U.K Ska Masters, The English Beat, To Perform On Long Island

PATCHOGUE, NY — The English Beat, U.K. ska masters key in the genre's revival of the 70s and 80s who developed a cult following stateside, will take the stage of the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts on March 28, according to a promotional.

Called The Beat in the U.K., its members are known as The English Beat in North America to avoid confusion with Paul Collins' group, Beat, the Patchogue Theatre's promotional said.

The band was fronted by vocalist and guitarist, Dave Wakeling, and toaster, Ranking Roger, out of Birmingham, England, according to the promotional. Its debut single, "Tears of a Clown" b/w "Ranking Full Stop," through the Specials' 2-Tone label was released in 1979 and landed in the Top 10 in the U.K., the promotional said.

The group struck a deal with Arista to distribute their own Go Feet label, according to the promotional.

In the 80s, the album, "I Just Can't Stop It," which was released by Sire in the U.S., went gold in England on the strength of "Mirror in the Bathroom," the promotional said.

Tickets run from $45 to $65.