The Specials were an English 2 tone and ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry.[1] The bands 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.
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By the time the band disbanded in 2022, they consisted of Hall (who had recently died), Golding and Panter, alongside keyboardist Nikolaj Torp Larsen and trombonist Tim Smart (both since 2008), lead guitarist Steve Cradock and trumpeter Pablo Mendelssohn (both since 2014), drummer Kendrick Rowe (since 2019), vocalist Hannah Hu and rhythm guitarist Stan Samuel (both since 2021).
History
editThe group was formed in 1977 by songwriter/keyboardist Dammers, vocalist Tim Strickland, guitarist/vocalist Lynval Golding, drummer Silverton Hutchinson and bassist Horace Panter (a.k.a. Sir Horace Gentleman). Strickland was replaced by Terry Hall shortly after the band's formation. The band was first called the Automatics, then the Coventry Automatics.[2] Guitarist Roddy Byers (usually known as Roddy Radiation) agreed to join the band in March 1978 ahead of a recording session of demos.[3] During the tour Neville Staple, who was initially one of the roadies, became a full member of The Specials.[4] In 1979, drummer Hutchinson left the band and was replaced by John Bradbury. Horn players Dick Cuthell and Rico Rodriguez also joined the band at the same time.
In 1981 Staple, Hall and Golding all left the band.[5][6] Rodriguez and Panter also stopped performing with the band. Rhoda Dakar (previously a backing vocalist) joined as permanent vocalist, alongside John Shipley (from the Swinging Cats) on guitar, and Nicky Summers on bass. Rodriguez and Panter returned to the band for touring. After touring, Dakar briefly departed the band were briefly joined by Satch Dickson and Groco (percussion) and Anthony Wymshurst (guitar). Dakar soon returned alongside new co-vocalists Egidio Newton and Stan Campbell, as well as violinist Nick Parker. The new line-up (still known as the Special AKA) finally issued a new full-length album In the Studio in 1984. Officially, the band was now a sextet: Dakar, Campbell, Bradbury, Dammers, Shipley and new bassist Gary McManus. Dammers then dissolved the band and pursued political activism.[7]
The first reunion under the Specials name occurred in 1993. Participants were Radiation, Staple, Golding and Panter, they were also joined by Aitch Bembridge of The Selecter on drums, and keyboardist Mark Adams.[8] The band fully reunited in 1996, again with Bembridge and Adams and horn players Adam Birch and Jon Read, after successful touring the band stopped performing in 1998. The band returned in 2000 with Staple, Panter and Byers, featuring The Selecter's Neol Davies in place of Golding as well as Anthony Harty on drums, Justin Dodsworth on keyboards, Steve Holdway on trombone, Paul Daleman on trumpet, and Leigh Malin on tenor saxophone.
In 2008, Terry Hall reunited with the band, alongside Staple, Panter, Golding, Byers, Bradbury,[9] Birch and Read, and new members Nikolaj Torp Larsen (keyboards),[10] Drew Stansall (saxophone) and Tim Smart (trombone).[11] Birch had departed by 2010. Staple departed in January 2013, due to personal reasons.[12] Byers also departed in February 2014.[13] He was replaced by Steve Cradock.[14] The band were also joined by Pablo Mandleson on trumpet around the same time. On 28 December 2015, drummer Bradbury died.[15] he was replaced by Libertines drummer Gary Powell.[16] In 2019, Kenrick Rowe replaced Powell.[17] Stansall also departed. Sid Gauld briefly replaced Mandleson in 2021.[18] Also in 2021 Stan Samuel joined the band on rhythm guitar,[19] and Hannah Hu also joined on second vocals.[20]
On 19 December 2022, Terry Hall died.[21] Panter confirmed the end of the band in November 2023.[22]
Members
edit| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerry Dammers |
|
|
| |
| Horace Panter |
|
bass guitar | all The Specials releases | |
| Lynval Golding |
|
|
all releases except Skinhead Girl (2000) and Conquering Ruler (2001) | |
| Silverton Hutchinson | 1977–1979 | drums | none | |
| Tim Strickland | 1977 | lead vocals | ||
| Terry Hall |
|
| ||
| Roddy "Radiation" Byers |
|
|
all releases from The Specials (1979) to More... Or Less: The Specials Live (2012) | |
| Neville Staple |
|
|
