There is a sound that comes from the Specials that no other ‘ska’ band can produce. A more scumbag sound filled with Brit slang and cliche’ that sends out the image of working class drudge. Unlike bands like Madness or Selector who often sound up for fun, the Specials carry a grudge and that could well be why I love them as much as I do.
A fan since the very early 80’s I can recite every line on their live release and can belt out every other tune as if I’ve been a member of the group. Addictive fast paced music with the repetition that makes it impossible to sit still. So imagine my surprise to learn that basically the members of this group cant stand each other.
Speaking with Absolute Radio presenters Pete Donaldson and Sarah Champion during the Isle of Wright Festival the band fessed up that they don’t even travel together.
Linval from the band said, ‘From the beginning of 1979 but we worked very, very hard. It was real short space of time, and then we split up to the back end of 1981. I don’t travel with them, we don’t get on. We have a dreadfully tardy work ethic which is great we only work a couple of months a year’.
To which Terry Hall replied, ‘And that’s too much!’.
Yikes. Maybe this infighting is the reason they can maintain such a grating presence? Figure Terry Hall is now 55 years old and has mellowed into looking more like a talk show host than the wiry black eyed ska boy- how long have they felt this way? Look doesn’t matter if they travel together or hate each others guts but it would be really cool to have a new release– how ’bout it kids?
