Musical Youth - Political & Generals - 021 Records - 1981

The debut 7” single by Musical Youth.
Please stop the giggling at the back. This 7” record has two proper, bass-heavy cuts with mature lyrics.
This record is just as worthy as Black Slate, Misty or Steel Pulse.
The difference to those bands are the ages.
Four members of Musical Youth on these recordings ranged from eleven to fifteen years old.
This is a pukka reggae record from soon to be superstars, and soon after that falling into all kinds of problems.
Words below from George Nott / Enfield Independent.
The group was formed in 1979 by the fathers of Kelvin and Michael Grant, and Frederick (known as Junior) and Patrick Waite, respectively, who put together a band featuring their sons.
The Waites' father, Frederick Waite Sr had been a member of the Jamaican reggae group the Techniques, and at the start of Musical Youth's career he was the vocalist.
Although schoolboys, attending Duddeston Manor School, the group managed to secure gigs at different Birmingham pubs and released a double single in 1981, including songs 'Generals' and 'Political', on a local label 021 Records, named after the then-Birmingham area code.
An appearance on BBC Radio 1 John Peel's show brought further attention to the group.
Some months later Frederick Waite Jr was replaced by Dennis Seaton as the group's lead singer, and they were signed to MCA Records.
Four decades since the release of their chart-topping, four million selling, Grammy nominated ‘Pass The Dutchie’, Musical Youth remains a byword for the misery of childhood stardom.
Less than two years after they were signed the record label dumped them, the band split. Its barely pubescent members at loggerheads and facing a financial, legal, and personal abyss.
In 1987, Patrick Waite was jailed for four months for reckless driving, credit-card fraud and assaulting the police. In 1990, he was jailed again, for robbing a woman at knifepoint. Shortly after his release, he was arrested again, for marijuana possession. After turning to drugs he died of a hereditary heart condition in 1993, aged just twenty four years old.
Another, Junior Waite, remained in the care of his mother after being sectioned, and sadly died in Birmingham on 20th July 2022, at the age of fifty five years old. An inquest into his death record cause of death as "sudden unexpected death in schizophrenia". He died at a mental health unit where he had been undergoing treatment for schizophrenia.
A third, Kelvin Grant, is a virtual recluse who, after being so badly burnt by exploitative managers, has turned his back on the industry forever.
“There was nobody to say - why don’t you take a break? Why don’t you have a holiday?“ says Michael Grant, keyboard player. “There wasn’t anybody wise enough. The managers just wanted to milk it. There weren’t any responsible adults around us and our our parents, unfortunately, weren’t the best people to understand what goes on.“
Fame came fast for the five-piece, formed by two sets of brothers from an inner-city Birmingham school, and singer Dennis Seaton. Their single, ‘Pass The Dutchie’ was one of the fastest selling of 1982. They broke America too and were the first black band to be played on the then fledgling MTV.
“We pioneered a lot of things, as young stars, which was really tough,“ says Michael, aged just thirteen years old when the debut album ‘The Youth of Today’ was certified gold.
"You’re meeting people like Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Donna Summer. But you don’t realise half the people you’re meeting, or why they’re important.“
Michael Jackson, perhaps sympathising with the young stars, invited them to his LA home - an offer they accepted.
They recorded the theme tune for ‘Jim’ll Fix It’. They duetted with Donna Summer.
Far too young to understand the finances, the hottest property of the day were prone to exploitation.
“The reality was a lot of people who said they were trying to make the band more successful were just taking money from it basically,“ adds Michael. “Milking it.“
After two years of recording, performing, and living in each other’s pockets, fame began to take its toll. Things came to a head at a show in Jamaica in 1985. It would be their last.
“Before we left for Jamaica, Patrick had had some problems,“ explains Dennis Seaton, the most senior member of the group, then 18. “He’d taken something, drugs, that triggered some reaction in his body and before the end of that tour he’d had another relapse. It was difficult. You’re powerless".
"We didn’t know what he was on,“ adds Michael. “He started to unravel. He just couldn’t play a song
we’d played for five or six years. It didn’t make sense. Luckily his dad came on and played. He literally came on stage and took the bass off him.“
“I just said to Patrick, I’m here for you, but I can’t help you if you’re going to be stupid,“ says Dennis.
“That was the last conversation we had. It came from the heart. I think Junior wasn’t able to cope with the situation.“

[@Jay-Vee]

What a contrast to their chart hits. Like you said, worthy contenders before their 'stardom'.

[@axundao]

Pass the Dutchie and Don't Blame The Youth ❤❤❤❤❤