Skasplash tour 1996

The Skasplash tour 1996 with The Skatalites, Laurel Aitken, House Of Rhythm and DJ Ras Claude plus different local bands for “the ultimate SKA train – 5 hours of TOTAL MADNESS” from October 16th to November 17th 1996.

There is another blog of mine with the diary day-by-day that is made exactly 20 years after the tour. Here you only find a short summary of the whole tour. Each title is a link to the original page of the diary and opens a new tab. All pictures are taken by Ras Claude except when noted.

Travel to Tours

1^st day, Tours, France, Wednesday, 16^th of october 1996, La Pleiade

Local band: none / DJ-set from stage (introducing the festival)

This is the first ever stage show of the Godfather of Ska and The Skatalites. In 1963 Laurel Aitken went to Jamaica to record some tunes with The Skatalites, but they never performed on stage before.

2^nd day, Limoges, France, Thursday, 17^th of october 1996, Salle John Lennon

Local band: none / DJ-set from platform

3^rd day, Barcelona, Spain, Friday, 18^th of october 1996, Garatge

Local band: Mount Zion / DJ-set from platform

The club is too small for too many people but the audience is singing “Patchito E-Chè” while The Skatalites is playing “Latin Goes Ska”.

4^th day, Bordeaux, France, Saturday, 19^th of october 1996, La Lune Dans Le Caniveau

Local band: none / DJ-set: from the bar with two turn-tables

When we arrived there is a caribbean cook with a massive pot of fish soup. Rolando is so happy with his fish head.

5^th day, Montpellier, France, Sunday, 20^th of october 1996, Rockstore

Local band: none / DJ-set: plus radio station

Meeting Gaz Mayall because he have some day offs in Montpellier on tour with The Trojans. His announcement on stage is brilliant. This show has been used for the live disc.

6^th day, Montpellier, France, Monday, 21^st of october 1996, day off

Enjoying Montpellier with Laurel Aitken.

7^th day, Toulouse, France, Tuesday, 22^nd of october 1996, Le Bikini

Local band: none / DJ-set: only one disc-player

8^th day, France, travel day

A long trip from south of France to the north-west (near Nantes)

9^th day, Apremont, France, Thursday, 24^th of october 1996, Le Grand Duc

Local band: none / DJ-set: only one disc-player

From left to right: Bessa, Kirk Thorne, Cutty Williams, Jeff Lucas, Tony Looby, Dave Nicholson

The Skatalites playlist:

• Freedom Sounds
• Man In The Street
• ??? (I wasn’t sure, then… I haven’t recognize it. I guess it was Two For One or Lee Harvey Oswald)
• You’re Wondering Now with Doreen Shaffer
• Simmer Down / Turn Your Lamps Down Low with Doreen Shaffer
• Come Dung with Laurel Aitken
• Phoenix City
• Sugar Sugar with Doreen Shaffer
• Bridge View
• Freedom Sounds Reprise
• Guns Of Navarone

This was Will Clarks event. He just played from outer space.

10^th day, Paris, France, Friday, 25^th of october 1996, Le Divan Du Monde

Local band: none / DJ-set from a platform on stage with a local toaster

Exclusive recording of Laurel Aitken & The Skatalites in Paris 1996 – Come Down (originally by Lord Tanamo).

11^th day, St. Brieuc, France, Saturday, 26^th of october 1996, Festival Art Rock

Local band: Marousse / DJ-set from platform with live playing the flute

12^th day, Thiers, France, Sunday, 27^th of october 1996, Festival des R

Local band: D Abuz Sound System & Expression Direkt / DJ-set: on stage

13^th day, Thiers, France, day off

Washing day with some of the crew. Still sharing my room with Roland Alphonso.

14^th day, Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, 29^th of october 1996, Palladium

Local band: none / DJ-set on stage

15^th day, Münchenbuchsee, Switzerland, Wednesday, 30^th of october 1996, Freizeitanlage

Local band: Ventilators / DJ-set: none

16^th day, Marghera, Italy, Thursday, 31^st of october 1996, Oasi

Local band: Fahrenheit 451 / DJ-set: from a platform (announced as Jamaican DJs)

17^th day, Aosta, Italy, Friday, 1^st of november 1996, Libre Tutti

Local band: Skasters / DJ-set: from a platform for a massive crowd

18^th day, Quiliano, Italy, Saturday, 2^nd of november 1996, Palasport

Local band: Skankin’ Time / DJ-set: from stage as DJ Claude from London with MC Mr. Puma

There is a recording made at the desk. I had to confiscate the tape. Here is one sample “Police Woman”.

Nathan opens the solos, followed by Roland and Lester the finish is by the great Will Clark. With his brilliant citation of Hawai 5-0 solo!

19^th day, Torino, Italy, Sunday, 3^rd of november 1996, Barrumba

Local band: none / DJ-set from behind the stage

20^th day, Munich, Germany, Monday, 4^th of november 1996, Muffathalle

Local band: none / DJ-set from beside the mixing desk

21^st day, Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, 5^th of november 1996, FZW

22^nd day, Chemnitz, Germany, Wednesday, 6^th of november 1996, Kraftwerk

Local band: none / DJ-set for the Skinheads

23^rd day, Berlin, Germany, Thursday, 7^th of november 1996, SO 36

Local band: none / DJ-set from platform

There is another time, I see the house mixer recording the show. I took the tape, here is a little sample.

I’m In The Mood For Ska – Laurel Aitken & The Skatalites

24^th day, Hamburg, Germany, Friday, 8^th of november 1996, Fabrik

Local band: none / DJ-set: none

25^th day, Lund, Sweden, Saturday, 9^th of november 1996, Mejeriet

Local band: none / DJ-set: very nice

Because of restrictions at the Danish border, Bessa (keyboarder for Osibisa and House Of Rhythm) wasn’t allowed to cross Danmark to enter Sweden. It was ridiculous, because he had all visas for Scandinavia. But he’s the only African in the crew (from Ghana) and we had to leave him behind. The two shows in Lund and Helsinki is Bill Smith on keyboard for House Of Rhythm and Laurel Aitken. I’m amazed how easy this works.

26^th day, travel day

27^th day, Helsinki, Finland, Monday, 11^th of november 1996, Tavastia

Local band: none / DJ-set: Daddy T Roy

The show at Tavastia was recorded and released on disc. The DJ for the night was Daddy Roy and I played just two tracks after show, but it was the greatest day on this tour. Wonderful people in Helsinki.

28^th day, Helsinki, Finland, day off

Cutty Williams (vocalist for House Of Rhythm) and in the background Bill Smith, as Bessa wasn’t available in Scandinavia (upper left corner).

29^th day, travel day

30^th day, Leeuwaarden, Netherlands, Thursday, 14^th of november 1996, Harmonie

Local band: Die Gummipuppen / DJ-set: yes

31^st day, Eindhoven, Netherlands, Friday, 15^th of november 1996, Effenaar

Local band: Let’s Quit / DJ-set: two other DJs made the after-show

32^nd day, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Saturday, 16^th of november 1996, Melkweg Max

Local band: Boter, Ska & Eieren / DJ-set: cool from balcony

This is the third show that is recorded for the album release. For my ears it wasn’t that great. But the party was massive!

On the diary page there is another recording of this show.

33^rd day, Antwerpen, Belgium, Sunday, 17^th of november 1996, Hof Ter Lo

Local band: none / DJ-set: none

It’s the final show of the tour on the continent. They went to London afterwards, but I wasn’t part anymore.