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The Specials

The Specials, also known as The Special AKA, are an English 2-Tone and ska revival band formed in the mid 1970s in Coventry. After some early changes, the first stable lineup of the group consisted of Terry Hall and Neville Staple on vocals, Lynval Golding and Roddy Radiation on guitars, Horace Panter on bass, Jerry Dammers on keyboards, John Bradbury on drums, and Dick Cuthell and Rico Rodriguez on horns. 

Their music combines the ska rhythm, rocksteady beat with punk energy and attitude", whilst lyrically, they focused on an informed political and social stance.

The band wore mod-style 1960s period rude boy outfits (pork pie hats, tonic and mohair suits and loafers), they burst on to the scene with 'Gangsters'.


In 1980, the song "Too Much Too Young", the lead track on their The Special AKA Live! EP, reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart.

Other tracks include 'Rat Race'

In 1981, the seminal, recession-themed single "Ghost Town" also hit No. 1 in the UK.


After seven consecutive UK Top 10 singles between 1979 and 1981, main lead vocalists Hall and Staple, along with guitarist Golding, left to form Fun Boy Three.

The rest of the band continued as "The Special AKA" (a name they used frequently on earlier Specials releases), a substantially revised Specials line-up issued new material through 1984, including the top 10 UK hit single "Free Nelson Mandela". 

After this, founder and songwriter Jerry Dammers dissolved the band and pursued political activism.

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