The Specials (band): Difference between revisions
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[[File:Specials_01.jpg|
The band that would become '''the Specials''' was formed as the Coventry Automatics in 1977 in [[The Midlands|Coventry, England]]. Leading members of Britain's second-wave ska revival, their sound - popularly known as 2 Tone - was a combination of danceable [[Ska]] and energetic [[Punk Rock]], popular in Britain at the time. Their most recognised, seven man line-up consisted of Terry Hall (vocals), Neville Staple (vocals, toasting), Jerry Dammers (organ, main songwriter), Roddy Radiation (lead guitar), Lynval Golding (rhythm guitar), Horace Panter (bass guitar) and John Bradbury (drums). Horn players Rico Rodriguez (trombone) and Dick Cuthell (trumpet, cornet and flugelhorn) were included as honourary members during their late-seventies heyday.
Keyboard player Jerry Dammers was undoubtedly the driving force behind the band and perhaps even the entire 2 tone movement. As one of the founders of 2 Tone Records, Dammers provided a springboard for many aspiring ska groups thanks to the 2 Tone policy of contracting an artist for one single with no obligation to produce further records for the label. Bands who benefitted from these unconventional arrangements included [[Madness (
Popular in their day, many of their lyrics were socially and politically conscious. Their number-one hits, "Too Much Too Young" and "[[Ghost Town]]" encouraged contraception and attacked the [[Margaret Thatcher|Thatcher government]] for its role in creating unemployment respectively. Dammers was also strongly anti-racist and he wanted to use his music to promote racial harmony and attack the [[Those Wacky Nazis|National Front]]. The music itself was generally standard ska fare, characterised by syncopated guitar chops, energetic hammond organ accompaniments and reasonably simple horn arrangements; trombone player Rico Rodriguez had played with several first wave ska artists in Jamaica before he moved to the UK. As front man, Terry Hall had a sarcastic, expressionless delivery which contrasted with the energetic, wacky toasting style of Neville Staple.
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* ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ2oXzrnti4&feature=channel Ghost Town]''
{{creatortropes}}
* [[And the Fandom Rejoiced]]: As far as the core of the fanbase (mods who enjoyed Northern Soul and reggae) was concerned, the inclusion of Rico Rodriguez on the first album.
* [[Anvilicious]]: Quite a few of their more politically charged songs ended up like this. The most anvilicious of them all, though, are probably ''Racist Friend'' and ''War Crimes''.
* [[The Band Minus the Face]]: Terry Hall was absent from the often-overlooked albums produced during [[The Nineties]], but the trope was averted to an extent because Neville Staple is equally recognisable as front-man.
** And now the 2009 tour minus Dammers.
* [[
* [[Control Freak]]: Some members of the band say Jerry Dammers behaved like this in [[The Seventies]], which is why he wasn't allowed to take part in the reunion. Dammers' side of the story characterises the band getting back together as more of a hostile takeover than a proper reunion.
* [[Covered Up]]: Their version of "A Message to You Rudy". Two of their earlier songs, "Gangsters" and "Too Much Too Young", also borrowed heavily from earlier Jamaican ska songs.
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* [[Protest Song]]: "Free Nelson Mandela" and "War Crimes", both released by Dammers after the original band broke up. The former is credited with making Nelson Mandela a ''cause celebre'' and is still a popular song in Africa.
* [[Self-Titled Album]]: The first two albums, ''Specials'' and ''More Specials''.
* [[Sex, Drugs and Rock
* [[Sharp-Dressed Man]]: The mod-influenced tonic suits.
* [[Ska]]: A major force in the British second wave.
* [[Special Guest]]: [[Madness (
* [[Stage Names]]: Horace Panter was credited as "Sir Horace Gentleman" on their first two albums and Roddy Byers preferred "Roddy Radiation".
* [[The Stoic]]: Terry Hall again, who never seemed to have any kind of facial expression and sometimes performed with his back to the audience.
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{{reflist}}
[[Category:Musicians]]
[[Category:
[[Category:The Specials]]▼
[[Category:Music]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Specials (band), The}}
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