The Beat (known in the US as The English Beat) were an essential two-tone/ska revival and pop music group who formed in the Birmingham, UK in 1978 and disbanded in 1983.

One of the more popular and enduring groups of a short-lived trend, The Beat released three albums - I Just Can't Stop It (1980) (often regarded as an important early 1980s album), Wha'ppen (1981) and Special Beat Service (1982).

After the break-up of The Beat, Dave Wakeling (guitar, vocals) and Ranking Roger (vocals) went on to form General Public, while Andy Cox (guitar) and David Steele (bass) formed Fine Young Cannibals with vocalist Roland Gift.

Members of the band often collaborated on stage with The Specials and performed on tracks such as Free Nelson Mandela , an amalgam of The Specials and The Beat later formed in the early 90's to be renamed 'the special beat'

Personnel

• Dave Blockhead
• Andy Cox
• Wesley Magoogan
• Everett Morton
• Ranking Roger
• Saxa
• David Steele
• Dave Wakeling