Dub London: Bassline of the city
Dub music is expression of the African spirit, freedom and rhythm, passed on through generations
By London Museum
Words: Sister Sheeba / Image: Eddie Otchere
Sistah Sheebah and Sistah Stella at BBC R6 Festival by Museum of LondonLondon Museum
Sistah Sheebah & Sistah Stella
In ‘70s London youngsters whose parents and grandparents come to rebuild the motherland embraced Black music. Dub music in London at that time created a socially cohesive oneness amongst youths, youth who felt excluded from the mainstream society.
Documenting dub
Why it is vital we preserve the story of this vital part of British culture.
"It's not just somebody going out to buy records and playing it... it's more of a cultural thing for us."
Shashamane i 1979, Sister Rasheda
Ras Muffet mix (2011)
Mad Professor: "In a dub version, anything could happen..."
(Film: Thomas Greader/ Museum of London)
Mad Professor live at Cross Club
Video made by 113kw
Channel One Soundsystem speaker stack at Notting Hill Carnival by Eddie Otchere / Museum of LondonLondon Museum
Channel One Soundsystem, Notting Hill
Images by photographer Eddie Otchere help to tell the story of Dub's influence on the capital.
Channel One Soundsystem turntable at Notting Hill Carnival by Eddie Otchere / Museum of LondonLondon Museum
Turntables at Notting Hill
Run by Mikey Dread, Jah T and Ras Kayleb, Channel One has been a keystone of the Carnival since 1983 where it is located on the corner of Leamington Road Villas and Westbourne Park Road.
Slingshot in Shepherds Bush (2014) from Inna London Dub by T
Jake Travis and Gil Cang's label dub set in the grand tradition. Mixed by Gil and Deemus appealing to the, new dub crowd and has a flavour of the old school classics
Dub flyers wallpaper by Mark 'Ringo' Gocher by Mark 'Ringo' GocherLondon Museum
Mark 'Ringo' Gocher flyers - Brixton Recreation Centre, 1990
As we walk Brixton the bassline reaches us, penetrates cold rain. Rhythm becomes clear, manifests. Solid. Heavy. Turn through arches, Recreation Centre in sight. Above the pounding bass the metallic scream of window frames rattling harshly to the beat.
Map of dub record stores in London by Josh Daniels / Museum of LondonLondon Museum
Roy Marshall, People's Sound Records
Josh Daniels' illustration of independent reggae record shops across London
Supertone Records by Museum of LondonLondon Museum
Supertone Records
Brixton’s Supertone Records reflects the history of reggae in owners Wally B own life story. Opening in 1984 Supertone has strong links with its community and specialises in reggae, ska, rocksteady and dub.
[IMAGE CREDIT??]
Papa Face behind the decks by Museum of LondonLondon Museum
Papa Face, Dub Vendor Record Store
The flagship Dub Vendor Record store opened in Clapham Junction in 1982 with Papa Face and Phillip ‘Godfather’ Wilks controlling the counter.
Image: Papa Face from Dub Vendor Records (© Museum of London)
Assorted record shelves by Museum of LondonLondon Museum
Rough Trade - Nigel House interview
Rough Trade (west) is an independent record label and record shop now owned and managed by Nigel House. It was originally opened by Geoff Travis in 1976 in Ladbroke Grove.
Dub mind map
With many contributors, the mind map shows how dub was influenced by many music genres and in turn the impact dub has played on the music scene and its influence on new and emerging music styles.
Photograph of dub london record shop exhibit and personal story by Mykaell Riley/MOLLondon Museum
Want more dub history?
Visit the Museum of London website
Image: Mykaell Riley/Museum of London
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