There are not that many genres of music where you can precisely identify the inventors – and indeed the exact origins of ska have been contested by some – but  few would disagree that the Skatalites were the ska pioneers. That means Lloyd can rightly be said to have invented ska bass.

He rejoined the Skatalites when the got together again in 1983 to play Jamaica’s Reggae Sunsplash, and stayed with them until 2005.

There’s a great interview with him on the Reggae-Vibes site here.

While ska has come on a long journey since its invention in Jamaica in 1964, but it should never be forgotten that the early ska musicians were all jazzers. Here is Lloyd – who always played an upright bass – speaking in that interview:

“Well in those days I listen to the great Leroy ‘Slam’ Stewart and all those type a bass player. Very good. I listened to jazz, and jazz I used to play. All the jazz band dem in Jamaica. From that I start work at the hotel dem every night. All type a music.”

That’s why the Skamonics are clear that we take our inspiration from ska’s earliest days. One of our best moments at a gig was when a Jamaican of mature years told us that he had not heard ska played like that since his youth.

Because Lloyd played with the reformed Skatalites there are many great records to complement the original 60s recordings. But while there is no known film of the original Skatalites, we do have video of Lloyd playing in the more recent line up. Here’s a 73 minute concert recording in which introduces all the songs.

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We’ve long had a Facebook group, but pages are better for bands.

To join a group you need to have your membership approved or be nominated by an existing member.

That’s not very friendly. All you need to do to with a page to keep in touch is ‘like’ it.

So gradually we will shift our atention to the page, so – even if you’re a group member, please take the time to click the like button below. It doesn’t mean that we’ll ignore the 140 group members of course. We love you all.

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This is one we are putting on ourselves – and are sharing the bill with our good friends the Electric Cucumbers.

Careful study may reveal one musician who will be playing all night.

It’s at the Sebright Arms – a great pub just off the Hackney Road. Here’s the poster.

The Skamonics will play first – though there’s equal billing and both bands will play sets of the same length.

We thought this would give a chance for fans who have to travel and say we are always on too late to come and see us play.

If you want a download an A4 pdf poster, you can find one here

It’s up as a Facebook event here – so use this to share and invite your friends.

There will be a special offer on our CD on the night.

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And the current line-up are coming to the UK in May!

The tour dates are here.

And it gives us an excuse to show this video of the Skatalites doing one of the tunes we nicked off them.

Some question the strange covers we do and tell us they are not proper ska, but this was just as unexpected a choice when the Skatalites first played it.

So if you like the Skamonics, you’ll certainly love the Skatalites, and we like to think that if you like the Skatalites you will enjoy the Skamonics too.

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More details soon!

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Here’s a video we have put together for Enola Gay.

It uses lots of found video of dancing through the decades, including some great fottiage from Jamaica in the 1960s.

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They are certainly our biggest influence. We do a lot of their tunes, many of us have a similar background in jazz and, just as they did, like to take tunes from other kinds of music and give them a ska beat.

Your can read it here – and it also has this great photo.

the Skatalites

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You can still listen to it here.  Ir you can download a podcast from iTunes.

There are a lot of other fab tunes too for your enjoyment.

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They are terrific.

And it’s not just us who say so. His Sir Charles 15 amp has had a fantastic review in Guitar and Bass Magazine – and earned a very coveted highly recommended in their 2011 review of the year.

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