Blue Beat Bikes - Pt. 3

Marc's trade mark

is a very distinguished way of playing his tenor sax. He isn't spoilt by scholastic lessons and smart-alecky teachers, quite the contrary, he's one of the last self made masters of the dreaded deadly tone. Just the same way as he rides his white Pakka bike. Most likely the only MTB on this planet with a carrier AND a wire basket. It's the only way to carry a sax safely, he claims.

Marc has been sax playing with Bluekilla since 1987.

Ska Bike Videos - Pt. 6: Madness - Riding on My Bike

On my search for Ska Bike Videos I've never thought about looking for one made by the notorious Nutty Boys. In fact it's not a video but who cares, the picture instead is so awesome, it's just fit for a video. Enjoy the song like I did.

Madness - Riding On My Bike

SKA Cruisers - Vol. 4: SKA Huffy

SKA Huffy! Now what is that? It takes quite a while to find out in this post but if you are patient and interested enough to read to the end, you'll find out what this post has to do with SKA & Bikes. It's a well researched article about american low quality bikes from the third quarter of the last century, and later on about end of century high quality SKA in the US. To cut to the chase: Read! The original article or did you think I'm copying other peoples work:
http://urbanadventureleague.blogspot.de/2011/11/other-peoples-bikes-part-3-ska-huffy.html

© by Urban Adventure League

SKA Euphoria - Beer in Bicycle Heaven

SKA Euphoria - Beer in Bicycle Heaven: This pale ale from SKA Brewing Company has been tested by Bicycle Heaven and has qualified for being "Beer of the Week" 12/05/2012.

"Nice hoppy flavor but not overpowering. This is a great seasonal beer that is very easy to drink and enjoy in the cold weather. This Beer gets a (A-) rating." (Rating by Chris @ Bicycle Heaven)

Ska Bike Videos - Pt. 2: Son of Blob

Son of Blob was a dutch Ska band active in the 1990s. They wrote this song called "Rode Fiets" (Red Bicycles) and made a video of this song in 1998. There's not much more to find about them, but the song is quite catchy. There's one or two other songs around in the web and maybe there's some releases worth buying. Check it out.

Blue Beat Bikes - Pt. 2

This time we're having a look at both the live equipment and preferred means of transportation of a dedicated bassplayer in the genre we all love so much. Guido mostly plays an Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay bass guitar since he bought it in 1989. All studio recordings were done with the StingRay except for "Skanimali" (Back to Skatalonia / Pork Pie / 2004) which was played by Tschinge on a double bass. On the great Australian Tour in 2001 he bought a handcrafted Sonet bass guitar which he uses at rehearsals. The amp is some 1980s Peavey top and cabinet with 2x15" Electro-Voice loudspeakers. By the way, would you guess that Guido actually is one of the two remaining pioneer members of Bluekilla. Probably he is even the one who gave the band its name. I'm saying probably because no one could ever remember for sure. Guido played bass on 98% of all studio recordings and missed only 4 or 5 out of approx. 500-550 gigs, which makes it a total appearance quota of 99,7%. Only Fiebig, our drummer can beat him with a quota of 1 single gig missed, but Fiebig doesn't ride bikes. He passed his driving license test ages ago and later on never drove a car and always used public transport, so Fiebig will get no more attention in this series. Let's turn back to Guido:

Guido from Bluekilla - live @ Muffathalle, Munich

Well, Guido's passion for 2-Tone is as deep as his enthusiasm for the two-wheelers. His Ska/Rocksteady/Reggae vinyl collection is enormous and, I must admit sadly, beats my pants off. His bike pool is twice as big as mine, consisting of a Cyclocross-Bike and a MTB. The KTM touring bike doesn't count. Since it was hit by a car the KTM is out of use.

Now here we see the Cannondale CAADX, a bike for fast riding and extended cruising range. Guido has owned it since 2012. The former owner was Cpt. Soulas,  Bluekilla's lead vocalist from the years 1989 - 1992. A detailed description of Cpt. Soulas' bike fleet will be presented within this series of Blue Beat Bikes.

Cannondale CAADX

Gossamer Crankset

Cannondale Stem & Handlebar

Cross Tires for expanded road access

Now here we see something special: A bavarian built Heavy Tools MTB with the laconic stem, exclusively developed by HT for the HT bikes. This bike never brakes.

Heavy Tools MTB Stem

Heavy Tools

SKA.... the Cruiser - Vol. 2

Wow, there's more than one custom SKA cruiser around. This italian beauty wears the two tone checks with pride and some hot red parts as chain and tires. Can you ride ruder than this?

