VA - Roots Rock Rebels - When Punk Met Reggae 1975-1982 (2024)

• 54 track 3CD clamshell box focusing on the period of time between 1975-1982 when reggae influenced & inspired punk in the UK.

• Featuring key tracks by The Clash, Burning Spear, Generation X, Culture, Public Image Ltd, Steel Pulse, The Specials, Dennis Brown, Ruts, Madness, Black Uhuru and many more.

• Plus a selection of obscure gems from the likes of 4th Street Orchestra, African Stone, Basement 5, Electric Guitars, Sir Horatio, Talisman, The Pop Group and Black Symbol.

• Front cover image from the photo library of legendary photographer Syd Shelton.

• 28-page fully illustrated booklet containing a foreword sleevenote by Don Letts AKA The Rebel Dread plus notes on each track with relevant sleeve illustrations.

In the words of Don Letts AKA The Rebel Dread: “Looking back, I see it as a turning point, a cultural crossroads when different genres collided, giving birth to something entirely new. It was a celebration of diversity and a rejection of homogeneity. Its impact has it rippled through the years, influencing subsequent generations of musicians and shaping the landscape of alternative music. The fusion of punk and reggae became a blueprint for bands seeking to break free from the constraints of genre. As DJ at The Roxy (the UK's first live punk rock venue) I was lucky enough to sees these ideas blossom to become what we now call the 'punky reggae party' and forty-five years later its message is still in full effect.”