Thirty years ago this month, New York City reggae band Skadanks released their one and only LP, Give Thanks. The band and album had been a big part of my youth and, as such, during my earlier days of writing for Rootfire, I had authored an Album Showcase article about it. Unfortunately for fans of the band, this was their one and only LP and the only Skadanks music that can be streamed on digital platforms…until now.
On June 7, with the 30-year anniversary of Give Thanks serving as a partial catalyst, Skadanks released a new tune, titled “No Cocaine.” Musically, the song sounds like classic Skadanks, with Rocker-T’s singjay style vocals shining over a militant riddim. Still, I had to wonder, with Skadanks returning to drop a new single after three decades of dormancy, why would they opt not to come with a more original message? After all, Rocker-T, their principal lyricist, is a deeply spiritual being known for putting out profound music throughout his solo career.
It turns out there is a perfect explanation for this; the song was actually written by Skadanks as teenagers in 1987! According to keyboard player, Ricky Tepperberg, the band had recorded demo and live versions of the song but when they started going through personnel changes, it “kind of fell from their radar.” Then, during the pandemic lockdown when the band started archiving recordings of old shows and “random cassettes,” the tune resurfaced. They felt that, even years later, “the simple-sounding tune still held weight.” After some slight revisions to the verses courtesy of Rocker-T, the band decided to finally release the old classic.
Looking ahead, Skadanks intends to release more new singles followed by a full LP early next year. Tepperberg explained, “I think we all kinda feel like we have to rinse out the cannons…get some of these early labors of love out, and then come with the new.”
While Skadanks fans certainly look forward to that with excitement, in the meantime, we will be enjoying these throwback vibes.
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Over the years, he has interviewed many personalities throughout the reggae world including Ziggy Marley, Burning Spear, Lucky Dube, Bradley Nowell and many artists in the progressive roots scene.
Dave has also written and published a novel, “The Cosmic Burrito,” a tale of two friends who drive across the USA in search of the ultimate burrito. He plays ice hockey weekly for a recreational team he founded and manages, Team Rasta.
Reggae music has filled his life with a richness for which he will forever be grateful, and he gives thanks to musicians far and wide, past and present, whether they perform roots, dub, dancehall, skinhead, rocksteady or ska, whether their tools are analog or digital, as well as the producers, promoters, soundsystems, selectors and the reggae massive at large who comprise the international reggae community.
You can follow Dave on Instagram at @rootsdude and Twitter at @ElCosmicBurrito.