I discovered SKA... the Cruiser at Bcycles Custom Bikes. If you own a Ska Cruiser or know someone who owns one, let me know.

SKA Cruiser - It Too Hot!

Is that the world's first bicycle ever built in black'n'white, with checkered parts all over it. The base is a Raleigh Pub with Big Apple tires and SRAM T3 gear hub. Brake cable casing, handle grips, seat post, bell and frame plate are checkered. Nice also the white rims, black tires combination. Could use a Brooks saddle and a black or checkered chain protector to make the bike perfect. This is SKA!

Bernardo's SKA Cruiser is worth a visit. Bwoy! Me want fe ride dat bike now, because it too hot!

Ska Bike Videos - Pt. 1: OreSkaBand

Very cool performance by girl only ska punk outfit OreSkaBand from Sakai / Japan.

Never heard of them before and came across them by searching "Bicylcle Ska". Just impressing how professional they sound and the ability the show on their instruments is quite stunning. Just make up your mind and watch the whole video. The first song "Jitensha", which means bicycle, is pop punk with a decent hooky melody and a catchy guitar lick. The lyrics are just about riding a bike and nothing else. "Dance Number 802"is a very uptempo ska punk tune and "Super Duper"turns back to pop punk. Didn't expect that level of energy and skill, when I clicked play! the first time.

Blue Beat Bikes - Pt. 1

Hannes2 from Bluekilla at Marienplatz 2012

First bike in my series of SKA Bikes will be Hannes2's fantastic "Fausto Coppi" road racer. This bike was built in the 70s in Italy. Every conscious biker knows who Fausto Coppi was: "Il Campionissimo", thee legendary Italian ciclist who won the Giro five times and the Tour de France twice after WWII. He died in January 1960, aged 40, and several mythical theories about his death circled around since then, varying from malaria or bronchial complaint to cocaine overdose and poisoning, all after an invitation to Burkina Faso for cycling and hunting in December 1959.

The saddle and handlebar are the only parts that aren't original but Hannes2 said he got the handlebar somewhere and will replace the modern one with the original. The saddle will stay as it's fitting better to his butt. Hannes is one of those Skasters who never takes a car to rehearsals. Good attitude, strong stamina. Well, the bike is a bit worn out and the chain shows some rusty spots. I think he could wash the whole thing a lot more often and add a little Balistol from time to time but nonetheless I'm tuely jealous about his bike. A real beautiy in blue metallic and all the mechanics work perfectly. Those Campagnolo parts really were top notch at that time and nearly indestructible until today.

Hannes2 is playing solo guitar with Bluekilla since 2003 and first appears on a Bluekilla recording in 2009, when we contributed the Song "Where Would We Go" to "The Spirit of SKA - 20 Years Jubilee Edition" of our former label Pork Pie. The same song appeared on the next long player "Never Was a Ska Band" with a different title, 51 years after Fausto Coppi's death. He's playing a blue Fender Stratocaster and a completely worn out Kitty Hawk Combo, a Roland WahWah and a Roland overdrive.

Fausto Coppi

Down tube with the signature

Chain rings with cut signature

Fausto Coppi (bit fuzzy)

Bass Culture & the 50th anniversary of Jamaican independence

This 8-CD compilation coincides with the 50th anniversary of Jamaican independence and stands out from masses of Reggae compilation by the excellent selection of well known tracks along with rarities and jewels, that never were released before outside Jamaica, b-sides and lost 7"-vinyl obscurities, all selected by DJ Jim Layne. What makes the exceptional quality of this compilation is the diversity which isn't limited by the back catalogue of only one label, refusal to stick to mega hits only and the perfect focussing on the four emphases of reggae music. Each set comes with a 16-page booklet that gives you all the background story you need, written by Lloyd Bradley, the author of the book "Bass Culture - When Reggae Was King". I ordered it straight away and can't wait to listen to the sweet music all day long.

