs: American Ska Punk Pioneers
August 20, 2021 13:00 - 20 minutes - 14.1 MBWelcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing. Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/booksThe Specials released their first single Gangsters in May 1979 and it is considered the spark that lit the ska-punk flame that still burns to this day. Though The Specials get the lion share of the credit for being the band that popularized the 2 Tone take on punk and reggae, the oth...
Ska Boom Stories - The Terrorists
August 13, 2021 14:00 - 22 minutes - 15.2 MBWelcome to Ska Boom! Stories, which is the audio companion to my new book Ska Boom: An American Ska & Reggae Oral History now available through DiWulf Publishing. Click here to order: http://www.diwulf.com/booksIf I could have, I would have included a few more chapters on other important bands who also deserve credit for helping to develop a uniquely American version of ska and reggae. For a variety of reasons, I wasn’t able to include them all, but over the next few episodes of the podcas...