Roots records kicks off a brand new series of releases with THE HIT SOUND OF THE DUB PISTOLS AT MIDNIGHT ROCK… We’re asking a whole host of DJs to trawl through their old dub and early dancehall sevens, pre’s and 12’s to come up with a truly personal musical journey taken from the archives of the Midnight Rock and Hit Sound catalogues – and kicking us off is the legendary BARRY ASHWORTH from Sunday Best’s party stalwarts and festival favourites The Dub Pistols…
Barry Ashworth, like so many Londoners, can trace his love of roots and dancehall reggae back to the heady days of punk rock when the music got its first ‘overground’ exposure alongside the punk and new wave bands who played at clubs like the Roxy and The Electric Ballroom…DJ’s like Don Letts mixed up the music between sets and introduced a healthy dose of bass heavy and often Deejay led classics from a whole variety of Jamaican legends…Barry takes up the story…”As a kid I was always hanging around Portobello Road in the west and Pettycoat Lane in the east on a weekend…not only could you hear reggae blasting out of shops and bedroom windows but you could also buy it…west London for the heavy roots sound and over in Brick Lane you could pick up ska and rocksteady for peanuts…The music became the major influence on me and when the time came for me to get together with Jason O’Bryan to form the Dub Pistols, it was obvious that we were going to look to reggae for an influence”.
Taking their cue from the Big Beat boom of the mid 90’s, the Dub Pistols soon got a reputation for being more daring and innovative and threw elements of reggae into the mix. Recording sessions with the like of The Specials’ Terry Hall, Horace Andy and the now sadly departed legendary Cool Ruler, Gregory Isaacs himself only enhanced their reputation. Last year the band’s fourth album Rum And Coke was released to both critical and commercial acclaim.
Ashworth says…”I loved the opportunity to go back through some of those early, pre-digital dancehall classics and throw so many of them together on this album – I’m a massive fan of Jah Thomas and it was a great opportunity to listen to so much of his work and fashion it into an album…Can I do a volume two?”
We’ve just posted the 2011 pages for The Unfairground, the latest disaster zone from the mad minds of Joe Rush and the some of the UK’s best-loved art hooligans, who invite over to the dark side, those brave enough to buy the ticket and take the ride. 
DUB PISTOLS live in Bydgoskie, Poland this weekend May 25th 2011
Competition Dates: 17.05.2011 – 18.06.2011
We are delighted to be able to announce that The DUB PISTOLS are confirmed to make their first appearance at the world famous WOMAD Festival on friday 29th July 2011. Joining the band will be guests Rodney P & Mc Sir Real
The Dub Pistols emerged from the big beat scene after forming in 1996. Previously, Barry Ashworth had been in Bealearic band Déjà vu before becoming a DJ, and he’s continued to DJ all over the world when not rocking out live with the full Dub Pistols band.
DUB PISTOLS would just like to say sorry for anyone who has been waiting for their merchandise order to arrive, we had a slight problem with our manufacturer which has resulted in our order being delayed by 2 weeks. We have now been informed that our order will be delivered by tomorrow and in the post to you by tuesday next week, again a massive thanks for your support and sorry you have had to wait.
DUB PISTOLS recently took time out for their longest ever interview with LSD magazine the feature is 12 pages long and takes a look back at the whole bands long history WCPGW
The dub pistols are heading back to the Czech Republic to play the Might Sounds Festival 2011 on July 15th