what it was in the 80's'. The band continues to tour, as of 2020, and currently features Roger's son Ranking Junior (real name Matthew Murphy), with drummers Oscar Harrison of Ocean Colour Scene and Fuzz Townshend of Pop Will Eat Itself. The line-up is completed by Chiko Hamilton on sax, bass guitarist Andy Pearson, former Bad Manners and Specialbeat guitarist Andy Perriss and Bobby Bird of Higher Intelligence Agency. In 2017, the Beat joined fellow two-tone band the Selecter for a co-headline UK tour, Owing to demand, the tour was extended to cover other countries. In early August 2018, Ranking Roger was hospitalised with a suspected mini-stroke. He recuperated at home, but cancelled planned live shows in the United Kingdom and United States. The band had just finished recording an album and Roger had written his autobiography, I Just Can't Stop It, published June 2019. Personal life and death Roger had five children, including son Ranking Junior (Matthew Murphy) and daughter Saffren who both featured with their father in a Beat revival band. In January 2019, it was announced that Roger had undergone surgery for two brain tumours, and was undergoing treatment for lung cancer. He died at his home in Birmingham on 26 March 2019 at the age of 56. In 2021, Ranking Junior and indie rock band the Ordinary Boys recorded a tribute single to his father called "Legacy". One year earlier, in 2020, the band Heavensbee recorded a tribute single called Rude! Original! Suave! (Tribute to Ranking Roger) off their "We Mean Business" album. Discography Solo albums Radical Departure (1988) Inside My Head (2001) The Beat Feat. Ranking Roger Bounce (2016) Public Confidential (2019) References External links The Beat Official Website 1963 births 2019 deaths Deaths from cancer in England English male singers The Beat (British band) members General Public members Musicians from Birmingham, West Midlands Black British rock musicians English people of West Indian descent English people of Saint Lucian descent English autobiographers British ska musicians 20th-century Black British male singers 21st-century Black British male singers 20th-century English male singers 20th-century English singers 21st-century English male singers 21st-century English singers