Symarip

Symarip (also known at various stages of their career as The Bees, The Pyramids, Seven Letters and Zubaba) were a ska and reggae band from the United Kingdom, originating in the late 1960s when Frank Pitter and Michael Thomas founded the band as The Bees. The band's name was originally spelled Simaryp, which is an approximate anagram of the word "pyramids". [http://web.archive.org/web/20050906102048/http://www.trojanrecords.net/articles/symarip/sleevenotes.htm] Consisting of members of West Indian descent, Symarip is widely marked as one of the original skinhead bands, being one of the first to target skinheads as an audience. Their style of music became known as "skinhead reggae", and their hits included "Skinhead Girl", "Skinhead Jamboree" and "Skinhead Moonstomp", which is based on the Derrick Morgan song, "Moon Hop".

They moved to Germany in 1971, performing reggae and Afro-rock under the name Zubaba. In 1980, the album "Skinhead Moonstomp " was re-issued in the wake of the 2 Tone craze, hitting the UK pop charts for the first time. The band officially split in 1985 after releasing the album "Drunk & Disorderly" as The Pyramids. The album was released by Ariola Records and was produced by Stevie B. Trojan Records released a "best of" album in 2004 with a new single, "Back From the Moon", performed by two former band members, Monty Neysmith and Roy Ellis. Starting in autumn 2008, Symarip will perform on the their "Back from the Moon Tour 2008-2009", along with The Pioneers.

Lineup

*Roy Ellis - Singer
*Josh Roberts -Guitar
*Michael Thomas - Bass guitar
*Frank Pitter - drums
*Monty Neysmith - keyboards, including Hammond organ
*Roy Bug Knight - Saxophone
*Johney Johnson - Trumpet
*Carl Grifith - Tenor & alto sax

Partial discography

=Albums=
*The Pyramids - "The Pyramids" - President Records - PTL-1021 (1969)
*Symarip - "Skinhead Moonstomp" - Trojan - TBL-102 (1970)
*Simaryp - "Skinhead Moonstomp" - Trojan Records - TRLS187 (1980)
*The Pyramids - "Drunk and Disorderly" - Ariola Records (1985)
*Symarip/The Pyramids/Seven Letters - "The Best Of" - Trojan TJACD154 (2004)

ingles

*Blue Beat BB-386A Jesse James Rides Again (as The Bees) 1967
*Blue Beat BB-386B The Girl In My Dreams (as The Bees) 1967
*Clmbia Blue Beat DB-101A Jesse James Rides Again (as The Bees) 1967
*Clmbia Blue Beat DB-101B The Girl In My Dreams (as The Bees) 1967
*Clmbia Blue Beat DB-111A Prisoner From Alcatraz (as The Bees) 1967
*Clmbia Blue Beat DB-111B The Ska's The Limit (as The Bees) 1967
*President PT-161A Train Tour To Rainbow City 1967
*President PT-161B John Chewey 1967
*President PT-177A Wedding In Peyton Place 1968
*President PT-177B Girls, Girls, Girls 1968
*President PT-195A All Change On the Bakerloo Line 1968
*President PT-195B Playing Games 1968
*President PT-206A Mexican Moonlight 1968
*President PT-206B Mule 1968
*President PT-225A Tisko My Darling 1968
*President PT-225B Movement All Around 1968
*President PT-243A Do Re Mi 1969
*President PT-243B I'm Outnumbered 1969
*President PT-274A I'm A Man 1969
*President PT-274B Dragonfly 1969
*Attack ATT-8013A I'm A Puppet (as Symarip) 1969
*Attack ATT-8013B Vindication (as Symarip) 1969
*Doctor Bird DB-1189A People Get Ready (as Seven Letters) 1969
*Doctor Bird DB-1189B The Fit (as Seven Letters) 1969
*Doctor Bird DB-1194A Please Stay (as Seven Letters) 1969
*Doctor Bird DB-1194B Special Beat (as Seven Letters) 1969
*Doctor Bird DB-1195A Flour Dumpling (as Seven Letters) 1969
*Doctor Bird DB-1195B Equality (as Seven Letters) 1969
*Doctor Bird DB-1206A Mama Me Want Girl (as Seven Letters) 1969
*Doctor Bird DB-1206B Sentry (as Seven Letters) 1969
*Doctor Bird DB-1207A Soul Crash (Soul Serenade) (as Seven Letters) 1969
*Doctor Bird DB-1207B Throw Me Things (as Seven Letters) 1969
*Doctor Bird DB-1208A There Goes My Heart (as Seven Letters) 1969
*Doctor Bird DB-1208B Wish (as Seven Letters) 1969
*Doctor Bird DB-1209A Bam Bam Baji (as Seven Letters) 1969
*Doctor Bird DB-1209B Hold Him Joe (as Seven Letters) 1969
*Doctor Bird DB-1306A Fung Sure (as Symarip) 1969
*Doctor Bird DB-1306B Tomorrow At Sundown (as Symarip) 1969
*Doctor Bird DB-1307A Stay With Him 1969
*Doctor Bird DB-1307B Chicken Mary 1969
*Treasure Isle TI-7050A Skinhead Moonstomp 1969
*Treasure Isle TI-7050A Must Catch A Train 1969
*Treasure Isle TI-7054A Parson's Corner Feb. 1970
*Treasure Isle TI-7054A Redeem Feb. 1970
*Treasure Isle TI-7055A La Bella Jig Mar. 1970
*Treasure Isle TI-7055A Holiday By The Sea Mar. 1970
*Attack ATT-8013A I'm A Puppet April. 1970
*Attack ATT-8013B Vindication April 1970
*Duke DU-80A Geronimo Jun. 1970
*Duke DU-80B Feel Alright Jun. 1970
*Trojan TR-7755A Feel Alright May. 1970
*Trojan TR-7755B Telstar May. 1970
*Trojan TR-7770A To Sir With Love Jul. 1970
*Trojan TR-7770B Reggae Shuffle Jul. 1970
*Trojan TR-7803A All For You Jan. 1971
*Trojan TR-7803B All For You (Version) Jan. 1971
*Trojan TR-7814B (1) Stingo 1971
*Trojan TR-7814B (2) Geronimo 1971
*Creole CR-1003A Mosquito Bite
*Creole CR-1003B Mother's Bath
*Creole CR-1006A Can't Leave Now
*Creole CR-1006B Teardrops
*Rhino RNO-129A Jesse James Rides Again 1974

Notes

External links

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20050906102048/http://www.trojanrecords.net/articles/symarip/sleevenotes.htm Biography on Trojan Records site]
* [http://www.symarip.com/ Mr. Symarip - Roy Ellis]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20050929223759/http://www.trojanrecords.net/articles/monty2.htm Interview with Symarip member]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20050911190012/http://www.trojanrecords.net/articles/symarip/discography.htm Symarip discography]
* [http://www.strano.net/babylon/SKR.htm Skinhead Reggae]
* [http://www.myspace.com/symarippyramidsmusic Symarip Pyramids Myspace profile]
* [http://www.symarippyramidmusic.webs.com Symarip Pyramids Music]