Dub Syndicate

Dub Syndicate is a long-running futuristic dub collective utilizing the talents of a lengthy cast of Jamaican and British musicians. It was founded by drummer Style Scott in the early '80s in collaboration with producer <a href="spotify:artist:4vZIz0gG5DD3Qj9MB6kclW">Adrian Sherwood</a>, and has often featured contributions by members of other acts on <a href="spotify:artist:4vZIz0gG5DD3Qj9MB6kclW">Sherwood</a>'s <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22On-U+Sound%22">On-U Sound</a> label, such as <a href="spotify:artist:4eOZAQytg3U2l0WTClghDQ">African Head Charge</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:6XK1muD0tjQvVaeqbCVYi8">Creation Rebel</a>. Debuting with the landmark release The Pounding System in 1982, Dub Syndicate began incorporating more digital technology and dancehall influences into their work with subsequent releases like 1985's Tunes from the Missing Channel and full-length collaborations with <a href="spotify:artist:1TsG4AumsMt1Tcq2nHpov9">Lee "Scratch" Perry</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:08HIYCgQ3rlkWzNuKA4xoB">Bim Sherman</a>, which featured musicians from the group <a href="spotify:artist:0Hmx35vRstyw5AaqXmzQ2G">Tackhead</a>. 1993's Echomania included memorable appearances by <a href="spotify:artist:1TsG4AumsMt1Tcq2nHpov9">Perry</a> as well as <a href="spotify:artist:4vCYwGCNg2XUsdi9IVMzwo">Michael Franti</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:30Y7JOpiNgAGEhnkYPdI1P">Talvin Singh</a>. A period of releases on Scott's <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Lion+and+Roots%22">Lion and Roots</a> label resulted in Dub Syndicate's most accessible music, with 2004's vocal-heavy No Bed of Roses featuring guests like Gregory Isaacs and <a href="spotify:artist:1FOvLj8sNCGHjgueUOVvJi">Cornell Campbell</a>. Following Scott's untimely death in 2014, Hard Food appeared in 2015, and the group's <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22On-U+Sound%22">On-U Sound</a> releases were anthologized with a pair of box sets. 2025's Out Here on the Perimeter 1989-1996 included Obscured by Version, <a href="spotify:artist:4vZIz0gG5DD3Qj9MB6kclW">Sherwood</a>'s revision of material from the era.

Lincoln Valentine Scott, better known as Style Scott, played drums in <a href="spotify:artist:2tm55XgrmiuDC0RBTE9AQT">Roots Radics</a>, which served as the rhythm section for reggae singers like <a href="spotify:artist:389zc5Rwe0MPcE6mSF4AjC">Bunny Wailer</a> and Gregory Isaacs. While touring with <a href="spotify:artist:6BkTUVaHHgKUAjc4U7xGUL">Prince Far I</a> in Europe, Scott met <a href="spotify:artist:4vZIz0gG5DD3Qj9MB6kclW">Adrian Sherwood</a>, and the drummer became a major part of <a href="spotify:artist:4vZIz0gG5DD3Qj9MB6kclW">Sherwood</a>'s <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22On-U+Sound%22">On-U Sound</a> label, which included collective-like, collaboration-heavy dub and post-punk outfits like <a href="spotify:artist:6XK1muD0tjQvVaeqbCVYi8">Creation Rebel</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2hvPjigNT7j8RZKG2qHrWA">New Age Steppers</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:6VMwn3IZ1b3AFZsvbXW78v">Singers & Players</a>. Scott launched Dub Syndicate with 1982's The Pounding System, which pushed the limits of dub along with the group's <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22On-U%22">On-U</a> labelmates. One Way System, which featured an expanded cast of musicians, was issued by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22ROIR%22">ROIR</a> as a cassette-only release, as was the label's custom at the time, and was later reissued on CD and LP. North of the River Thames, a collaboration with melodica player Doctor Pablo (not to be confused with <a href="spotify:artist:5WwEQwX3ruZofwDDqtOXwI">Augustus Pablo</a>), was issued in 1984, including a dub cover of the Dr. Who theme. Tunes from the Missing Channel, a more industrialized effort featuring members of <a href="spotify:artist:0nGxKkhmIzyu6bvuXrko1e">the Congos</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:70MMkLXtue3Edj3RJhJkYp">Public Image Ltd.</a>, was released in 1985. Time Boom X De Devil Dead, Dub Syndicate's first collaboration with eccentric dub master <a href="spotify:artist:1TsG4AumsMt1Tcq2nHpov9">Lee "Scratch" Perry</a>, appeared in 1987. Dub Syndicate also released a non-album single, "Night Train," and <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22On-U%22">On-U</a> released a trio of Classic Selection compilations beginning in 1989.

