When: March 21, 2025
Writer: Mr. T
Photos: Teacher/Clips
Copyright: 2025 – Reggae Vibes
Steel Pulse, the Grammy-winning reggae band that originated in the Handsworth district of Birmingham, UK, began their journey in 1975. To mark their 50th Anniversary alongside their dedicated fans worldwide, they are on a comprehensive six-month tour. The tour took off with three performances in Australia and one in New Zealand, followed by fifteen shows across Europe and approximately forty across the United States.
After their performances in Amsterdam and Utrecht, Steel Pulses’s third show in the Netherlands landed them at the Effenaar, a venue situated in Eindhoven. With fifty years in the industry, it’s clear the original lineup is no longer intact. David Hinds (lead vocals & guitar) and Selwyn Brown (keyboards & vocals) remain the only founding members of the current group. During their 50th Anniversary tour, they are joined by Amlak Tafari on bass, Californian guitarist David Elecciri Jr. on lead guitar, Wayne “C-Sharp” Clarke on drums, along with a three-piece horn section consisting of two saxophonists and a trombone player. The band’s appeal spans generations, as evidenced by a diverse audience at the packed venue, which included both young fans and senior attendees.
Steel Pulse got their 50th Anniversary celebration going a groovy version of Ravers, a song from their 1982 album True Democracy. This version of the song was one of several refreshed takes on beloved Steel Pulse classics that energized the audience, who responded with constant enthusiasm. Following that, they played Rally Round, also from True Democracy. With keyboardist Selwyn Brown taking on a deejay role, the song featured a captivating dub mix alongside an impressive horn section, marking the first of numerous highlights in their roughly 90-minute set. The horns took center stage in A Who Responsible?, which, like the upbeat Chant A Psalm, is another track coming from the True Democracy album.
Tracks from their debut album, Handsworth Revolution, could not be overlooked, so the audience enjoyed Soldiers and the iconic Ku Klux Clan. Particularly remarkable was Bodyguard from the 1984 album Earth Crisis, which was complemented by the upbeat Steppin’ Out, featuring a deejay segment performed by Selwyn Brown. He also took the lead on vocals for Babylon Makes The Rules from the 1979 release Tribute To The Martyrs, which undoubtedly resonated with the crowd. Before departing the stage, Steel Pulse honored the late African reggae icon Lucky Dube with their version of his song, Respect.
Steel Pulse delivered a vibrant and dynamic performance, packed with musical highlights that captivated the audience. While a segment of long-time fans expressed a touch of nostalgia-tinged disappointment at the limited selection from their seminal early albums, the overwhelming majority of attendees left the venue energized and thoroughly entertained, having experienced a truly memorable show.