The S.U.S. Band
The S.U.S. Band
The name
Where did the name SUS BAND come from – sus law? The law caused much discontent among certain sections of the population, particularly black and ethnic minorities, against whom the law was particularly targeted by the police (racial profiling). The sus law had attracted considerable controversy prior to the early 1980s race riots (in St Pauls, Bristol, in 1980, and in Brixton, London; Toxteth, Liverpool; Handsworth, Birmingham; and Chapeltown, Leeds in 1981) This led to campaigns against the law including the “Scrap Sus” campaign led by Mavis Best and Paul Boateng.
Touring the Nation
The SUS band would go on to play regularly to large crowds at the aforementioned towns and cities.
Tony Blackburn, championed the SUS bands single SOS in 1985, leading the single to achieve national radio airplay. With the success of SOS rotation on many FM stations, this opened the highways of Britain for the SUS Band to tour nationwide including radio interviews and television.
SUS Band Members
(My favourite memory with SUS is) Winning the Hammersmith Rock Test and gigging the North of England.
Full Name/Nickname within the SUS Band:
Errol (Mr Kool) Shorter.
What instrument do you play within SUS:
Rhythm Guitar/Vocals.
What year did you join SUS:
1979 Founder Member.
What bands were you in before joining SUS:
Davrock Israelites.
Name two of your favourite SUS singles:
SOS
Mr DJ.
What is your favourite SUS album (and why):
Something Old, Something New.
What is your best memory during your time in SUS:
Winning the Hammersmith Rock Test and gigging the North of England.
Who is your favourite music artist (and why)
Alton Ellis (easy to work with).
Radio/TV/Stage show?
What was your biggest achievement?
John Peel, The Tube, Playing to thousands to people at the Notting hill Carnival, Hearing SOS all over the radio, winning the Band competition, Royal Albert Hall.
Any other? Best Live Show?
Miners benefit show at the Royal Festival Hall and Lyceum Ballroom with Lee Perry.
(My favourite memory with SUS is) recording for John Peel at Abbey Road Studio and also appearing on The Tube with Lee Scratch Perry.
Full Name/Nickname within the SUS Band:
Derwent Bent / Bassie.
What instrument do you play within SUS:
Bass/lead guitar.
What year did you join SUS:
1979 Founder Member.
What bands were you in before joining SUS:
Davrocks, Millionaires, Family Choice.
Name two of your favourite SUS singles:
SOS
Yearning for your love
What is your favourite SUS album (and why):
Pick Yourself Up.. It was our last album.
What is your best memory during your time in SUS:
Lee Scratch Perry tour and recording for John Peel at Abbey Road studio and also appearing on The Tube with Lee Scratch Perry.
Who is your favourite music artist (and why):
Jimmy London.. Denis brown..
(My favourite album is) In This Time. This was our first album and I feel we put a lot of effort, time, money and emotion into it.
Full Name/Nickname within the SUS Band:
Earl Bailey ….. aka Junior.
What instrument do you play within SUS:
Vocalist.
What year did you join SUS:
1979 Founder Member.
What bands were you in before joining SUS:
Zabandis.
Name two of your favourite SUS singles:
‘SOS’ from ‘In This Time’
‘Can’t You Understand’ from ‘Something Old, Something New’
What is your favourite SUS album (and why):
In This Time.
This was our first album and I feel we put a lot of effort, time, money and emotion into it.
What is your best memory during your time in SUS:
Miners strike gigs, Oxford college and recording for John Peel at Abbey Road studio.
Who is your favourite music artist (and why):
Toots & the Maytals, Heptones, Melodians and many more, they inspire me.
What was your biggest achievement:
Winning the rock test at Hammersmith Palais and then recording with John Peel.
Best Live Show?
Best live show was with Lee Scratch Perry on The Tube.
(My favourite memory was) Winning the ROCK TEST contest, which led us to stage our own show in the Lyric Hammersmith.
Full Name/Nickname within the SUS Band:
Donald Williams / Baba Westmoreland.
What instrument do you play within SUS:
Saxophone/Vocals.
What year did you join SUS:
1982.
What bands were you in before joining SUS:
Ratio, The Nightingales, The Islanders.
Name two of your favourite SUS singles:
SOS
Gentle Breeze
Warrior.
What is your favourite SUS album (and why):
In This Time.
Because it was SUS’s first album. The group worked together. Proud of my brass arrangement.
What is your best memory during your time in SUS:
Winning the ROCK TEST contest, which led us to stage our own show in the Lyric Hammersmith.
Who is your favourite music artist (and why)?:
Tommy McCook, Don Drummond, Roland Alphonso and Earnest Rangling.
Because they were world leading and outstanding musicians.
