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"If you've spent more than a minute on the ska scene, you'll know that [he's] the original New York rudy...who kept the flame burning even when it was just a candle in the window."    - Alternative Press

Led by the notorious King Django, Stubborn All-Stars is a rotating lineup of musicians culled from New York's active traditional ska scene. Django's roots go back to the heady days of the early eighties when he published the only ska 'zine from New York City, Rude Awakening (1984 -1987). His first recording as a DJ (toaster) was on the track "Free South Africa" by Too True which appeared on the 1986 compilation N.Y. Ska - Hit and Run (Moon Records). Since 1986, Django has been playing, touring and recording with a series of NY based bands including Rancid, Murphy's Law, The Slackers, The Toasters, The Boilers and The Skadanks, while at the same time being a full-time and founding member of ska/reggae/soul/punk/jazz experimentalists Skinnerbox.

By early 1994, Django felt his original ska roots tugging at his heartstrings and he assembled Stuborn All-Stars for a studio session which resulted in the 4-song Old's Cool 7" EP. Choosing musicians very carefuly from the large pool of New York ska bands (Skinnerbox, the Insteps, the Slackers, the Scofflaws, Agent 99) for their familiarity with and ability to play traditional Jamaican ska, Django hit upon the sound he was looking for: ska in a very traditional Jamaican style, reconnected with its own roots in American Rhythm & Blues.

Stubborn All-Stars released their debut Open Season in September '95 for Another Planet/Profile Records, featuring guest appearances by Roland Alphonso of the Skatalites, Chris Dowd (ex-Fishbone), and Rob "Bucket" Hingley of the Toasters. With upbeat tunes and a tremendous horn arrangements, Open Season received wide critical acclaim and the video for the single "Tin Spam" appeared repeatedly on MTV and in heavy rotation on M2.

In 1997, a second incarnation of the All-Stars was assembled for the album Back With A New Batch. Featuring a scaled-down horn section and mellower rocksteady grooves, the emphasis here was on the vocals and rhythm section. Alternative Press called this "the best reggae album of 1997" and the video for the single "Pick Yourself Up" also appeared on MTV and heavy rotation on M2.

Late November of 1999 saw the release of the All-Stars third album and their first for Django's Stubborn Records label. Entitled Nex Music, it reaches both back in time to ska's roots in rhythm & blues and its early incarnation as blue beat and forward into dub and early dancehall styles.

The All-Stars have been touring Europe twice a year and doing selected dates in the Northeastern US. Their current compact lineup includes King Django and Agent J, Noah Shachtman of NY dub sensation No Shadow Kick, the incredible trumpeter Rolf Langsjoen of Skinnerbox, and Phil Wartel (drums) and Scott Palmer (keyboard) of Stubborn Records young lions The Radiation Kings.

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