Black Slate
United Kingdom, London
Black Slate 
About Black Slate
A Peaceful Demonstration……..
The core members of this magnificent Band of Reggae Scientists Black Slate strike again; after forty years in the business
This time they are leaving their monument set in stone with
A Peaceful Demonstration……
Anthony-PureSilk-Brightly (key Boards), Chris-Musichouse-Hanson (Lead/Rhythm Guitar) and Desmond-Drummy-Mahoney (Drums/Congo);
They have earned the right the
...
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Members
Desmond Mahoney
Desmond Mahoney (co-founder) was born in Jamaica; he moved to the U.K. in 1967, and started his career in music in 1971 as the drummer for Young Ones From Zion. Mahoney’s musical influences were early ska, rock steady, and reggae, naming Dennis Al Capone, The Skatalites, Delroy Wilson, Toots Hibbert (Toots & The Maytals), and Bob Marley as the veteran singers and groups he frequently listened to. Adding that, “although Jamaican music - Dennis Brown, Owen Gray, Jackie Mittoo, and others – was what I knew first in my life, it all meshed with British lovers rock when I moved to England.” Mahoney joined Black Slate when the band formed in 1974. Stating that band members have parents from the West Indies, they have been influenced not just by Reggae but also by R&B, blues, pop music – which adds to their unique version of British Reggae. When the band stopped touring, Mahoney became involved in a sound system in North London, as well as managing several singers. Working with children in the community, Mahoney taught the youngsters how to understand music and the African and West Indian culture within the music. Saying that he wanted to, “close the gap, backwards,” Mahoney established educational projects for young people, showcasing different styles of music and teaching them about the evolution of music styles. Looking forward to touring the world with Black Slate, Mahoney studies history, Egyptian and African culture, and plays soccer.
Desmond Mahoney
Drummer Music Producer SongwriterDesmond Mahoney (co-founder) was born in Jamaica; he moved to the U.K. in 1967, and started his career in music in 1971 as the drummer for Young Ones From Zion. Mahoney’s musical influences were early...
Chris Music House Hanson
Chris “Music House” Hanson (co-founder) is one of the original members of Black Slate. Hanson was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1956, and immigrated to the U.K. at the age of 14. He began playing the guitar his mother bought him when he was 16, and says his musical influences were Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, and soul singers Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. Remembering back to Black Slate’s beginnings, Hanson recalls “hearing some teenagers making a lot of noise,” and then being asked to join them - with his guitar. After Black Slate disbanded in 1984, Hanson starting making dubplates for sound systems. This venture evolved into vinyl disc mastering in 1987, and Hanson founded Music House Studios which is now one of the largest distributors of vinyl in Europe. Stating that, “Black Slate is a group of strong individually-minded people,” the band has added their own touch which has resulted in their sound, their special combination of Jamaican and British Reggae sounds. Hanson, who will continue manufacturing and distributing vinyl recordings at Music House Studios, looks forward to releasing new music with Black Slate as well as re-releasing previous albums. “I am back with Black Slate... I am doing this for love.”
Chris Music House Hanson
Guitarist Mastering Music Producer Production Management SongwriterChris “Music House” Hanson (co-founder) is one of the original members of Black Slate. Hanson was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1956, and immigrated to the U.K. at the age of 14. He began playing the g...
