David Hinds of Steel Pulse on homecoming show: ‘Birmingham still means so much to us’

Steel Pulse, one of Birmingham's most influential reggae bands, is celebrating 50 years in music.

Watch the interview.

Formed in Handsworth in 1975, the band has spread its powerful messages of unity and social justice across the globe. As part of their milestone celebrations, they’re returning to their roots for a homecoming show at the O2 Institute. I caught up with David Hinds, the founder of Steel Pulse, to reflect on the band’s remarkable journey and what this anniversary means for both the group and the city of Birmingham.

For tickets to the gig tomorrow (Friday, March 14) visit here.

Richard Gullick: So, David, it’s great to be able to speak to you. Steel Pulse has been making music for half a century now. How does it feel to bring that journey back to where it all began?

David Hinds: Well, bringing the journey back—never! It never left us in the first place. What it does feel like… I mean, I feel delighted that the band's message and music have remained current and relevant. And, you know, we're still a force to be reckoned with. So, obviously, I feel delighted. And still being in good health—that’s another plus.

Richard Gullick: Great stuff. So looking back, what were some of the biggest challenges the band faced in those early days?

David Hinds: In the early days, I’d say the biggest challenge was the record labels. Reggae was not a fashionable genre at the time. As we progressed, it became even more difficult. The bigger we got and the bigger the record labels became, the less they actually knew about reggae music—how to market it, how to operate within the genre. So the real challenge was convincing them of what the music was about and how it should be handled.

Richard Gullick: Your music has always had a strong political and social message. How do you think those messages resonate with people today?

David Hinds: A lot of people feel like we were predicting the future—like some kind of prophecy, you know? The fact that people recognise our efforts over the years keeps us going. It makes us feel like there’s still a reason for us to be here, to exist, to keep pushing forward. The love and momentum from those who support reggae, especially our style of reggae, keep us strong. Our political messages were a bit different from the standard reggae of the time, and that’s something people still appreciate today.

Richard Gullick: Do you see similarities between the issues people faced when the band started and those that affect communities now?

David Hinds: Oh, most definitely. One of the biggest issues we spoke about when we started was racism—it was rampant in the mid-'70s. You had people like Enoch Powell stirring things up. Even Eric Clapton made that statement in Birmingham back then about migrants coming into Britain. And if you look at Brexit, it's kind of the same scenario. There’s still this idea that Britain doesn’t want minorities trying to climb the financial ladder.

But what’s encouraging is that the older generation who followed Steel Pulse back in the day have passed our music down to their children and grandchildren. Now, you’ve got three generations who know our work. That’s a big plus.

Richard Gullick: Birmingham has changed a lot over the years. How do you feel about the city today compared to when Steel Pulse was first making a name for itself?

David Hinds: The city is a lot more cosmopolitan than it used to be. Growing up, there were a lot of no-go areas because of racism. Thetford, for example, was one of them. Quinton wasn’t much better. Bartley Green, too.

But now, you can go to those same places and see families from different ethnic backgrounds living together. Birmingham has grown, and it’s become more diverse. The nightlife is buzzing, especially on Broad Street and around the Bullring. There’s a positive energy now—a sense of people living together in harmony.

Richard Gullick: Do you think the city still has the same spirit and energy that inspired your early music?

David Hinds: It’s hard to say, because we’ve been out of the country a lot, touring all over the world—mainly in the US, South America, and Europe. So I’m not entirely sure.

What I do know is that I haven’t really seen another band come up with the kind of lyrics we did back then—tackling racism, unemployment, police brutality, all those issues. Those were the things people were talking about when we started. I don’t know if anyone has taken up that mantle in quite the same way.

Richard Gullick: Fantastic. So your homecoming show is a major event for fans. What can people expect from the performance?

David Hinds: Because the band has been touring regularly, we’re still in the groove. But reintroducing ourselves to the British market properly is still a work in progress.

For this show, we’re going back to where we left off—playing the songs that Britain knows us for. That means focusing on the first three albums while also mixing in some newer material. It’s going to be a challenge because some of these songs haven’t been performed in a long time.

I mean, we’re dusting off classics like Handsworth Revolution and Prodigal Son—songs that were on our debut album, which was in the top ten back in ‘78. So it’s a real exercise in memory and energy, but I think the fans will love it.

Richard Gullick: Great stuff. So do you have a message for your fans in Birmingham who've supported you over all these years?

David Hinds: My message is this—although we’ve been away for some time, we’ve never forgotten about Birmingham. You still mean so much to us. We’re grateful for all the years you’ve believed in us, carried our name, and kept our music alive in your minds and hearts.

I know Birmingham is proud of us, and we’re proud to represent the city. Thank you for your support over the years. Without you, there would be no Steel Pulse. We won’t forget that.

Richard Gullick: I really appreciate you taking the time to talk to us today, David.

David Hinds: God bless.