1970s

1970

  • The Steelband Improvement Committee (SIC) was formed
  • Steel Tempo (Oldham) was formed

1971

  • The Bertphone pan was introduced
  • Pan Trinbago, the successor to NATTS and SIC was formed
  • The National Parang Association (Trinidad) was formed
  • Carnival began in Coventry
  • The Zac Herbert Steelband made a guest appearance on the television show The Two Ronnies
  • Steelpans were featured in the pop single Co Co by The Sweet
  • Elmwood Junior School Steelband (Croydon) was formed
  • Oxford Road School Steelband (Reading) was formed
  • Alexandra Road School Steelband (Oldham) was formed 

1972

  • Ray Holman became the first person to enter Panorama with his own composition
  • Steelpans were featured in the pop single Poppa Joe by The Sweet
  • Carnival began in Manchester

1973

  • Ebony Steelband was the first steelband to use pan racks at Notting Hill Carnival
  • Steelpans were featured in the Fleetwood Mac album Penguin 
  • Blue Bells (Manchester) was formed
  • Metronomes Steel Orchestra (London) was formed
  • Tropical Heatwave Caribbean Steelband (Manchester) was formed

1974

  • Carnival began in Preston
  • Contrast Steelband (Leicester) was formed
  • London All Stars (London) was formed
    Paddington Youth Steelband (London) was formed
  • Steel n Skin (Liverpool) was formed

1975

  • Carnival began in Derby
  • All but one out of nine Panorama finalists played 'Tribute to Spree'
  • Pans were manuafactured by an experimental 'press' system
  • The Pan Teacher's Association was officially formed
  • The Syncopators Steelband performed on the TV series Opportunity Knocks
  • Elmwood Primary School Steelband (Croydon) performed at the Schools Prom (Royal Albert Hall) 
  • Ducie High School (Manchester) was formed
  • Maestros Steelband (Birmingham) was formed
  • North Stars Steel Orchestra (Huddersfield) was formed
  • The first Adult Steelband Festival was held at the Commonwealth Institute
  • St.Clair Morris became the first steelpan teacher for Leeds Education Music Service 

1976

  • A complete set of 'pressed' pans were used in Panorama
  • The Steelband Association of Great Britain (SAGB) was formed
  • Carnival began in Luton
  • Elmwood Primary School Steelband (Croydon) performed at the Schools Prom (Royal Albert Hall) 
  • The first Manchester Steelband Festival was held
  • St Paul's and Hallows' Youth Steel Band (London) was formed
  • Lambeth Youth Steel Orchestra (London) was formed 
  • Royce Primary School (Manchester) was formed
  • St Pauls and All Hallows Youth Steelband (London) was formed
  • The first Junior Panorama Competition, Trinidad

1977

  • Carnival began in Reading
  • Huntingdon School Steelband performed at the Schools Prom (Royal Albert Hall) 
  • Silver Stars Steelband (Manchester) was formed
  • Ocho Rios Steelband (Rugby) was formed
  • Nicholls Ardwick High School Steelband (Manchester) was formed

1978

  • Carnival began in Liverpool
  • Pop group Boney M featured steelpan on their hit singles The Rivers of Babylon and Mary's Boy Child 
  • Glissando Steel Orchestra (London) was formed
  • Steel Tempo (Oldham) was formed
  • Elmwood Primary School Steelband (Croydon) performed at the Schools Prom (Royal Albert Hall) 
  • Paddington Youth won the first UK Panorama
  • The Groovers Steel Orchestra's 'Commonwealth Tempo' was the theme tune for the official BBC TV Commonwealth Games and the English Commonwealth Games Team  

1979

  • Panorama in Trinidad was boycotted
  • Southside Harmonics Steelband (London) was formed
  • Tropical Heatwave (Manchester) was 
  • A documentary film about Steel n Skin's Liverpool residency was commissioned by the Arts Council of Great Britain 
  • Elmwood Primary School Steelband (Croydon) performed at the Schools Prom (Royal Albert Hall)