Anthony Pure Silk Brightly
Anthony “Pure Silk” Brightly (co-founder) was born in London in 1960, and he did not wait long to become involved in music. Picking up the recorder at the age of six, Brightly began piano lessons the next year. Brightly was encouraged by his musical family; his parents and their friends enjoyed music, and often had their children play music at their various gatherings. His first band, “Mystron 5,” was formed when Brightly was eight; the band broke up in 1971 when he started secondary school. “In 1972,” Brightly recalls, “a friend run up to me, saying a club just up the road, Phoebe’s, was having a band competition and they were missing a keyboard player. That’s all the encouragement I needed! Remember, I was just 12 years old!” The band, Young Ones From Zion, meshed – with Chris Hanson, Desmond, Patrick King, Brightly, and Sandra Reed (vocals) – and later changed the group’s name to Black Slate. They started backing major Jamaican singers, Owen Gray, Errol Dunkley, Dennis Brown, and others, as well as Jamaican singers living in the U.K. The band returned to Phoebe’s to compete – and win. “We were like a mini-juke box: we were able to play every Reggae song we heard.” Black Slate worked - and rehearsed – hard, and soon became the Number 1 backing band, now on stage with Reggae greats Delroy Wilson, Prince Jazzbo, and others. Brightly was also involved in his father’s sound system; Sir George Sound was and continues to be a premier sound system in the U.K. Brightly made dubplates, learned to play all instruments (including horns) and, in 1975, he began recording, including the single, “Mix Up Man,” for Keith Drummond at his father’s recording studio. Remembering that Bob Marley’s Catch A Fire brought the first injection of roots rock Reggae music to the U.K., Brightly said that, “Black Slate decided to step out, to played wherever we could, whenever we could. We played for money and we played for nothing. We played our hearts out. We worked hard to get people’s attention. And we learned the art of being performers. We recorded ‘Sticksman,’ ‘Amigo,’ and ‘Freedom Time.’ It took us three years... After ‘Amigo’ was released, people would come to us and say, ‘Give us something like ‘Amigo’ and we’d tell them that was three years ago, we’ve moved on.” Brightly notes that the reunited Black Slate is unique in that they have kept their hands in the music industry, they still love playing music, and they can afford to return to the stage and to the Chris “Music House” Hanson (co-founder) is one of the original members of Black Slate. Hanson was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1956, and immigrated to the U.K. at the age of 14. He began playing the guitar his mother bought him when he was 16, and says his musical influences were Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, and soul singers Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. Remembering back to Black Slate’s beginnings, Hanson recalls “hearing some teenagers making a lot of noise,” and then being asked to join them - with his guitar. After Black Slate disbanded in 1984, Hanson starting making dubplates for sound systems. This venture evolved into vinyl disc mastering in 1987, and Hanson founded Music House Studios which is now one of the largest distributors of vinyl in Europe. Stating that, “Black Slate is a group of strong individually-minded people,” the band has added their own touch which has resulted in their sound, their special combination of Jamaican and British Reggae sounds. Hanson, who will continue manufacturing and distributing vinyl recordings at Music House Studios, looks forward to releasing new music with Black Slate as well as re-releasing previous albums. “I am back with Black Slate... I am doing this for love.” recording studio. Looking forward, Brightly nods that it is “a pleasure to perform again; we enjoy playing for live audiences – and it’s great to see that the audiences remember the words to our songs! Yes, Black Slate members are older and more mature, but we still have the vitality and energy to give a dynamic performance. Plus, with our maturity, we realize the importance of delivering the message, of the importance of sharing, remind people to share – it’s okay to share your joy, your art, your time, your knowledge. We are fortunate that music allows us to travel and to talk with people around the world about helping others who are less fortunate. We need to help each other, to feed ourselves, to survive. I am personally invested in establishing a foundation, PROMPT, to these ends: Purpose, Respect, Obedience, Manners, Punctuality, Training. Be prompt; that says it all.”
Anthony Pure Silk Brightly
Audio Engineer Music Producer Music Recording SongwriterAnthony “Pure Silk” Brightly (co-founder) was born in London in 1960, and he did not wait long to become involved in music. Picking up the recorder at the age of six, Brightly began piano lessons the ...
Press Release
“Sir George Sound and Bright Choice” Presents:
The Red-Carpet Film and Reggae music Showcase
With The Movie: The ‘Sticks Man’ Record
PLUS, a live show with
Black Slate and Nubian Queenz
“My aim is to tell our story whilst creating a cohesion between the generation of the 50s/60s, (my generation) and the Millennials.” said Anthony Brightly.
Anthony, The Executive Director of this auspicious event and original member of the chart-topping British Reggae Band ‘Black Slate.’ explains; “The best way I could achieve this cohesion of the generations was through music and film.”
From making the ‘Stick Man’ record in the 70s, to directing its biopic. I realized that the Millennials all possessed the same ambitions, whilst still facing similar challenges and obstacles that our generation and our parents before us also encountered, even though we were decades apart.
Collaborating with Director Daniel Glenn-Barbour of “4Deuce films” was great!
Daniel was the talent that was required, he demonstrated that he was able to understand how I wanted to convert sticks man from music to film. He already had a few short movies under his directorship.
He used unknown actors who are all so talented, which also made the legendary actress Judith Jacob of the BBC’s ‘East Enders’, proud to work with this young bright cast.”
It was memorable and exciting for me to see it all come together: “It was just brilliant to see Keon Martial-Philip play the Antagonist in ‘Yes Man’ then see him play the Innovator in ‘Stick Man’.”
