The Specials

Also known as Specials

British 2-Tone ska band

Key facts

Also known as: The Special A.K.A.
Origin: Coventry , England
Genres: 2 tone ska new wave
Years active: 1977–1981 1982–1984 1993 1996–2001 2008–2022
Labels: 2 Tone Chrysalis Virgin Kuff Cleopatra
Spinoffs: Fun Boy Three The Spatial AKA Orchestra
Past members: Jerry Dammers Horace Panter Lynval Golding Roddy Radiation Terry Hall Neville Staple John Bradbury Dick Cuthell Rico Rodriguez Rhoda Dakar Stan Campbell
Website: thespecials .com

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Official website: www.thespecials.com
Image: The Specials.JPG

~25 min read

Article

The Specials, also known as the Special AKA, were an English 2 tone and ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry. The first stable lineup of the group consisted of Terry Hall and Neville Staple on vocals, Jerry Dammers on keyboards, Lynval Golding and Roddy Radiation on guitars, Horace Panter on bass, John Bradbury on drums, and Dick Cuthell and Rico Rodriguez on horns. Their music combined the danceable rhythms of ska and rocksteady with the energy of punk. The lyrics of their songs included political and social commentary. The band wore mod-style "1960s period rude boy outfits (pork pie hats, tonic and mohair suits and loafers)".

In 1980, their The Special AKA Live! EP, of which the lead track was "Too Much Too Young", reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1981, the recession-themed single "Ghost Town" also hit No. 1 in the UK.