Skaville UK interview

Interview by: Dod M
Big Wheel Overseas Correspondent


The Skaville UK story begins in September 2006 when four restless musicians decided to get together, have some fun rehearing, then go into a studio and record some of the songs they had been writing. Those musicians were...Nick Welsh of Bad Manners, Busters Allstars, The Selecter (vocals/bass), Louis Alphonso, the Original guitarist in Bad Manners, Martin Stewart, original Keyboardist in Bad Manners who has no retired, double Grammy Winner Al Fletcher (drums).
Skaville UK are  a very good UK Ska super-group, who play a lot of gigs, have fun and generally drag some of their friends into the frey like  Rhoda Dakar, and Jenny Belle-Star to supply guest vocals..

Nick Welsh (vocals/bass)
Nick has written, played and produced with artists like Bad Manners, Busters Allstars, The Selecter, Selecter Acoustic, Prince Buster, Dave Barker, King Hammond, Laurel Aitken, Judge Dread, Rico Rodriguez, Rhoda Dakar and is the producer of the debut Skaville UK CD "1973". Other projects have included Big 5 a Ska-Punk hybrid with vocalist Jennie Matthias (Belle Stars) as well as co-writing the hit single "This is Ska" with Longsy D.

He also writes music for T.V. (The Osbournes, Malcolm in the Middle), computer games (Smackdown versus Raw 2006, Day of Reckoning 2) and the big screen (Domino, The Magic Roundabout). In 2002 Nick won a Grammy award for his work on the Lee "Scratch" Perry album "Jamaican ET" and was the MD on the live DVD "The Ultimate Alien". He was also a member of the all star acoustic show "3 Men & Black". Nick is a lifelong West Bromwich Albion fan.

Rhoda Daker began her career with the 2-Tone movement, as lead vocalist with all-female band The Bodysnatchers. She went on to guest with The Specials, both live and on record. A later incarnation of Special AKA recorded the "In The Studio" album, from which came the acclaimed 1984 Top Ten single "Free Nelson Mandela"...the song that really woke up the British psyche to the problems occurring in South Africa at the time.
Dod-With the 30th anniversary of two-tone this year, do you have any plans to celebrate it?
Nick Welsh I Have no plans to celebrate it I am with midge ure on this one
 
Rhoda Dakar Well, it's 30 years since my first gig with The Bodysnatchers, 40 since my first public performance and 50 years since I was born.  I just want to know what you're getting me for my birthday.

How much do you think ska has changed in the last 30 years?
N W- Its got shorter
R D- There has been no actual Ska in the last 30 years, or for a good while before that either.

What originally attracted you to Ska/two-tone?
N W- Its anti music stance
R D- Gangsters

You have a new album with Rhoda Dakar coming out, tell us about it?
N W- Its dirty low down rock and roll
R D- It's the music I always thought I'd be playing.

How did the collaboration with Rhoda come about?
N W- Through friendship
R D- Lots of laughs and a common musical history.

Who writes your songs?
N W- My songs are written by me
R D- My lyrics are written by me

What’s your favourite Skaville UK song and why?
N W- The Alternate
R D- The Alternate, because it rocks.

Are you still fans and of who?
N W- T.Rex & Louis Alphonso
R D- My bestest band is Primal Scream.

What’s your coolest band story?
N W- the day we all got locked in a refrigerator
R D- I'm not cool, I don't have those kind of stories.

What do you think about downloading music online?
N W- its ok if your paying for it
R D- I'm with Nick.

What's your outlook on the record industry today?
N W- I'm not in it
R D- A sad state of affairs, but ripe for D.I.Y.

How does music affect you and the world around you?
R D- Can't speak for the world, but I like it.

What makes a good crowd?
N W- Lots of them
R D- Pretty girls.

Any last words?
N W- I am not good at answering questions
R D- I'm over it.