‘Stick Man’ Synopsis Cert 15
Trailers ‘Stick Man: (expired link)
The ‘Stick Man’ record is an anti-robber man song which was originally recorded as a Dub Plate exclusive use on the Sir George Sound System back in the 70s. This biopic of the record tells the story of it going from a Dub Plate to it now being a dance hall anthem. The journey was not easy as friends fell out along the way.
Your host of the night will be Guvenor General, Moody Ranks, Martin Wynter and Dimpz N Lawz.
This special evening will be full of entertainment - History in the making “Music and Film” in a way that has never been done before.
This is a ticket only event
Date: Thursday 28th April 2022
Doors Open: 7:30pm
Venue: Hackney Picture House. 270 Mare Street, London, E8 1HE
Tickets: £25:00
Tickets
(expired link)
This track is recorded for a charity project, to help young people with cancer.
(expired link)
We just back from a mini tour, featuring my Son Gaven on lead vocals. We plan to release our new album in November, title Peaceful Demonstration look out for it.
We will be going to New Zealand in late January
Enjoy and thanks
Anthony Black Slate
Black Slate would like to let you know that we are preparing for our Summer West Coast USA/Canada Mini-Tour!
Black Slate will journey up the West Coast this time, making their debut in several cities and areas from Berkeley and San Francisco, the Pacific Northwest to Vancouver, British Columbia!
We hope you, your friends and family can make it to one or more of the following West Coast/USA/Canada dates and cities:
7/28---Ashkenaz Music & Dance, Berkeley, CA
7/30---Redwood Cafe, Cotati, CA (All Ages Show!)
7/2----The Boom Boom Room, San Francisco, CA
7/4----Blue Lake Casino, Blue Lake, CA
7/6---Axe & Fiddle, Cottage Grove, OR
7/7---Nectar Lounge, Seattle, CA
7/8---Railway Club, Vancouver, BC
Check our Show Schedule and the venues for more info....
Then it's on to Europe for more great shows.
Also, we've finished the final mix of our Lovers Rock Reggae version of The Clash's classic tune "Should I Stay Or Should I Go?"
The song will appear on The Specialized Project UK album to be released in July, 2015! We think you'll like it lots!
Catch Black Slate on tour---spread the word!
Greetings Black Slate Fans,
We hope this finds all of you doing well. We'd like to let you know that the band is preparing for their Summer West Coast USA/Canada Mini-Tour!
Black Slate will journey up the West Coast this time, making their debut in several cities and areas from Berkeley and San Francisco, the Pacific Northwest to Vancouver, British Columbia!
We hope you, your friends and family can make it to one or more of the following West Coast/USA/Canada dates and cities:
7/28---Ashkenaz Music & Dance, Berkeley, CA
7/30---Redwood Cafe, Cotati, CA (All Ages Show!)
7/2----The Boom Boom Room, San Francisco, CA
7/4----Blue Lake Casino, Blue Lake, CA
7/6---Axe & Fiddle, Cottage Grove, OR
7/7---Nectar Lounge, Seattle, CA
7/8---Railway Club, Vancouver, BC
Check our Show Schedule and the venues for more info....
Then it's on to Europe for more great shows.
Also, we've finished the final mix of our Lovers Rock Reggae version of The Clash's classic tune "Should I Stay Or Should I Go?"
The song will appear on The Specialized Project UK album to be released in July, 2015! We think you'll like it lots!
Catch Black Slate on tour---spread the word!
Thank you for your fantastic support!
We love you dear fans,
Cheers,
Black Slate
Dear Black Slate Fans,
The band has returned to London following the second leg of their USA tour from The Austin Reggae Festival in Texas through a return to the Dub Club Los Angeles & Kingston 11 Restaurant & Rum Bar in Oakland, California with several stops in between. Black Slate wishes to thank the venues and audiences who came out to support them.
The band were given a wonderful Texas reception from Angela Tharpe of The Flamingo Cantina & Austin Reggae Festival which in addition to Black Slate, the lineup included New Kingston Band, The Skatalites, Lee "Scratch" Perry and King Yellowman to name a few. Prior to their scheduled day, they did a warm up show in San Antonio Texas to a lively crowd. Alas, the well-known Texas rains and floods came down which caused a cancellation on the day the band was supposed to play. Nevertheless, the band carried on the next day, performing at the excellent Flamingo Cantina to a fantastic crowd for a splendid 420 celebration show!
