Person · PER-41BE342A0AED20BB
Ranking Roger
1 catalogued object connected to Ranking Roger.
Reference entry
Biography
Person.
Ranking Roger was a Birmingham singer and toaster whose performances with the Beat brought together reggae, ska and the energy of punk. He played in the Dum Dum Boys before joining the Beat, whose records included Mirror in the Bathroom and the album I Just Can’t Stop It.
With fellow Beat vocalist Dave Wakeling he went on to General Public; his other musical projects included Special Beat and Big Audio Dynamite. He later led a renewed version of the Beat and performed with his son, Ranking Junior. His autobiography, written with Daniel Rachel, appeared in 2019, the year of his death.
Reviewed 2026-09-07Selected sources
- Daniel Rachel — I Just Can’t Stop It: My Life in the BeatBirmingham beginnings, the Beat’s music, memoir and 2019 death.
- The Beat — Ranking Roger interviewGeneral Public, Special Beat, Big Audio Dynamite and work with Ranking Junior.