The Beatles played ska? An analysis with Jorge Pezzimenti (Loving Paupers, Pietasters) and Jay Nugent (The Slackers)

No question about it, The Beatles forever changed the face of music -- but that's a discussion for another day. This week on the In Defense of Ska, the crew instead wants to look at the iconic band's relationship with ska and Jamaican music. Listen to the hosts chat with Jorge Pezzimenti (of The Loving Paupers and formerly of The Pietasters) and Jay Nugent (of The Slackers) about The Beatles and ska.

As seen in both the work of the group and the members' respective solo efforts, The Beatles weren't strangers to Jamaican-style rhythms. The In Defense of Ska hosts, along with Pezzimenti and Nugent, run through the examples in the band's discography and attempt to answer the greatest question of our time -- can the ska community claim The Beatles?

Along the way, the gang also touches on Cod reggae, Fela Kuti, and Prince Buster. Nugent also attempts to argue that, in reality, The Beatles invented ska-punk -- a spicy hot take.

Listen to all of this and more above, and make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Don't forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here.

Additionally, you can support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy the new expanded, 2nd edition of his book, In Defense of Ska. Co-host Adam Davis also has a band called Omnigone, whose latest record, Feral, was released last year.

If you’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check out our Patreon! 

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.

Sign up for the Patreon to support the podcast and get access to our extended conversation with Rob Harvilla.

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