Bass Culture Vol. 1 - This Town Is Too Hot! Ska & Rocksteady - Original 1960s Recordings

CD 1:

• 1 Freedom - Clancy Eccles 
• 2 Man in the Street - Don Drummond 
• 3 I’m a Lonely Boy - Shenley Duffus 
• 4 Rocket Ship - The Baba Brooks Band / Tommy McCook 
• 5 Miss Lulu - Derrick Morgan / Busters All Stars 
• 6 Doctor Kildare - 
• 7 Over the River - Justin Hinds & the Dominoes 
• 8 Lonely Man - Ronald Wilson 
• 9 Al Capone - Prince Buster All-Stars 
• 10 Miss Ska-Culation - Roland Alphonso & The Soul Brothers 
• 11 One Love [Ska Version] - Bob Marley & the Wailers 
• 12 Teenage Ska - The Baba Brooks Band 
• 13 So Bad - The Upsetters 
• 14 Dick Tracy - The Skatalites 
• 15 Mouth a Massy - Alton Ellis 
• 16 Four Seasons - Sir Lord Comic 
• 17 Royal Charlie - Charlie Organaire 
• 18 Little Did You Know - The Techniques 
• 19 Dr Ring a Ding - Roland Alphonso & The Soul Brothers 
• 20 Free Man - The Ethiopians 

CD 2:

• 1 Too Hot - Prince Buster All-Stars 
• 2 Folk Song - Tony & Dennis 
• 3 Beware - Overtakers 
• 4 Ain’t That Loving You - Alton Ellis & The Flames 
• 5 Thinking - Ken Boothe 
• 6 Right On Time - The Sensations 
• 7 Hey There Lonely Girl - Glen Adams 
• 8 Real Cool - Tommy McCook & the Supersonics 
• 9 Love & Devotion - The Uniques 
• 10 Once a Man (Twice a Child) - Justin Hinds & the Dominoes 11 Musically - Keith Blake 
• 12 Riding On a High and Windy Day - The Paragons 
• 13 True Believer in Love - Delroy Wilson 
• 14 Lonely Street - The Conquerors 
• 15 The Russians Are Coming (aka Take Five) - Val Bennett 
• 16 There Comes a Time - The Techniques 
• 17 Fu Man Chu - Desmond Dekker & the Aces 
• 18 Losing You - The Ethiopians 
• 19 Where Must I Go - Errol Dunkley 
• 20 I Don’t Care at All - Hamlins

Bass Culture Vol. 2 - Boss Sounds / Early Reggae 1968-72

CD 1:

• 1 Funky, Funky Reggae - Dave Barker / Tommy McCook / The Supersonics 
• 2 Come Down ’68 - Lord Creator 
• 3 Breaking-Up - Alton Ellis 
• 4 Hold You Jack - Derrick Morgan 
• 5 Tickle Me for Days - The Pioneers 
• 6 Bongo Nyah - Little Roy 
• 7 Jumping Jack - Karl "Cannonball" Bryan 
• 8 Qua Kue Shut - The Creations 
• 9 I Am Coming Home - Pat Kelly 
• 10 You Can’t Do That to Me - Bob Marley & the Wailers 
• 11 Don Juan - Boris Gardiner & The Love People 
• 12 This Life Makes Me Wonder - Delroy Wilson 
• 13 Well Red (aka Well Dread) - The Ethiopians 
• 14 Bigger Boss - Ansell Collins 
• 15 Pressure Drop - Toots & the Maytals 
• 16 Everywhere I Go (Travel With Love) - Justin Hinds & the Dominoes 
• 17 Zylon - Lloyd Charmers 
• 18 A No Fi Mi Piccn’y - Max Romeo 
• 19 Maybe Someday - John Holt & The Paragons 
• 20 30-60-90 - Jackie Mittoo 

CD 2:

• 1 The Burner - Vin Gordon 
• 2 Such is Life - Lord Creator 
• 3 River to the Bank - Derrick Morgan 
• 4 It’s Alright - Ken Parker 
• 5 Warfare - Count Machukie / Bunny Lee All Stars 
• 6 Problems - Desmond Dekker 
• 7 Each Time - Ebony Sisters 
• 8 Night and Day - Toots & the Maytals 
• 9 Here I Come Again - Winston Samuels 
• 10 Treat You Right - Bob Marley & the Wailers 
• 11 The Night Doctor - The Upsetters 
• 12 Foey Man - George Dekker 13 Work It - The Viceroys 
• 14 Wha’ She Do Now - The Gaylads 
• 15 Your Love is a Game - Dave Barker 
• 16 Dollar of Soul - J.J. All Stars 
• 17 Every Day is Just a Holiday - The Sensations 
• 18 It’s Gonna Take a Miracle - Ken Boothe 
• 19 End Dust (aka End Us) - Randy's All Stars 
• 20 Just One Kiss - Cornell Campbell

Bass Culture Vol.3 – When Reggae Was King - Roots, Rockers, Djs & Dub 1970-1980

CD 1:

