The sound pounds, it’s a hypnotic rhythm and it continues, no bass, guitar or vocals introduce themselves. It’s just drums, talking drums as a tune seems to appear in the air above compelling rhythm. Sounds affects are added by another, they echo into the maelstrom deflecting off what could be a trance drumming effect, raising the sound higher. Within all the noise I’m hearing Bow Wow Wow and Adam & The Ants rhythms, and am all the better for it because the drummer created and played on many of those iconic songs.
This was the debut performance of Dave Barbe’s project Barbarossa Beat at Dash The Henge record shop in May. Dave Barbe has been a huge part of the Ripped & Torn world as drummer for the Ants and Bow Wow Wow; a legend in other words. He has also expanded his talents into writing two books Mud Sharks and Mute; so at the gig I asked him why he had decided to put the pen aside and pick up the drum sticks.
Dave explained, “everyone told me they were coming to see bands I was in because of me but in them I had to accommodate myself to those bands’ requirements, restricting my playing, so people coming to see me thought I had lost it. So I have formed a new band Barbarossa Beat based around my drumming, it shows what I’m capable of and allows me to get associates for songs as and when needed.”
Dash The Henge shop were privileged to have Dave start his new venture there; a powerful crowd turned up including subculture legend Kirsty Allison. I forced a photo with the three of us only to find out later they had history. Oops, but it was as a band and nothing more. I asked them both about each other.
Dave on Kirsty: I just played beats for her [Kirsty] while she read her poetry. Nothing super structured, but a good chemistry live. She’s good at creating situations and asking questions with her words. All good.
Kirsty on Dave: It was the first time I’d done poetry with music. Dave would play really loudly. Print outs of poems all over the floor. I’d try to make my words heard over the top. I learnt everything from working with him.
See this legend live if you can while he is still playing small venues. Dave has released an irresistible single called Phattie’s Lunchbox, which is available on Invisible Hands Music.
Interesting trivia: Dave Barbe is his real name, Malcolm McLaren expanded it to Barbarossa during the Bow Wow Wow era.