Black Slate was a roots reggae band formed in 1974, including musicians from England, Jamaica, and Anguilla. Having backed Delroy Wilson and Ken Boothe on their UK tours, they had their own reggae-chart hit themselves in 1977, (teaming up with the Disco Reggae Band), with this anti-mugging song, Sticks Man. The record was a hit the Dutch and Belgian charts, (after becoming a surprising underground hit in Antwerp nightclubs). Listening to it now, you can hear the musical DNA of the soon-to-be Two Tone movement in the UK.
They toured the UK for the first time in 1978, and formed their own TCD label. They also backed reggae legend, Dennis Brown when he played in the UK. An album, Amigo, was released in 1980, followed by Sirens In The City in 1981, on Ensign. The band released two further albums in 1982 and 1985, but little was heard of them after that. However, a new album, World Citizen, was released in 2014 after the band reformed in 2013.
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