• 1 Horace Andy - Every tongue shall tell 
• 2 Bob Marley & The Wailers - Caution 
• 3 Roy Shirley - Israelites leave Babylon 
• 4 Tommy McCook & The Impact All-Stars - Jaro 
• 5 African Brothers - Lead us father 
• 6 Joe Higgs - Hard times don't bother me 
• 7 Dillinger - Natty Kung Fu 
• 8 Freddie McKay - I'm a free man 
• 9 Psalms - Rolling Stone 
• 10 Cedric IM Brooks & The Light of Saba - Rebirth 
• 11 Cornell Campbell - Give me love 
• 12 Max Romeo:Tacko 
• 13 Sweeny & The Wailers Band - Won't come easy 
• 14 John Holt - Let the wicked run away 
• 15 Augustus Band - Won't come easy 
• 16 John Holt - Let the wicked run away 
• 17 Augustus Pablo - Dub or aniser 
• 18 Gregory Isaacs - A Riot 
• 19 The Mighty Diamonds - Have mercy 
• 20 Pablo Moses - Blood money 
• 21 Dennis Brown - Children of Israel
• 22 Winston & Ansel - Zion I

CD 2:

• 1 Peter Tosh - Get up stand up (Acoustic Version) 
• 2 The Gladiators - Mix-Up 
• 3 Johnny Clarke & The Aggrovators - Blood (Version) 
• 4 Big Youth - Love we a deal with 
• 5 The Abyssinians - Dem a come 
• 6 Niney The Observer - Mutiny (Confusion in a Babylon) 
• 7 Gregory Isaacs - One more time 
• 8 Prince Far I - Throw away your gun 
• 9 Israel Vibration - Prophet has arise 
• 10 Sly Dunbar - Rasta Fiesta 
• 11 Culture Natty - Never get weary 
• 12 Dennis Brown - Deliverance will come 
• 13 The Arabs - Suru (Lere Dub) 
• 14 Burning Spear - African teacher 
• 15 I Roy - Fire in a wire 
• 16 Sugar Minott - The people got to know 
• 17 The Twinkle Brothers - Free Africa 
• 18 Black Uhuru - Plastic smile 
• 19 The Viceroys - My Mission is impossible 
• 20 Horace Andy - Natty dread a weh she want

Bass Culture Vol.4 – Mash You Down - The Birth Of Dancehall 1978-1985

CD1

• 1 Shine Eye Gal - Black Uhuru
• 2 Mash You Down - Cornell Campbell
• 3 Rub a Dub Style - Ranking Trevor
• 4 Name of the Game - The Fantails
• 5 Cool Out Son - Junior Murvin
• 6 Ababa John I - Don Carlos
• 7 Youth Man - Noel Phillips
• 8 Soon Forward - Gregory Isaacs
• 9 Bubble Up Yu Hip - Eek-A-Mouse
• 10 Time Is a Moment in Space - Wayne Smith
• 11 Gone Water Gone - Lee Van Cleef 
• 12 Fat She Fat - John Holt 
• 13 Rub ‘n’ Scrub - Lone Ranger 
• 14 Can’t Stop Us Now - The Viceroys 
• 15 Boneman Connection - Nicodemus 
• 16 Gun Shot - Anthony Johnson 
• 17 Banana Export - Clint Eastwood & General Saint 
• 18 Poor and Humble - Wayne Wade 
• 19 No Time to Waste - Papa Bruce 
• 20 Roots Man Dubbing - Roots Radics 

CD 2

• 1 Mr Chin - Yellowman 
• 2 Fight I Down - Al Campbell 
• 3 Move Up - Sugar Minott 
• 4 I Can’t Stand It - Ringo 
• 5 No Shot Nuh Fire - Tristan Palmer 
• 6 Gwan a Dance - Ranking Toyan 
• 7 Bubbling Telephone (Chalice) - Charlie Chaplin 
• 8 Bang Belly - Sister Nancy 
• 9 Jah Black - Barrington Levy 
• 10 Woola Woop - Josey Wales 
• 11 In the Air Girl - Madoo 
• 12 Rocking Dolly - Cocoa Tea 
• 13 Argument - Jah Batta 
• 14 History of Jamaica - Early B 
• 15 Pull it Up Now - Michael Palmer 
• 16 World a Music - Ini Kamoze 
• 17 Bubbling Style - Little John 
• 18 See Them a Come - Pad Anthony 
• 19 Ring the Alarm - Tenor Saw 
• 20 Run Down the World - Nitty Gritty

6 Wheels - 2 Legs

This is the world's first bike carrier on a bike trailer. I'm using a "Carry Freedom Y-Frame" trailer made in Scottland. It carries up to 180 lb! The self made frame has a humble bike carrier for transport on car tops screwed on. Works fine!