RIP Ranking Roger

[Drunk Monk]

The Beat singer Ranking Roger dies aged 56
Roger Charlery also performed with members of the Specials and Dexys Midnight Runners
Jedidajah Otte and agency
Tue 26 Mar 2019 18.25 EDTLast modified on Tue 26 Mar 2019 21.00 EDT
[/url]

[url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/mar/26/the-beat-singer-ranking-roger-dies-aged-56?fbclid=IwAR0tiZGtzi-8cKhqhnCdOmppVXw7C3AdkL26qzpRiEUfwYcJSyFDsfyk16U#img-1] Ranking Roger of the Beat at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London in 2017. Photograph: Lorne Thomson/Redferns
Roger Charlery, the vocalist of the Beat and General Public better known as Ranking Roger, has died aged 56.
Charlery died on Tuesday at home surrounded by his family, according to a statement on the Beat’s website.
It said: “He fought & fought & fought, Roger was a fighter. Sadly Roger passed away a few hours ago peacefully at his home surrounded by family.
“Roger’s family would like to thank everyone for their constant support during this tough time. More to follow in the coming days. RIP ROGER!”
It was revealed in January that the Birmingham-born singer had been diagnosed with two brain tumours and lung cancer. He suffered a stroke last summer.
Charlery founded the Beat in Birmingham in 1978. The band fused traditional ska music with elements of pop, new wave, punk rock and latin, and became a pioneer in the two-tone music genre.
The band released three studio albums in the early 1980s: I Just Can’t Stop It(1980), Wha’ppen? (1981) and Special Beat Service (1982). Among the Beat’s biggest hits were Mirror in the Bathroom, Too Nice to Talk To and their cover versions of Can’t Get Used to Losing You and Tears of a Clown.
The Beat were most popular in the US and Canada, where the band were known as the English Beat for legal reasons and to avoid confusion with the American pop-rock band the Beat.
Musician and activist Billy Bragg paid tribute to Charlery, who played in bands with members of the Specials and Dexys Midnight Runners during his nearly 40-year career. Bragg said: “Very sorry to hear that Ranking Roger has passed away. Rest easy, Rude Boy.”
Matt Hoy, a touring vocalist with UB40, sent his condolences to Charlery’s family. In a post on Instagram, he wrote: “Rest in Peace Ranking Roger, such sad news!! Lovely guy... Way to young!! Condolences to his family.”
Pauline Black, who fronted the two-tone revival band the Selector, also paid tribute. She posted a short excerpt from Hamlet, which read: “Goodnight sweet prince. And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”
The reggae group UB40 tweeted: “R.I.P Ranking Roger, Big Love”
Despite health challenges, Charlery released an album, Public Confidential, in January and finished a memoir, which will be published this spring.

A true pioneer of ska and two tone.

[thatguy]

Dang...we were thinking of going to the Moe's on Saturday for the EB show for a friend's b-day, but plans are up in the air still. I bet it will be a special show. Probably sell out.

this one your unity rocker, lord
stick him in your living room
and turn off the light eh
bet you wouldn't know if he was black or white
boy!
say what's the use in fighting?
man say, i say you shouldn't really fight
tek him to a discoteque
tek him to a pub eh!
tek him to a blues and then
you play him rub a dub eh say you shouldn't really fight, man say
say you shouldn't really fight
each and every day i walk through the streets
and I see man and man war and kill each other
because you are black or you are white
so what's the use in fighting?
war alright
because it's strictly love and unity
we a deal in today
and that we will never throw away
we will never throw away
war alright
i say just because you're brown
you no fe g'wan like a clown
just because you're white
you no fe gwan a likkle fight
say what's the use in fighting boy
i say you shouldn't really fight

--tg

[Drunk Monk]

That surely will be an awesome show.  They could tear up Moe's.

[King Bob]

That's the Dave Wakeling band - Ranking Roger hasn't played with them in years. Wakeling lives in Tahoe, and Roger was in the UK with his own version of the band.

Back in the 80's they put on a great show. Saw them at the Santa Cruz Civic.

[thatguy]

Moe's is Sold Out!

--tg