THE SKALATONES (feat. Charley Anderson, Selecter)

It was that stomping energy that joined together The Skalatones into a band in 1995. Most of them had backgrounds in local rock/punk bands, but it was not until they joined forces that the Ska-scene in Scandinavia really exploded. Since then the Skalatones have skanked their way up the international Ska-scene.
After the release of a 6 track demo, the band got a phone call from legendary Ska-guru Charley Anderson (ex Selecter). Later that night he grabbed a mic, turning a gig at a festival into an unforgettable show. (Some of us still shiver just thinking about it!)
This was the beginning of a friendship which made Charley an international full member of the Skalatones. Though presently living in Italy, Charley meets up with the rest of the band for recording sessions and to skank the living daylights out of the audience at gigs.
Their debut CD, the 5 track EP "Ruder than Roots" (CD-EP, 1997/Rough Rider Rec., re-released 1998/Sidekicks Rec.), was a perfect blend of traditional 60’s ska and rock steady, 80’s and 90’s upbeat ska, reggae and rock. Charley contributed vocals on most of the tracks, and the lyrics and lead vocals on "4 Of Them Out Of Jail".
Between gigs, the guys (with Charley) went into the studio to record their first full-length album. On "By Public Demand" (released in November 1997) 9 brand new shake down party ska stompers joined "4 Of Them Out Of Jail" and "Arte Bella" (the Ken Boothe and Stranger Cole ska classic), to a total of 11 ska stompers made for dancing.
Several ska compilations released in 1997-1999, such as A Tribute to Madness (Dolores Rec.), ”Have Fun...Fight Fascism” (Mad Butcher Rec.), Scandinavian Dance Craze and Cheap Shots III (Burning Heart Rec.), also featured tracks from The Skalatones.
The follow-up CD-single; "Mr Probation Officer", released in April 1998, provided ska-listeners all over the world with "that irresistible ska attitude" in songs like "Going Nutty", "Saturday", the unforgettable "Gold" (by Charley Anderson) and of course the single-mix of "Mr Probation Officer", accompanied by still another fascinating remix of the same song, though renamed "On Parole".
A tour of Germany (and Prague) in late December really proved that the band were in tune with ska music. A Skalatones’ compilation with ”The Best Tracks So Far” was released on German label Pork Pie Records in November 1998.
The band also took some time to write new songs for their second full-length album: ”Tune In..” (released in May 1999/Sidekicks Records). The CD was recorded in February, and produced by Lynval Golding (from the Specials), who came over to Sweden from Seattle, and he was a great inspiration during the recording and mixing of the album.
In the Year 2000 the Skalatones celebrated their 5th year as a band with the single Y2K ANNIVERSARY SINGLE (2000) (AMTY 003 /STEP 003 )