Founding Fathers Anthony, Desmond, & Chris along with Vocalist Jesse Brade and session bassist Andrew Emer traveled to California where their performances were very well received. Black Slate continues to blaze a trail with their smoking hot UK Roots, Dub & Lovers Rock sound as they are planning for European dates and another return to the States soon come.
They are still recording and the world will see a new single from them very soon---a cover of The Clash tune "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" for the Specialized UK project.
In the meantime, keep checking here, their facebook pages and (expired link) for upcoming info. Don't forget, you can listen to Black Slate now on the Pandora Radio App too!
Cheers,
Black Slate
Our very 1st USA Tour
Greetings Black Slate Fans,
We hope this finds you well. We are back home from our 1st (Can you believe it?), our very 1st USA Tour in the history of our band.
All of this began with our appearance Rockers Movement Festival in Miami in 2013, then, the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in Boonville, California earlier this year. Fortunate circumstances following the Festival led to a 10 city tour beginning in Northern California's Wine Country in Sonoma, CA at Rossi's 1906 on November 8th, and ending at The Flamingo Cantina in Austin, Texas on November 21st. Original founders Anthony, Desmond & Chris with vocalist Jesse Brade and American bass player Andrew Emer, embarked on an unforgettable journey.
In between, the tour stops included California dates in Santa Cruz, Blue Lake, Oakland, Ukiah, Santa Barbara, Huntington Beach, San Diego and in Los Angeles, where we shared the bill with Reggae legend Al Campbell at The Dub Club/Echoplex.
It was a breathtaking and exhilarating time. Each show and audience were unique and special in their own right. We were amazed at meeting so many people of all ages who approached us with classic vinyl copies of our albums and songs for us to sign. Positive vibes were abound. It was an absolute joy to perform each night. The overwhelmingly powerful waves of love given to us from each audience is unforgettably heartfelt by all the members of Black Slate.
Currently, you can see footage of some of our USA performances on YouTube from Sonoma and Santa Cruz, California. Lots more footage will be added soon. Tour photos, blogs and more too!
It has been quite a journey, an incredible musical odyssey from our early days up to now. Black Slate wishes say THANK YOU to all of our fans old and new for your support. The Black Slate story is just beginning to be told. In the meantime, the Black Slate journey continues with lots more music, shows and great things to come!
Stay updated here at Reverbnation, Facebook and of course, on our website: (expired link).
Cheers!
Yours Truly,
Black Slate
Albums
Songs
About Black Slate
A Peaceful Demonstration……..
The core members of this magnificent Band of Reggae Scientists Black Slate strike again; after forty years in the business
This time they are leaving their monument set in stone with
A Peaceful Demonstration……
Anthony-PureSilk-Brightly (key Boards), Chris-Musichouse-Hanson (Lead/Rhythm Guitar) and Desmond-Drummy-Mahoney (Drums/Congo);
They have earned the right the stand amongst the greats in the world of reggae music, because like the female energy that tends and nurtures life, they have developed and nurtured their sound from a vibe with a unique audio ID, which has taken well over forty odd years of research and cultivation with the help respectfully of previous band members, new members and session musicians who all have played a part in assisting this great seed of musical wealth.
Anthony-PureSilk-Brightly (key Boards); backed by a father’s love for music from jazz to sound systems, groups to recording/producing; the young key board player got the DNA explosion to ignite his passion for reggae music from home and it found
Black Slate
Chris-Musichouse-Hanson (Lead/Rhythm Guitar); the mature wisdom of the band was a hard working electrician. A young man who’s passion for reggae cause him to move in musical circles until the magic touched him, eventually joining forces with other great reggae orientated minds, then the ultimate
Black Slate
which was named from his then trade.
Desmond-Drummy-Mahoney (Drums/Congo); an engineer with light feet, excellent tradesman in his field, but he was an even greater dancer on the reggae youth scene and to top that a Drummer extraordinaire with boundless limitation aimed at reggae music. This skill he brought to the table with pure love which found
Black Slate
These three in depth core members dedicated to reggae music with such a passion, that even with the split of the first and very successful Black Slate they never gave up.
They stuck it out respectfully:
Anthony opened several successful reggae night clubs, recording, producing many different artist plus labels, also joint entrepreneurial ventures with Chris his life-long-friend
Chris’s electrical skill’s kept in the music business when he created Music House which amassed its own instant fame from cutting dup plates and masters for every genre that required it in the music industry.
