Grammy Award-Winning British Roots Reggae Band; Known for "Handsworth Revolution" & "Babylon the Bandit"; Socially Conscious Music Innovators
Steel Pulse Biography
Steel Pulse is a Grammy Award-winning British roots reggae band originating from the Handsworth area of Birmingham, England. Founded by schoolmates David Hinds, who serves as lead singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter, and Basil Gabbidon, the group was later joined by Ronnie McQueen on bass. The members are children of West Indian immigrants and drew inspiration from the music and social messages of Bob Marley and the Wailers, as well as Jamaican artists such as Burning Spear. Steel Pulse became recognized for their direct social commentary, addressing issues of racism and the Black British experience through Rastafarian perspectives, while blending reggae with jazz, Latin, ska, and punk influences.
Initially, Steel Pulse faced resistance from local Caribbean venues due to their Rastafarian beliefs but found acceptance in the emerging punk scene. The band aligned with the Rock Against Racism movement and opened for punk acts including The Stranglers and The Clash. Their debut album, "Handsworth Revolution," is regarded as a significant work in British reggae, combining roots reggae with punk and ska elements and featuring tracks such as "Ku Klux Klan," which addresses racism. Subsequent albums, including "Tribute to the Martyrs" and "True Democracy," continued to blend reggae with flamenco and Euro-pop, focusing on social reform. Bob Marley referred to Steel Pulse as "the young Wailers" after they opened for The Wailers.
Steel Pulse was the first non-Jamaican act to win the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album and has received multiple Grammy nominations. The band released a trilogy of albums on Island Records before moving to Elektra, where they produced the Grammy-winning "Babylon the Bandit." Steel Pulse has performed at significant events, including a U.S. presidential inauguration, and contributed the track "Can't Stand the Heat" to the movie "Do the Right Thing."
The band's twelfth studio album, "Mass Manipulation," addresses issues such as global warming, human trafficking, police shootings of unarmed African Americans, and the exploitation of Africa's resources. The album received a Grammy nomination and reflects Steel Pulse's ongoing commitment to social justice through reggae music. The band performed all the songs from their Grammy-nominated album "Earth Crisis" live for the first time at the International Arts Festival in New Orleans.
With a career spanning five decades, Steel Pulse remains a prominent and socially conscious force in reggae music. The band is known for its musical versatility, incorporating synthesized elements, brass, and female backing vocals. Steel Pulse continues to tour internationally, delivering messages of justice, unity, and resistance, and engaging with topics of racial injustice and human rights on a global scale.
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How do I book Steel Pulse to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Steel Pulse for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Steel Pulse, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Steel Pulse or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Steel Pulse
Speaking fees for Steel Pulse, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Steel Pulse are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Steel Pulse, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Steel Pulse speak about?
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Where does Steel Pulse travel from?
Steel Pulse generally travels from UK, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
Who is Steel Pulse’s agent?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Steel Pulse for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Steel Pulse for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Steel Pulse or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
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Steel Pulse is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Steel Pulse for your event is available upon request. Steel Pulse generally travels from UK and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Robbie Williams, The xx, Kansas, Mumford & Sons and Bon Iver. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Steel Pulse for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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