By Mel Cooke, Freelance WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
DAVID HINDS of longstanding and outstanding reggae band Steel Pulse added the launch of the group's 2004 Grammy nominated African Holocaust to their milestone on Tuesday night.
That put the Liguanea Club, New Kingston, event in
illustrious company, as it joined the ranks of Steel Pulse's first performance in Jamaica in 1981, their donation to Hurricane Gilbert relief in 1988, and the inauguration of William Jefferson Clinton as landmark events in the group's three decade career.
It was their first album
launch not only in Jamaica, but in the world this from a band whose Handsworth Revolution, Tribute To The Martyrs and Earth Crisis are among the standards of reggae.
Hinds explained that it was their first launch by saying,
"By the time the album is released, we are either on
tour, or something happen, or there is a demise of the
relationship between us and
the record company."
NO BREAKDOWN
There has been no breakdown in the relationship between Steel Pulse and Ras Sanctuary, the label on which African Holocaust is released. They have been touring the U.S. and Europe since the album has been released earlier this year. In addition, there are plans for a world tour of Caribbean, South America and a possibility of Congo in Africa, which should begin in January.
Some of the album deals they inked years ago were not good ones. "When we signed, it was at a time of bad deals. We were from Birmingham, totally
inexperienced to the business side. Our most famous albums, Handsworth Revolution, Tribute To The Martyrs, we have never really seen the returns from these albums, due to bad contracts," Hinds said.
EAST FEST 2004
Steel Pulse was in Jamaica to perform at Red Label Wine East Fest 2004, which took place at the Goodyear Oval in Springfield, St. Thomas, on Saturday night. However, with their Grammy nomination of African Holocaust, Hinds has been touched by the reception on the streets, where there has been wishes for them to take the award next year. "We were not sure of the reception we would get. The music we have been hearing out of the island, we had no idea that the music we are playing would still be received," Hinds said.
However, Mutabaruka, who emceed a large portion of East Fest '04 after recalling his first and very eventful trip to Africa to perform, which was done along with Steel Pulse said, "African Holocaust will not get its true dues in Jamaica. Most people not going to play it on radio because it dealing with issues, not events. But when we go out in de worl', de white
people who dem sey we a fight, dem sey is a good album. We haffi wonda how de ting get so upside down."
Endorsements of the band and the album came from Bunny Rugs of Third World, whose 31st anniversary show at Kings House on Monday night saw a cameo by David Hinds, Una Morgan of Morgan Heritage and, at the very end, from Capleton who, along with Junior Gong, is a guest deejay on African Holocaust.