Desman taut and keep reggae alive in community workshops around the country, developing his skills constantly to greater heights, plus recording, producing and promotions/showcasing of new talent.
These three core members financed their endeavours throughout these forty odd years with the true essence of Black Slate energy vibes, which could only be tapped into by love True Love.
The love that these three reggae scientist omitted when they researched individually occasionally crossing paths, but ultimately never forgetting their collective purpose in life
Black Slate
which they have proven without a doubt with
A Peaceful Demonstration…..
Not forgetting
Black Slate’s most recent gems that the core have added to this
Reggae Force Black Slate:
Colin-Steam-Fish-McNiesh (Bass) with many years of playing experience under his belt which he has shared heartically with
Black Slate
Jessie-Energy-Brade (vocals) Stage Name (expired link). expressing his vocal skills by powering-up the musical spine of
Black Slate, he is an industrial power-house of energy stepping rhythmically in the same direction
Black Slate
Gaven Magic Voice Creary (Lead Vocals) Stage Name (expired link). the newest member of the band who is only just getting started, youth vocals at its best and willing to share his versatility with the great reggae force
Black Slate
All in all with past members, the newest editions, forty odd years in the business, this tidal wave of reggae force is heading towards the hearts, minds and souls
and whoever else that gets converted along the way by
BLACK SLATE
As they deliver
A Peaceful Demonstration…………
Black Slate is the roots rock Reggae band that helped put the British Reggae sound on the charts in the 70s and 80s. Formed in London in 1974 by musicians from England, Jamaica, and Anguilla, Black Slate was recognized as a band that was able to blend reggae into their own unique sound. Their first charting hit was “Sticksman,” released in 1976, followed by “Mind Your Motion” (TCD, 1979); “Amigo” (Ensign, 1980) broke into the Top Ten Singles Charts and, to this day, this song remains a rallying call for the Rastafarian way of life.
Following a tour in Europe in 1978, and backing Reggae stars Delroy Wilson and Ken Boothe, Black Slate signed with Ensign Records and released “Boom Boom,” a single, and the Sirens In The City album. More albums followed – Rasta Festival (Alligator, 1981), Ogima (Hit and Run, 1981), Six Plus One (Top Ranking, 1982), Black Slate (Sierra, 1985), and Get Up And Dance (FairWood Music, 1995).
After a sold-out tour of New Zealand, band members made the decision to stop touring in the mid 1980s and, in 2011, decided to begin the process of regrouping and planning Black Slate’s return to recording and performing again. In 2013, Black Slate released a full album, Midnight (TCD), and the single, “World Citizenship,” (Unit 8 Records).
Remaining close friends over the years, original band members Anthony Brightly (keyboards and vocals), Chris Hanson (guitar), and Desmond Mahoney (drums) agreed to reunite and revitalize Black Slate. Adding Colin McNeish on bass guitar, F Junior and Jesse Brade on vocals, and Horace Burke on keyboards, the reunited Black Slate debuted at the prestigious Miami Reggae Festival in November 2013.
Black Slate’s latest album, World Citizen (Unit 8 Records), was released on April 15, 2014. Veteran Reggae journalist Robert “Higherman” Heilman reviewed the album for (expired link), and stated that, “From Roots to Lovers Rock, every track is a winner that is expertly mixed and presented.” ((expired link).) World Citizen will be supported by the band’s upcoming concerts in Europe, South America, the (expired link)., and the United States.
Black Slate: a well respected band of talented and creative men who are again ready to bring their special brand of Reggae music to the world.
“We play music because we love playing music. We are ready for the road again,” Anthony Brightly said recently. “A venue of 100, or a stadium of 10,000, we will be on the road, to carry our message to every person who want to hear Reggae music. I see it as a continuation of our journey…”
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Past Events
Sun
Jun 28
8:00 PM
16+
Ashkenaz Music & Dance,
United States, California, Berkeley, Berkeley,
Thu
Jul 02
8:00 PM
All Ages
The Boom Boom Room
United States, California, San Francisco, San Francisco
Mon
Jul 06
6:00 PM
All Ages
Axe & Fiddle,
United States, Oregon, Cottage Grove, Cottage Grove
Fri
Aug 14
8:00 PM
All Ages
The Iron Room
United Kingdom, Eversham, 140 High Street Evesham Worcs , WR11 4EJ
