Selecta I suspect I am of the age you suspect I am!
I was born in 1960!
I was 16 when Punk and reggae exploded onto the UK scene. Just the right age to get the max out of that situation.
I didn't really join the E era, but experienced it in some small measure and have been a fan of the music of those times - in fact I just scored a big job lot of dance vinyl from 1990 - 2000 era. I like this stuff, made before dance music did just what reggae did and turned up the speed but played down the roots vibe!
I have been to Melbourne many times. I can easily imagine it as a city that would rock to the reggae beat. It reminded me very much of some small English Victorian towns that grew big.
I don't think it's a materialistic thing, but a fashion thing. It's the "package" of music and fashion that drives revivals.
Look at all of the revivals you have mentioned and the fashion is a strong as the music.
Mods, teds, punks, rockabilly. You name it.
Thankfully, reggae doesn't have the fashion bit as part of it and I think that is why we like reggae so much. It transends trends, has depth and has strength.
Fashion comes and goes, but style will out.
"Now I know the truth and must reveal it unto the youth."
and you are right, look at blues, no big fashion thing there either, just roots music that was born of suffering and survives today on the merits of the music, not no fashion bling ting.
Play the music and support revival labels.
Revival got ups and downs.
But the reggaefans are to diverse the make a strong
revival movement.
In Europe only France got a big revival see there release and tours.
Me too am a youth... 24, yeah...
And much invested in reggae...
sixty eight - eighty two, that's my number... The golden roots years... And down there ina switzerland, I dont feel alone... I was crazily alone on my road... but the people with a same strong trip have to meet... yeah and so I met the others there, youths and older... Youth that know much more than I do...
One of my good youth friend (29) just produced a tune with Prince Alla on vocal on his new label, a tuff 70s style stepper (not released yet) fully instrumental, no digikal biz there! He went himself with Prince in Kingston to record it... with mighty men, as he got personnal connections with many of them: Sly, BB Seaton, McAnuff, Chinna, Kiddus...
In my part of Switzerland, the vibe is more ina UK stylee... linked with Shaka, through the Cultural Warriors Sound System, if you know them. The Ja part is limited to Asher and his Positive Airlines that brought back Prince Alla and Sylford Walker to singing and recording. And we youth people invested in 70s sounds really plan to make somethinh big, to bring again the 70s vibe up on stage... and believe me, it takes time but many youths are willing to share this... Im full of hope to find them. Cause the great reggae is hard to access and we only hope to give a heavy link to it, and we'll do it.
Reggae revival will come big, cause we feel bad, and we find in this music the energy of life.
