English Beat and Fishbone Announce the SPRING SKAWARD TOUR

For Immediate Release                                                                                                          
January 11, 2010

THE ENGLISH BEAT and FISHBONECelebrate Career Milestones

with the SPRING SKAWARD Tour!

NEW YORK, NY - Two of alternative rock's most influential bands, Birmingham, England's THE ENGLISH BEAT and Los Angeles' FISHBONE are joining forces for a tour crossing the US. Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the release of their 1980 debut album I Just Can't Stop It, which spawned the seminal hits "Tears of a Clown", "Mirror In the Bathroom", "Best Friend", "Twist & Crawl", and "Too Nice to Talk To", The English Beat were a major part of the 2 Tone ska music revolution of the late 70s and early 80s, alongside their stablemates The Specials, Madness, and The Selector. Legendary for leading the US Ska/Rock fusion, Fishbone are celebrating their 25th Career Anniversary, which kicked off with their 1985 singles "Party At Ground Zero" and "? (Modern Industry)".

"I'm going to be celebrating the anniversary by doing what I enjoy the most - singing songs live to a fired-up audience, then traveling overnight on the bus to get ready to do it all over again," says Beat mastermind Dave Wakeling, about the tour. "You have to be a very confident band to follow Fishbone. They give no quarter, take no prisoners, and the stage is awash with their escapades. We are confident that together we can make this a night to remember!"

"We're very excited to tour with them," adds founding Fishbone member Angelo Moore, about his fellow tourmates. "Dave Wakeling and the Beat obviously ushered in a wave of ska that had a broad influence and was inspirational to bands like Fishbone, No Doubt, and Sublime."

A musical juggernaut with international ska-infused pop hits like "Save It For Later", "I Confess", and "Can't Get Used to Losing You" (in additional to the forementioned songs from their first album), English Beat's Dave Wakeling hasn't lost any momentum in songwriting. His brand of "Punky Reggae Party", the English Beat's hybrid was a delightful blend of Toots and the Maytals, the Velvet Underground, Buzzcocks, The Four Tops and Van Morrison. The English Beat has toured internationally with The Clash, Talking Heads, The Police, and REM among many others and has had prime soundtrack placement in Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Grosse Pointe Blank. New songs such as "The Love You Give Lasts Forever", "How Can You Stand There" and "Said We Would Never Die" are quickly becoming fan favorites and will soon be released in 2010. "I have plans to record this year," Dave explains. "Some great new demos done, and now I'm just figuring out how to put the recording and touring schedule together. Expect releases to begin by Summer!"

Legendary in the history of American Ska, Rock Fusion and (so-called) "Black Rock", Fishbone has toured worldwide with bands as wide-ranging as Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Roots, Primus, Fela Kuti, Dead Kennedys and many more. Angelo's ability to combine thought provoking, humorous social commentary with frenzied, uptempo music and frantic,euphorically entertaining stage shows has cultivated their reputation as one of the best live acts in music history. This year is going to be a busy one for the band. Angelo describes their 2010: "We'll be celebrating this year with Everyday Sunshine, a full-scale documentary release on the band's career retrospective, a live cd/dvd of the current band called Live in Bordeaux that was recorded last year in France, this tour with English Beat, SXSW, snowboard territories in Colorado and Utah in the Spring, Wakarusa festivals, some new music including a cover or Tupac's Changes, and a concert in NYC's Central Park with all the original members. Ummmm...and then Rock n Roll Hall of Fame..LOL!"

Louisiana's Outlaw Nation will be supporting the tour, bringing their blend of reggae, hiphop and pop into the mix. "They take ska on its next great adventure," describes Dave, "mixing Louisiana pocket with sweet melodies and sublime overtones. Lovely people too and great company on the road!" Adds Angelo, "We're excited to have them open. They're a great band that was influenced by the California reggae rock scene, but that throws in some of that southern fried funkadelia we all like so much." Outlaw Nation's current release New Day has just been released on Slightly Stoopid's record label Stoopid Records and includes the song "My Sweetness" featuring Angelo Moore of Fishbone and Dave Wakeling of the English Beat, and "Spliff City" featuring Miles from Slightly Stoopid.

SPRING SKAWARD
Tour dates

more dates to be added!

The English Beat: www.myspace.com/officialbeatspace and www.facebook.com/theenglishbeat
Fishbone: www.fishbone.net

Dave Wakeling of The English Beat, Angelo and Norwood of Fishbone are available for interviews.