Coventry Music Articles by Pete Clemons: Roddy Radiation

Roddy Radiation

by Pete Clemons

No sooner had the current version of The Specials stepped off the stage for the last time, after holding court at the old cathedral for 4-nights, when another one-time key member of the band was about to step onto his, for another of his solo gigs. This time it was at the Jaguar Club just off Browns Lane.

Guitarist, and former member of the Specials, Roddy Radiation, has been assembling his own sizeable tour for 2019. And this includes several gigs in and around his home city of Coventry.

Some of these gigs, as seen recently at the Godiva festival and Jaguar Club are intimate affairs. Just Roddy and his guitar. Solo gigs, such as these, are not easy things to do especially when you are used to having a band around you. But, to be fair, Roddy does them really well. The songs he performs are familiar, and, are all his. Well almost. Some are covers and some he had a hand in. The set for the Jag Club was as follows:

Gangsters

Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks)

Hey Little Rich Girl

His Cat Needs a Kitten

Do Nothing

Forgive and Forget (Neil Hunter)

Rat Race

Johnny

But where Roddy appears to be most comfortable is with his band, The Skabilly Rebels, where he appears with Joe Harcourt – guitar, Lee Pratt – drums, Connor O'Connor – bass and Adrian R Lee – sax. Between them they produce a very mixed sound that draws from Rockabilly. But with an extra added twist. My best description of ‘Skabilly’ is that the music is a mix of rock, blues, ska and punk with a 50's/60's beat. Additionally, The Skabilly Rebels are very uplifting, and have that rare ability to get your feet and body moving spontaneously.

I imagine that a lot people reading this will have already discovered the delights of The Skabilly Rebels but for those who have not well this is a genuinely excellent band that brings with them an incredible feel good factor.

Most recently The Skabilly Rebels have released two EP’s titled ‘Fallen Angel’ and ‘Losing Control’. And if these had been released by Dave Edmunds or The Stray Cats then the music critics would be falling over themselves to churn out superlatives by the dozen.

As mentioned Roddy has a stack of dates lined up. And you can see the band at several venues, up and down the country, before the year is over. Expect a similar set list as above but with the addition of tunes like Another Rusty Nail, Black Zodiac, Doldrums and Judgement Day and many others.

After a recent Specials gig I was talking with friends about how their songs, from 40 years ago, still sounded good despite the passage of time. My only conclusion was that they were simply brilliant. Being not that far out of my teens, I didn't appreciate that during 1979/80, but I certainly do now.

I mentioned this to Roddy, during a brief chat we had over social media. Roddy, despite having his struggles since quitting The Specials, came across as more philosophical nowadays. ‘I’ve been pretty lucky health wise’ he said. ‘But at 64 things are starting to wear out. I’ve lost a few close friends recently. Life is far too short I’m very aware of that now’.

Roddy’s songs will be around long after we have all disappeared. Very few can claim the kind of legacy that he can. And he can be very proud of his achievements.

If you google ‘Roddy Radiation tour’ you will see lists of his current activity. Or if you fancy any of his CD’s or other merch then go to roddyradiation.com