Roots Archives Forum

Taken from Greensleeves webiste :

02.03.10
R.I.P Roderick ‘The Dude’ Harvey
Greensleeves were sad to learn today that Roderick ‘The Dude’ Harvey original drummer of Capital Letters passed away this morning, Wednesday 3rd February. Capital Letters were the first group to sign with Greensleeves Records enjoying an impressive UK and continental hit with their debut single ‘Smoking My Ganja’. The resulting album “Headline News’ set new standards for the UK reggae and Capital Letters built a formidable reputation as a live draw the length and breadth or Europe. Our thoughts go out to his friends and family at this time of great sadness

Sad news...

Oh ... terrible news. I actually have a photo of Capital Letters signing their contract. I don't know where I found it. Probably at the Greensleeves website.

Fi With Parents - is a killer track, wonder if that same beat was used in any DJ or dub versions?

Always thought Capital Letters was Jamaican/US act but reading across the messages it's UK instead, learnt something there.

Buzz Rock from Headline News is my fave from this band, plus the storming Smoking My Ganga. Lovely updates of the last tune by Disciples & RDK a few years ago on Universal Roots label 2 x 10"s and 7" pre.

Yeah, very sad news about The Dude.

Capital Letters were active at a time when UK reggae bands were working hard to crack the British consciousness. Live music was really the thing and roots reggae musiciands understood that. In Jamaica, most of the work was studio based, but Britain was different at that time, with audiences liking to see bands more than DJs.

Lots of big and small bands gigging endlessly through the late 70s and 1980s: Talisman, Black Roots, Black Symbol, Natural Ites & Realistics, Matumbi, Aswad, Misty In Roots, Steel Pulse, King Sounds & The Israelites and more.

yup, you had icarus, tribesman, merger, red cloud, black slate, oshama and many more as well

First of all, R.I.P Roderick ‘The Dude’ Harvey.

I reckon there were around 100 Reggae bands in the UK from 75 to 85. Those were the days...the whole scene has changed.

Many of these bands never released an album unfortunately or even a 7". And no videos available.
I didn't know about Icarus or Oshama....( and I thought I knew about UK bands, specially London! )

Chalice UK, Creation Rebel, Jah Warriors...

Inyaki, you must be able to add to this list?

D

There was another band called Eclipse who I saw in concert, I think they released a 7" which I have somewhere in the attic but I can't remember what it was called!

Jesco,

We will wait until you Return from the attic, no worries.

Regards,

Gozer