About this blog

Please find on this blog my memories about some events of the past. Most of them concerning THE SKATALITES. It is designed like a diary. The funny about it is, that is exactly that day, but years later. The first dates are 20 years after the Skasplash tour 1996. The second part is 25 years after my first meeting with The Skatalites in 1992.

October 16 1996, the first Skasplash tour started in Tours.

Promoted as “the ultimate SKA train – 5 hours of TOTAL MADNESS” featuring The Skatalites (the legends of jamaican music), Laurel Aitken (the godfather of ska), House Of Rhythm (sensational south london outfit) plus local band plus DJ Ras Claude (yours truly).

2016… exactly 20 years after the real tour. I want you to participate on this crazy 33 days. And celebrating a wonderful time with wonderful people.

It was a time without mobile phone, WiFi/WLAN and GPS. In this blog you find now for the first time a complete diary of all days on tour with maps, routs and websites of today. Many never before released pictures, exclusive recordings, tour member paintings and poems.

Exclusively here on rootsconnection.ch/blog you will find from now until November 17 2016 some real memorable moments. And it’s true, since 20 years I’m working on this diary. But never found the right moment, form and place to release it.

20 years is long enough. Too many friends have left since. This blog is also in loving memory of some of the greatest musicians out of Jamaica: Tommy McCook, Rolando Alphonso, Lloyd Knibb, Lloyd Brevett, Laurel Aitken, Cedric IM Brooks, Rico Rodriguez, Johnny Dizzy Moore (all of them personal friends) and all the ones that gave massive influence and inspiration forever (but I never was in personal contact). To name just a few: Don Drummond, Jackie Mittoo, Prince Buster, Count Ossie, Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, Jacob Miller, Lynn Taitt, Jah Jerry, Keith Hudson and so on and on.

But you also find my very first meeting with Tommy McCook, Rolando Alphonso, Lloyd Knibb and Lloyd Brevett, after a 600 miles bicycle ride across France in 1992. Or my last tour with The Skatalites in 1997.

The year 1995 was a very special year for me. I was Radio DJ, promoter of shows with House of Rhythm, Laurel Aitken, The Trojans, Terrorgruppe and I was with my band Peacestreet on many stages all around Switzerland and last but not least the first recording was on Skampler No 2 released.

This blog is non commercial and strictly personal. If you don’t agree with my words or statements, please let me know. I will correct it immediately. Just write a personal e-mail (c@rootsconnection.ch) or as comment on this blog. If you agree you can write to me as well 😉

Excuse my English, it’s not my mother language. Thanks for overstanding (who wants to understand… I prefer standing over it ;-)) Got it?

Don’t worry, to become a member of this blog. Write comments. Send me your own stories and memories and pictures concerning The Skatalites, Laurel Aitken, House Of Rhythm, 1996 or close to that.

Yours truly
C-lector C
Ras Claude

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