Dub Pistols have released ‘Dark Days Dark Times’(Feat. Mc Navigator & Seanie T) – the second single taken from their highly anticipated new album “Addict” set for release on September 11th 2020, through acclaimed label, Sunday Best Recordings.
“This was one of the first songs recorded for the album, drawing on the problem of gang related gun crime from a disenfranchised youth and the county line gang issue. All the while, highlighting how austerity and its effects, like closing youth clubs etc, has driven kids onto the streets and into these gangs.” Barry Ashworth says of ‘Dark Days Dark Times’.
Take a listen to the single HERE
‘Addict’ is the eighth studio album from the highly respected group. The record promises a melting pot of dubwise sensibility, junglist riddims and feelgood party anthems and is already shaping up to be one of the year’s essential releases.
“I recorded over 3 albums worth of music to get to the finished version of ‘Addict’,” says Dub Pistols mastermind Barry Ashworth. “Every time I finished a song, I would come up with another idea for a track and an artist I wanted to work with. It’s been incredible to collaborate with all the legends that I have on this record, but it’s also the new emerging talent such as Natty Campbell and Gardna that have really given me new enthusiasm. The album has taken two years to record but has been 25 years in the making.”
Dub Pistols previously released their incredible single “Stand Together” back in June which features 2 Tone heroine, Rhoda Dakar who fronted all-female band, The Bodysnatchers, recorded with The Specials, Madness and most recently toured with The Selecter on their 40 years of 2Tone Tour as a DJ and Special guest. In these unprecedented times, Dub Pistols and Rhoda hope the message rings loud and clear.
“ ‘Stand Together’ was written about how far we’ve come, but how much further we still have to go when it comes to the war against racism. We used footage from civil rights movements as the basis of the video and now to watch what is going on over in America and how racism is still so seismic in our society is devastating. We need to stand together, learn from history, and move forward – united.” – Barry Ashworth
“If you reflect the world you see in your lyrics, events will always catch up to you. Sometimes that happens sooner than you expect. #StandTogether” – Rhoda Dakar
Full album tracklist is as follows:
1 – Addict (Feat. Cheshire Cat)
2 – Dark Days Dark Times (Feat. Mc Navigator & Seanie T)
3 – Old Skool (Feat. Horseman)
4 – Stand Together (Feat. Rhoda Dakar)
5 – Chalice (Feat. General Jah Mikey)
6 – Wicked & Wild (Feat. Natty Campbell)
7 – Cool Out (Feat. Lindy Layton & Seanie T)
8 – Two Generals (Feat. Ragga Twins)
9 – Sound Sweet (Feat. Natty Campbell)
10 – Camberwell Carrot (Feat. Natty Campbell)
11 – Sound Boy (Feat. Cheshire Cat)
Following the success of 2017’s ‘Crazy Diamonds’ (which hit the Official UK Top 40 and scored them a UK Independent chart Top 5 album) ‘Addict’ features mic skills from 2-Tone heroine Rhoda Dakar, stalwart MC Navigator, long-term collaborator Lindy Layton, foundation MCs the Ragga Twins, as well as permanent live vocalist of the past few years, Mr Seanie T. As Barry confidently confirms: “I think it’s the best album we’ve ever done”.
Whilst the record is an electrifying, good-time listening experience as you might expect; it hasn’t arrived without its personal difficulties. During the recording process, the Dub Pistols tragically lost one of their most prominent members, Will Hensel. Whilst nothing will replace Will’s energy and influence, the album will aim to pay fitting tribute to the dearly departed Dub Pistol. “Losing Will was a huge down-point,” says Barry, “but we want to celebrate him in this album.”
Every bit the riotous collision of drum & bass, hip-hop, ska, dub and punk they’ve always been, Dub Pistols continue to push the boundaries with every release they put to their name.
Since their formation in 1996, Dub Pistols have survived international terrorism, inter-band warfare, and the wheels falling off their operation numerous times. Now a slickly drilled outfit, they’ve nevertheless lost none of their kick-ass vitality and renegade edge wherever they rock up to play.
Dubbed ‘the hardest working man in showbiz’ by music industry peers, Barry Ashworth has worked in music all his adult life. An Ibiza original who had his life changed by acid house, he started running club-nights in London and had soon formed a band, Deja Vu, who arrived during the Flowered Up/Happy Mondays ‘baggy’ era. When Deja Vu split, Barry started DJing and the Dub Pistols formed out of some of these madcap DJ sessions. Releasing the first Dub Pistols album, ‘Point Blank’ in 1998, the last two decades have been a riot of storming shows, missed opportunities, big bad basslines, calamities, and triumphs — with scarcely a dull moment in between.
Fast forward to 2020, and Barry Ashworth’s merry gang of outlaw reprobates are busier than ever despite a global pandemic and remain an unstoppable force in the UK’s alternative music scene. With new album ‘Addict’, the premiere of a brand new documentary (appropriately titled ‘What Could Possibly Go Wrong?’ its set to put a spotlight on the band’s extraordinary career to date. More information on this very soon) and much more this year, 2020 promises to be off the chain for Dub Pistols.
Dub Pistols will also be hosting their own: Mucky Weekender festival at a “Secret Location” in Sussex on the 11th-12th September 2020. So-named after one of their most popular live tracks, the festival is returning for a second year after a roaring SOLD OUT success in 2019 and will boast a hand-picked bill of their favourite DJs and performers including: Justin Robertson, A-Skillz, Uncle Dugs, Jon Carter, Too Many T’s, Don Letts, Doorly and many more; alongside a headline performance from Dub Pistols themselves.
Speaking about Mucky Weekender, Barry says: “I’ve always wanted to do my own festival, having come from a promoting background…God knows if I’m just being an idiot, but I’ve been to enough festivals in my time to know what makes a good one. I’ve helped so many people with their festivals, so it seems only natural to do our own thing now as well.”
Full line up and details of the Mucky Weekender can be found here: https://mucky-weekender.co.uk
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