The Equals: pioneers of the British punk/ska scene
The Equals came together in Northern England in 1965 when Eddy Grant, who two decades later would have a hit with Electric Avenue, hooked up with drummer John Hall and guitarists Pat Lloyd, Lincoln Gordon and vocalist Derv Gordon. With the exception of Grant, none of them could really play. But, they learned quickly were a popular opening act for bands like Cream, Procol Harum and touring American soul groups.
The Equals evolved into an extraordinarily tight outfit. Their funk heavy guitar attack and propulsive rhythm, a hybrid of proto-punk, soul, maximum r&b, bluebeat and bubblegum, combined with their racial composition and cool fashion sense, was a significant influence on Two-Tone bands like The Specials, Selector and English Beat. The band also addressed social issues, recording songs about racial strife and oppression. A decade after they recorded it, The Clash covered their song Police On My Back.
Eddy Grant reminisced in Trouser Press in ‘83…
[…]if we had broken (in America), a band like Sly & the Family Stone would never have existed.
The Equals had a string of hits in Europe, Africa and South America, but only fleeting success in the USA with Baby, Come Back. Even today, their music is only available in the States on British import cds.
True pioneers, way ahead of their time, The Equals were and are a band to be reckoned with. And now is the time.