Hey, that’s what I’ve been practicing for some time. I like Ska, especially live performances with a whole bunch of musicians on stage are great. I’m a metalhead but that doesn’t refrain me from listening and enjoying other genres too. There’s too much music out there to restrict oneself to one genre only.
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Oh sweet I didn’t know this thread exists. I’m seeing streetlight Manifesto in 3 weeks!
Whoa, “One Step Beyond” - I loved that song when it came out back then in the Eighties, and the performances of “Madness” on TV they were always energetic and also kinda funny. Over here in Germany, “Our House” is their best known song, I guess.
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Yeah, thread seems to be revived now. Cool.
Madness were the best of Ska back then (or “are the best”, since they still exist til date). Great. Thanks for the vid.
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Gotta disagree, the best ska in the 80s was the English Beat (a/k/a the Beat if you happened to be in the UK).
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Always makes me think of the Young Ones.
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This is what I was going to say but I’m not an expert. Also Rancid.
This cracks me up every time. The band is Hepcat and they’re fantastic. I’m most familiar with Scientific, and I love it.
Skanking the pickle, and skanking to the Bosstones, Toasters, et al in clubs that were frequently in basements was part of my misbegotten youth.
I saw Goldfinger open for Fishbone once which is to say–let’s not forget Fishbone. Or the Clash. Or bassist Sting and the Police.
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Op Ivy… but that’s kind of a distinction without a lot of difference. I just dig the Op Ivy vibe more than Rancid.
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Correct! 
Close, but no cigar 
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back in the early 80’s I was a huge Madness fan. I did have conflicting musical tastes though as my other most favourite band back then was Iron Maiden!
I’ve gone through a few phases of getting back into Ska, although not for a long time. I might have to dig out my Madness record collection for old times sake 
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The English Beat is unknown to me - seems like they didn’t release in Germany back then. But thanks to the Internet, I can look this up now and check them out on YouTube.
I will amend my statement to say that the English Beat were among the best ska bands, along with others such as Madness and Rancid — and my personal favorite. YMMV.
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They are one of the early second wave of Ska bands and were really good, way more so than Madness IMO but obviously that’s subjective. I can almost guarantee you’ve heard them.
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There’s also, of course, The Specials.
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Of course in the UK they were just ‘The Beat’. My personal faves were too nice to talk to and tears of a clown
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So good. Madness were good too, but more two-tone. I really love all of Dave Wakeling and Rankin Roger’s stuff.
RIP Roger.
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I will give them a listen for sure. 
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“A message to you Rudy” is great and I have been practicing this song on bass (but a shortened and simplified version).
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