In 1993 Dreadzone released their debut album 360° on Creation Records. Now in 2023, as the band celebrate their 30th Anniversary, the album has been remastered for a vinyl release on 13 October on their own Dubwiser Records label. The re-issue will be on Double Heavyweight Coloured Vinyl with the original artwork and sleeve notes plus each Limited Edition copy will be hand numbered.
Alan McGee heard the demos for 360° in a limo on his way to a gig in Japan and instantly decided to sign them. Greg Roberts and Tim Bran signed the original deal and plotted up in a studio in 1993 in Queens Park, West London to make the first Dreadzone album.
The template of dub, trance, electro and sampling combination for which Dreadzone was to become well-known for was evident in this debut. Tracks included the first tune originally started by Don Letts, Leo Williams and Greg – the ‘House of Dread’ and the Spaghetti Western influenced Ennio Morricone sampling ‘The Good the Bad and the Dread’. ‘The Warning’, inspired by the LA riots, became the first single to be released as The Warning/Africa EP. The 9-track album was originally described in press releases as being ‘realistic escapism’ and an ‘hour long orbit around the world in a dub satellite ‘. The 2023 re-issue also features three bonus tracks from the Warning EP.
Dreadzone opened the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury in 1994 and began to bring their unique blend of electro, dub and reggae to a wider audience, going on to chart several singles including their Top 20 hit ‘Little Britain’ and release a number of albums over the years. Their last studio album ‘Dread Times’, released on their own Dubwiser label, stormed into the Top 40 UK Official Album Charts on release – the first time the band have charted in over 20 years. A new studio album is in the pipeline for a 2024 release.
Core members Greg Dread and original bassmaster Leo Williams with legendary reggae vocalist Earl 16 are joined by Bazil on technology and Blake Robert (Greg’s son) on guitar in the current Dreadzone live line-up. The band refocussed their show last year after MC Spee was forced to step back from touring and they explored different aspects of their history and back catalogue.
Their ’30 YEARS OF DREAD’ tour takes them through until Christmas……
06-Oct Kendal Brewery Arts
14-Oct Exeter Phoenix
20-Oct Bristol The Fleece
21-Oct Bristol The Fleece
10-Nov Milton Keynes Craufurd Arms
11-Nov Brighton Concorde 2
18-Nov Norwich Epic Studios
24-Nov Nottingham Metronome
25-Nov Newcastle Cluny
01-Dec Worcester Marrs Bar – SOLD OUT
02-Dec Falmouth Princess Pavilion
08-Dec Cambridge Mash
09-Dec Manchester Band on The Wall
15-Dec Oxford Bullingdon
16-Dec Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
Tickets on sale now dreadzone.com
360 available to pre-order from https://dreadzone.tmstor.es/
