The Skalatones were a Swedish
ska
Ska (; ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. It combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. Ska is characterized by a walki ...
band, formed in 1995 in
Landskrona
Landskrona (old da, Landskrone) is a town in Scania, Sweden. Located on the shores of the Öresund, it occupies a natural port, which has lent the town at first military and subsequent commercial significance. Ferries operate from Landskrona t ...
.
They have been compared to
The Specials
The Specials, also known as The Special AKA, are an English 2 tone and ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry. After some early changes, the first stable lineup of the group consisted of Terry Hall and Neville Staple on vocals, Lynval ...
,
The Selecter
The Selecter are an English 2 tone ska revival band, formed in Coventry, England, in 1979.
The Selecter featured a diverse line-up, both in terms of race and gender, initially consisting of Arthur 'Gaps' Hendrickson and Pauline Black on lead ...
and
Madness.
[David Flaherty, 'Tune In The Skalatones', ''Sunday Herald Sun'' elbourne, Australia(6 February 2000), p. 90.]
History
The group's first album, which came out in 1997, was ''
By Public Demand''. In 1998 they released the EP ''
Mr Probation Officer'' followed by another EP, ''
Ruder Than Roots'' and then the compilation ''
The Best Tracks So Far'' on the label Pork Pie.
Their second album emerged in 1999: ''
Tune In...''. This led to the single ''Anniversary Single 2YK'' in 2000. The band broke up in 2001.
In 2007, members of The Skalatones formed a new ska band,
Mobster
A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Most gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from '' mob'' and the suffix '' -ster''. Gangs provide a level of organization and ...
.
Discography
Album
* 1997: ''
By Public Demand''
* 1999: ''
Tune In...''
Compilations
* 1998: ''
The Best Tracks So Far''
EPs
* 1998: ''
Mr Probation Officer''
* 1998: ''
Ruder Than Roots''
Singles
* 2000: ''Anniversary Single 2YK''
References
Swedish pop music groups
English-language singers from Sweden
Musical groups established in 1995
{{Sweden-band-stub