all releases from The Specials (1979) to More... Or Less: The Specials Live (2012), except In the Studio (1984) | |
| John Bradbury |
|
drums |
| |
| Dick Cuthell | 1979–1984 |
|
all releases from The Specials (1979) to In the Studio (1984) | |
| Rico Rodriguez |
|
| ||
| Rhoda Dakar |
|
vocals |
| |
| Stan Campbell | 1982–1984 | In the Studio (1984) | ||
| John Shipley | 1981–1984 | guitar | ||
| Anthony Wimshurst | 1982 | none | ||
| Satch Dixon | percussion | |||
| Tony 'Groco' Uter |
| |||
| Egidio Newton | 1982–1983 |
|
In the Studio (1984) | |
| Nick Parker | 1982 | violin | ||
| Gary McManus | 1983–1984 | bass guitar | ||
| Mark Adams |
|
|
| |
| Aitch Bembridge |
| |||
| Jon Read |
|
|
| |
| Adam Birch |
|
|
| |
| Kendell Smith | 1998 | vocals | none | |
| Neol Davies | 2000–2001 |
|
| |
| Justin Dodsworth | keyboards | |||
| Anthony Harty |
| |||
| Paul Daleman | trumpet | |||
| Leigh Malin | tenor saxophone | |||
| Steve Holdway | trombone | |||
| Tim Smart | 2008–2022 |
| ||
| Nikolaj Torp Larsen |
| |||
| Drew Stansall | 2008–2012 |
|
More... Or Less: The Specials Live (2012) | |
| Steve Cradock | 2014–2022 |
|
| |
| Pablo Mendelssohn |
| |||
| Gary Powell | 2016–2019 | drums | Encore (2019) some live tracks | |
| Kenrick Rowe | 2019–2022 |
| ||
| Hannah Hu | 2021–2022 | vocals | Protest Songs 1924–2012 (2021) | |
| Stan Samuel | rhythm guitar | none | ||
| Sid Gauld | 2021 | trumpet |
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Timeline
edit
References
edit- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 519. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "The Specials.com". Archived from the original on 27 May 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
- ^ Marshall, George (1990). The Two Tone Story. Scotland: S.T. Publishing. ISBN 9780951849736.
- ^ Marshall, George (1990). The Two Tone Story. Scotland: S.T. Publishing. ISBN 9780951849736.
- ^ Petridis, Alexis (8 March 2002). "The Specials and the story of the UK's most remarkable chart-topper". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 519. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 914–915. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
- ^ Original Rude Boy: From Borstal to the Specials by Neville Staple with Tony McMahon; Chapter 4: The Specials – The Rude Boys Arrive
- ^ Swash, Rosie (2008-12-02). "The Specials reunite for 2009 tour". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ Ferguson, Euan (2009-04-25). "Done too much? Some of us couldn't get enough". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ Bass, Marco On The (2010-05-08). "Marco On The Bass: Haiti Special - The Specials Re-release 'Message To You Rudy' To Raise Money for Haitian Earthquake Relief". Marco On The Bass. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ "Grapevine". The Specials. Archived from the original on 25 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ Chambers, Pete (7 February 2014). "Specials lead guitarist Roddy 'Radiation' Byers leaves the band". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- ^ Colios, Willow (18 March 2014). "Steve Cradock joins The Specials for November UK tour". Louder than War. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- ^ "John Bradbury, Drummer for the Specials, Dies at 62". The New York Times. 2 January 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- ^ "New Touring Line Up". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
- ^ Sawyer, Miranda (2019-02-03). "The Specials: 'Respect people. Be kind to people. What else have we got?'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ Linazasoro, Nick (2021-09-05). "First full capacity Brighton Centre gig in 18 months". Brighton and Hove News. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ Welford, Gary (2021-10-04). "The Specials are still getting their message across with new album Protest Songs |". Retrieved 2024-06-14.
- ^ Trendell, Andrew (19 December 2022). "The Specials' Terry Hall has died, aged 63". NME. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- ^ Rider, Alan (November 2023). "The Art of Being A Special - Former Specials bassist Horace Panter talks expansively to Alan Rider about losing Terry Hall, life after The Specials, flat art, the Dirt Road Band, selfie culture, and extreme calligraphy". outsideleft.com. Retrieved 2024-06-14.