Strike the Balance, featuring an appearance by future <a href="spotify:artist:6FXMGgJwohJLUSr5nVlf9X">Massive Attack</a> guest star <a href="spotify:artist:54bhVqHnHD8wDPBvk2Danm">Shara Nelson</a>, appeared in 1989. A second effort with <a href="spotify:artist:1TsG4AumsMt1Tcq2nHpov9">Perry</a>, From the Secret Laboratory, was issued by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Island%22">Island</a> sublabel <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Mango%22">Mango</a> in 1990. Stoned Immaculate, featuring key samples of <a href="spotify:artist:6BkTUVaHHgKUAjc4U7xGUL">Prince Far I</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:22WZ7M8sxp5THdruNY3gXt">the Doors</a>' <a href="spotify:artist:1QB4oo4JbSRdxNyidIuD0W">Jim Morrison</a>, arrived in 1991. Dub Syndicate collaborated heavily with <a href="spotify:artist:08HIYCgQ3rlkWzNuKA4xoB">Bim Sherman</a>, issuing Reality in 1992 and Live at the Town & Country Club, April 1991 and Lion Heart Dub the following year. 1993 also brought Echomania, featuring <a href="spotify:artist:1TsG4AumsMt1Tcq2nHpov9">Perry</a>, tabla player <a href="spotify:artist:30Y7JOpiNgAGEhnkYPdI1P">Talvin Singh</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:6RqyNFZlXUHKZHEoAws5Jd">Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy</a>'s <a href="spotify:artist:4vCYwGCNg2XUsdi9IVMzwo">Michael Franti</a>, shortly before he formed <a href="spotify:artist:1mHuZMOP8FG5ip4yAb1vrB">Spearhead</a>. 1996's Ital Breakfast included another appearance by <a href="spotify:artist:1TsG4AumsMt1Tcq2nHpov9">Perry</a>, and one by <a href="spotify:artist:3sILhd3JYkhVDMy7CVhpZ7">I-Roy</a>. Dub Syndicate also released a remix album, Research & Development, featuring artists like <a href="spotify:artist:6sDKfmMPaTI7MYeFoNFrg7">Zion Train</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5f8RyKvs43eXT5Z3nMuz4G">Ruts DC</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:1w87Ioh9tj6JvGLAl9EQs9">the Rootsman</a>.

Scott founded <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Lion+and+Roots%22">Lion and Roots</a>, a label distributed by German company <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22EFA%22">EFA</a>, in 1997. Two albums, Mellow & Colly and Fear of a Green Planet, appeared in 1998, with guests including <a href="spotify:artist:2TdzGitZtbe3Zw3BB4SFEH">Big Youth</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0qPUDOVD0aYR2lmCilnscs">Junior Reid</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:5RISqKCcrhGITX2TQAPGPL">Bill Laswell</a>. Live at the Maritime Hall was issued by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%222B1+Records%22">2B1 Records</a> in 2000, and Dub Syndicate returned to the studio with 2001's Acres of Space, which featured dancehall stars <a href="spotify:artist:21J3YJTyq1biE3SvSNjzuf">Capleton</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:3Vszg64mczF1dWEcW2dU5W">Luciano</a>. <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22On-U%22">On-U</a> compilation Murder Tone, including a wealth of previously unreleased material, appeared in 2002. No Bed of Roses arrived in 2004, with <a href="spotify:artist:1FOvLj8sNCGHjgueUOVvJi">Cornell Campbell</a>, Gregory Isaacs, and Cedric Myton among its guests. It was the final release on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Lion+and+Roots%22">Lion and Roots</a>, as <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22EFA%22">EFA</a> went under, leading to Scott working with the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Echo+Beach%22">Echo Beach</a> label. The Rasta Far I, a double-CD compilation focusing on vocal-heavy Dub Syndicate material as well as remixes and alternate versions, was issued in 2006, and its first disc was then re-released as Overdubbed by Rob Smith (of <a href="spotify:artist:5fegFJAeq9eItFZf8oPIin">Smith & Mighty</a>). Dub Syndicate's 30th anniversary was celebrated with the 2010 anthology The Royal Variety Show (The Best of Dub Syndicate). Another compilation, Special King Size Dub: Crucial Recordings in the Name of Bud, appeared in 2012.

Style Scott was found dead in his home in Manchester Parish, Jamaica on October 9, 2014. He was 58 years old. Dub Syndicate's Hard Food was posthumously issued in 2015, with guests <a href="spotify:artist:1TsG4AumsMt1Tcq2nHpov9">Lee "Scratch" Perry</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:389zc5Rwe0MPcE6mSF4AjC">Bunny Wailer</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:4aCH6cwaYahrWfJWqfEfra">U-Roy</a>. A remix collection, Dub Is All I Got: A Tribute to Style Scott, featured interpretations of the <a href="spotify:artist:4aCH6cwaYahrWfJWqfEfra">U-Roy</a>-featuring title track by <a href="spotify:artist:2j8MQ0iA3fxZ3m6rdmkf7d">Rob Smith</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0buEN7H6AlTsvWb4BPazoV">Dubblestandart</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0VU96E512M8L7rxEdTNHq2">Dub Spencer & Trance Hill</a>, and others. In 2017, <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22On-U%22">On-U</a> released Ambience in Dub 1982-1985, a box set of the first four Dub Syndicate albums as well as Displaced Masters, a disc of previously unreleased material, which was issued individually. The remaining four Dub Syndicate studio albums on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22On-U%22">On-U</a> were collected on 2025's Out Here on the Perimeter 1989-1996. The set also included Obscured by Version, a freshly recorded, <a href="spotify:artist:4vZIz0gG5DD3Qj9MB6kclW">Sherwood</a>-helmed effort based on Dub Syndicate material from the '80s and '90s, also issued as a stand-alone release. ~ Paul Simpson, Rovi