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General Public music biography continued...

Dexy's Midnight Runners Mickey Billingham, former bassist of The Specials Horace Panter and drummer Stoker from Dexy's Midnight Runners and The Bureau. Ex-guitarist of The Clash Mick Jones was also an original member however departed before an album was released and was replaced by Kevin White.

The group was signed to the I.R.S label and released their debut All the Rage in 1984. The signature ska sound of The Beat was absent on the album and replaced instead by catchy Brit-pop. Although Jones had left the band prior to the release, he was featured on several songs. The political title track "General Public" was a success in Britain and "Tenderness" became a huge Top 40 hit in the US. Prior to the recording of the second album, White and Stoker left the band and were replaced by brothers Mario and Gianni Minardi. The follow-up Hand to Mouth was issued two years later proving to be a disappointing failure despite the mild popularity of the singles "Too Much or Nothing" and "Come Again". General Public parted ways shortly afterwards.

In 1988, Ranking Rogers issued his first solo effort, the ska revival album Radical Departure. In 1990 he joined original members of The Specials to form The Special Beat and released two live albums. In the meantime, Wakeling was credited for the title track to John Hughes' film She's Having a Baby in 1988. In 1991, he released his solo debut, No Warning, which greatly resembled the musical style of General Public. In 1994, Roger and Wakeling were asked to appear on the Threesome soundtrack as General Public. The group reunited to contribute their version of the Staple Singers' "I'll Take You There" which instantly became a Top 40 hit. Rub it Better, the group's third album, was issued a year later to inadequate reviews causing General Public to separate a final time.

Wakeling continued to tour on his own alternating between General Public and The English Beat as the name of his backing band. In 2003, several members of the original lineup of The Beat along with Ranking's son Junior performed at the Royal Festival Hall which eventually led to the re-formation of the band in 2005. Current members of The Beat include Roger, Blockhead, Morton, and Ranking Junior.