What was your biggest achievement:
Great to hear Tony Blackburn play SOS on BBC radio 1 TV: Doing The Tube with Lee Scratch Perry Live: Crucible, Sheffield, and Oxford University.
Best Live Show?:
Lyceum Strand with Lee Scratch Perry
I met SUS when they came to Mark Angelo Rec Studio round about 1985/86. I happen to be the recording engineer at the time. They recorded Yearning For Your Love and Sentimental Reason.
Full Name/Nickname within the SUS Band:
Lindel Lewis
What instrument do you play within SUS:
Keyboards, Percussion and arrangements.
What year did you join SUS:
I met SUS when they came to Mark Angelo Rec Studio round about 1985/86. I happen to be the recording engineer at the time. They recorded Yearning For Your Love and Sentimental Reason. The band came back a few months later and recorded their first album. I played keyboards on some of the tracks. After the album was finished, they asked me to do some shows with them. The rest is history, as they say.
What bands were you in before joining SUS:
The Challengers. Otis Waygood. Rasuji feat Jimmy Lindsay. L.P.J Band. African Connection. And many more.
Name two of your favourite SUS singles:
S.O.S
Rag Doll
What is your favourite SUS album (and why):
My Favourite SUS album is Stand Up And Testify. I believe the sound and the songs was so different from what SUS would do. It was a very commercial sounding album which sadly the public missed.
What is your best memory during your time in SUS:
Wow. There are so many. Playing at the Carnival with Thousands of people appreciating what we were playing. Playing at the park in Shepherds Bush on Guy Fawkes night. Play for some of the Brent festivals in the park and even some of the smaller events. A couple of time we played without a drummer, but used a drum machine which people were amazed and couldn’t understand where the drums were coming from, and thought we were miming.
Who is your favourite music artist (and why):
I don’t have a favourite as such. I’m a Frankie Beverly and Maze fan, Ohio Players, War, Early Commadores, Earth Wind and Fire. The Nite Blues Steel Band, Fanta Steel Band and W.C.K in Dominica, Krosfyah in Barbados. Third World, Inner Circle and SUS.
(My best memory during my time in SUS is) Notting Hill carnival by far.. Thousands of people in attendance. Year upon year our fans would show up. I remember one year we closed the Sunday night and due to the crowd demanding more… we stayed on stage for an extra 20 minutes.
Full Name/Nickname within the SUS Band:
Clifford Dixon AKA Tee Dee.
What instrument do you play within SUS:
Vocalist.
What year did you join SUS:
2000.
What bands were you in before joining SUS:
Zabandis, Caribbean Syncopators.
Name two of your favourite SUS singles:
The Sweetest Love
Returnee.
What is your favourite SUS album (and why):
Something Old Something New
This album boasts a blend of reggae classics and our own original songs. Recording this album was both challenging and rewarding. The layers of main vocal and harmonies are delightful.
What is your best memory during your time in SUS:
Notting Hill carnival by far.. Thousands of people in attendance. Year upon year our fans would show up. I remember one year we closed the Sunday night and due to the crowd demanding more… we stayed on stage for an extra 20 minutes.
Who is your favourite music artist (and why)
Richie Stephens, Chronixx. Due to the freshness and delivery of their vocals.
What was your biggest achievement:
Being a member of The SUS Band ranks highly …Carnival.
Best Live Show?
We played at Derwent’s daughter’s wedding… We rehearsed until we were note perfect. On the night of the wedding we sounded like our albums BUT LIVE
(My SUS album is) In This Time. This was our first album, the dedication we showed throughout the making of that album. Our fans waited long enough. Play it, buy it, enjoy it. Full of big songs.
Full Name/Nickname within the SUS Band:
Hopeton McClean (Hopie)
What instrument do you play within SUS:
Vocalist
What year did you join SUS:
1981
What bands were you in before joining SUS:
Zabandis, I also sang backing vocals on my brother John McCleans single Star Liner, our other brother Fred played drums on this single. Fred also drummed for SUS Band.
Name two of your favourite SUS singles:
S.O.S
Rag Doll
What is your favourite SUS album (and why):
In This Time. This was our first album, the dedication we showed throughout the making of that album. Our fans waited long enough. Play it, buy It, enjoy It. Full of big songs.
What is your best memory during your time in SUS:
WOW.. So many to choose from the Lyceum Hammersmith, Roundwood Park, Notting Hill Carnival and the Miners’ strike gigs were all very special. Recording for John Peel at Abbey Road studio.
Who is your favourite music artist (and why):
Melodians and many more.
What was your biggest achievement:
Winning the Rock contest and recording at Abbey Road.
Best Live Show?
Hammersmith Palais. I wanted to LIST OF ALL THEM… spoilt for choice.
