Reggae (the deep dub stuff) was VERY influential back then.
It was the first thing that brought the worlds of "Disco/Club" and "Punk/Rock" together.
For example...
I came out of the whole Downtown, CBGB, Punk, No Wave, Art Rock thing.
But I used to go to Discos like The Paradise Garage etc. and these were always two totally different worlds.
UNTIL Dub Reggae.
I was DJing at Danceteria by then and for the first time the 2 worlds came together musically.
The sound was deep, dark, druggy & trippy.
I was playing Larry Levan "Garage Dubs" by The "Peach Boys" and "Grace Jones" and Larry Levan was playing things like "The Clash" and "ESG". Both were Danceteria bands.
The two worlds REALLY came together when New Order (another Danceteria band) played at The Garage. (Chi Chi, a Danceteria bartender, worked that night at the Garage. Another family crossover).
"Danceteria bands" like ESG became "Paradise Garage Bands". There were many other cross-overs as well, all having "Dub" in common. Island Records really worked both worlds having Grace Jones and The NYC Peach Boys. In fact, Mark Kamins (the main Danceteria DJ) worked at Island Records and was also a big Paradise Garage fan as was Chris Blackwell (head of Island Records).
I know I'm jumping the gun a little because by now (early eighties), bands like "The Clash", "New Order", "Fun Boy Three" etc. aren't really punk anymore but I guess my point is when Dub Reggae came in it changed everything.
Sorry to ramble.
And Hattie,
I agree, Don Letts is one of the nicest guys in the world.
And so smart!
