Dave Wakeling

David Wakeling (born 19 February 1956) is an English singer, songwriter and musician, known for his work with the band the Beat (known in North America as the English Beat), and General Public.

Dave Wakeling
Wakeling on stage in 2007
Background information
Born (1956-02-19) 19 February 1956
Birmingham, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1978–present
LabelsI.R.S.
Associated acts
Websitedavewakeling.com

Career

I Just Can't Stop It, the first studio album by the Beat, included the singles "Mirror in the Bathroom", "Hands Off...She's Mine" and "Can't Get Used to Losing You", which all charted within the Top 10 on the UK Singles Chart. They also had UK hits from the studio albums Wha'ppen? (1981) and Special Beat Service (1982).

Wakeling then formed General Public with Ranking Roger in 1984, and they released their debut studio album All the Rage that year. He also recorded two other studio albums with General Public, Hand to Mouth (1986) and Rub It Better (1995), shortly after which the band disbanded.

He then produced the soundtrack for the John Hughes film She's Having a Baby (1988), in which he also recorded the title track.

In 1991, Wakeling released his sole solo album No Warning, on I.R.S. Records and has lived in California for a number of years. He regularly performs as the English Beat in North America[1], and has recorded two new songs that feature in the Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated episode "Dance of the Undead" which debuted in March 2013."[2]

Throughout his career, Wakeling has mainly used a left handed Vox Teardrop guitar aka: Vox Mark III, he was initially drawn the guitar as his favorite artist/guitarist Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones used one. "I wanted to be him and I used to play my cricket bat or my tennis racket and pretend it was a teardrop in the mirror when my mom had gone out shopping. I even bought a blond wig from a second-hand shop and I cut it out into a bob. As soon as I heard the front door I would think “Great, she’s gone”. I would take out the wig, the cricket back and play in front of the mirror."[3] On Apr 8, 2006, he donated his Vox of 26 years to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. [4]

Views

In a July 2012, Wakeling expressed concern over the United States' economic problems: "I have a nose tuned to the smell of the death of an empire, and I smell it now."[5]

Personal life

Wakeling is divorced, with two children, Max and Chloe. He resides in the San Fernando Valley, California.

In 1985, Wakeling announced in a press interview with Mother Jones magazine that he was bisexual.[6]

Discography
  • No Warning (1991 I.R.S. Records)
  1. I Want More
  2. No Warning
  3. Remember in the Dark
  4. Every Time You Look at Me That Way
  5. Sensation
  6. Freedom Fighter
  7. One + One + One
  8. Sex with You
  9. I'm Not Ready
  10. She's Having a Baby

Produced by Mark Goldenberg (tracks 1–9) and Steve Levine ("She's Having a Baby")

References
  1. Archived 15 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Marco On The Bass: Scooby Doo Episode Features New Music By The English Beat". Marcoonthebass.blogspot.com. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  3. Article in Ask the Artist
  4. Article in Punk Rock News
  5. "Dave Wakeling's Tuned Nose Knows Tenderness". Nymn.com. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  6. Block, Adam (February 1985). "Music: Dave Wakeling Goes Public". Mother Jones. San Francisco, USA: Foundation for National Progress. Retrieved 25 June 2015.

Notes
  • 1. The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll, Third Edition (Fireside, 2001)
  • 2. The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 8th Edition (Billboard Books, 2004)
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