Ranking Roger - A Talent Taken Too Soon - Rest In Peace

Last week in Brighton, in the middle of a Stranglers gig, I was passed the awful news that The Beat's Rankin' Roger had died. What a tremendous loss in the year that the UK celebrates the 40th anniversary of the remarkable musical phenomena that was 2 Tone.

Together with The Specials and The Selecter, The Beat spoke out against intolerance in UK society. They shaped the attitudes and politics of a huge swathe of young people, the very same attitudes that are so important as we once again face division and uncertainty in the UK.

We saw The Beat many times, the last time in May 2018 in Hatfield not long before Roger fell ill. One of the most enjoyable occasions was when he invited our two children on stage at the end of a gig in Bishops Stortford. He was so genuinely thrilled that these two people had spent the whole evening skanking along with the band.

Thanks for the music Roger, the country is poorer now that you have left the stage.