Prior to playing to a packed out gig at the Oceans Music venue London, Bernard Collins of The Mighty

Now the band has undergone different transformations so what’s the current line-up?

Bernard Collins, the original lead singer, Donald Manning, who is also an original singer, David Morrison, who takes the place of Lynford Manning at present and he also does back-up singing.

When is the new album ‘Tree of Satta’. due for release?

The album, is supposed to be released by Blood and Fire sometime in early January 2004.

Songs like Satta Mass Gana, Declaration of Rights etc still have such powerful resonance today, why is this?

We were simply way ahead of our times Most of our inspiration was coming out of the church where we all started. Donald and I. started this church school where we learned about Ethiopia and about the African. Our inspiration came from the mother church at those times so that’s why it’s so spiritual.

When you were writing them did you think that 30 plus years later they would still be as relevant?

We were unconscious of what we were doing, although we were conscious that the Almighty Himself gave us that inspiration. We were like a messenger to deliver those words and also we were chosen by the Almighty Himself to deliver the message.

You’ve worked with groups like Third World and Israel Vibrations as well?

Yes, Israel Vibrations. We met them at Bob Marley because when Bob Marley started his company, Israel Vibrations, Abyssinians, Freddy McGregor, were the first set of artists he actually took on tour and started distributing.

What other groups were around then?

Well, I can remember the Mighty Diamonds; they came out back then in the 70s. They were a very strong group until now. The Wailing Souls were a next group to come out of Trenchtown, coming out of the school of Bob Marley also. You had the Melodians, who were an older group than us but in those times the Melodians were like top prize to me, you know what I mean.

We don’t get many roots artistes like the Twinkle Brother, Junior Delago etc nowadays, why do you think that is?

Music is revolutionised now it's mainly dancehall. Dancehall is still reggae, the youths like Sean Paul are promoting reggae but it’s a kind of cross-over to the hip-hop thing and R’n’B stuff but they are still expressing reggae. I think it might be a good thing because it exposes the roots reggae itself, groups like us and Culture. New people are beginning to hear us and our music.

Do you think the demise of roots music is purely down to Dancehall?

His Imperial Majesty came to Jamaica in 1966, Satta Massa Gana was like the first spiritual roots reggae came out in 1969. From the 70s it was more roots and culture. Everything started to change from the late 80s down to the 90s where everything was like a dancehall thing, reggae became commercialised

Why have you gelled so well after all these years?

When we started together then, it wasn’t a big thing because Linval Manning was singing with his other brother Carlton Manning and he was experienced. I was a younger singer with talent, Donald used to play the guitar so he had an idea about the music from those times. So the three of us meet together and we didn’t have to do a whole lot of rehearsal because from the time I opened my mouth and started singing, it was like everything was well chorded together. We didn’t sing for 10 years because most of the time we break up and come back together it was like a 10 year period, you know. This last time it was 10 years since we haven’t done anything together and the first time we meet together and sang it was like we were always singing, it was just chorded together as soon as we came back.

What was the inspiration behind the Declaration of Rights?

The Declaration of Rights came out at that time in Jamaica in the turmoil back then in the early 70s, and Rasta business had pick up rights. I was a youth back in Trenchtown, the community where me come from, I see the tribulation and the victimisation and my mind just reflect way back then to Africa. They take us from civilisation and have us slaving in this big plantation, fussing and fighting and we had to fight for our rights.

Tell us a bit more about the European Tour?

We’ve just came from Europe, we were there for five weeks. We played in places like Denmark and Sweden, which I never played before. We met some elder people, people in their early 50s who told me that they’ve been hearing my music for years and it was a pleasure for them seeing me live on stage. They gave me presents, they gave me all kinds of things.

Were you very surprised at your reception?

No I wasn’t surprised because I keep in contact with people abroad, communication by e-mail or by letters and I know that our music surfaces all around, but I was surprised still because I never been to places like Sweden, Denmark and realise that people recognised those songs and it’s like they know me personally and want to actually see me on stage was very touching.

Well Bernard, it’s been wonderful talking to you and we just can’t wait for the concert on Sunday and we will be there supporting you, singing along to all the songs we knew from the 70s and it’s been a real humble experience talking to you.

Give thanks and praise, Satta Massa Gana