History of The Specials in Timeline
The Specials, or The Special AKA, were a British 2 Tone and ska revival band founded in Coventry in 1977. The band blended ska and rocksteady rhythms with punk energy, creating a unique sound. Their lineup included Terry Hall, Neville Staple, Jerry Dammers, Lynval Golding, Roddy Radiation, Horace Panter, John Bradbury, Dick Cuthell, and Rico Rodriguez. Known for wearing mod-style rude boy outfits, The Specials' music tackled political and social issues.
1924: Protest Songs Era
In July 2021, Horace Panter announced a new 12-track Specials album titled Protest Songs 1924–2012.
1977: The Specials Formed
In 1977, The Specials, originally known as The Special AKA, were formed in Coventry, England. The band's music combined ska and rocksteady rhythms with punk energy and political lyrics, and they wore mod-style rude boy outfits. The initial lineup included Terry Hall, Neville Staple, Jerry Dammers, Lynval Golding, Roddy Radiation, Horace Panter and John Bradbury.
March 1978: Roddy Radiation Joins The Band
In March 1978, Roddy Byers, known as Roddy Radiation, joined the band before a recording session of demos.
1978: The Specials and Rock Against Racism
In 1978, The Specials began at the same time as Rock Against Racism. According to Dammers, anti-racism was intrinsic to the formation of the band.
May 1979: John Peel Plays "Gangsters" on BBC Radio One
In May 1979, John Peel played The Specials' record "Gangsters" on his late night BBC Radio One show.
1979: Top 10 Singles
Between 1979 and 1981, The Specials had seven consecutive UK top 10 singles.
1979: Debut Album Recorded
In 1979, The Specials changed their name and recorded their self-titled debut album, produced by Elvis Costello. Dick Cuthell and Rico Rodriguez were featured on the album.
1980: The Special AKA Live! EP Reached No. 1
In 1980, The Special AKA Live! EP, featuring the lead track "Too Much Too Young", reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart.
1980: Too Much Too Young EP
In 1980, the EP Too Much Too Young by The Special A.K.A. was a No. 1 hit in the UK Singles Chart, but it also generated controversy due to its lyrics about teen pregnancy.
1980: Encore reaches number 1 on UK Albums Chart
In February 2019, the album "Encore" reached number 1 on the UK Albums Chart, giving the band their first chart-topping album since 1980.
1981: "Ghost Town" Hit No. 1 in the UK
In 1981, The Specials' recession-themed single "Ghost Town" hit No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart.
1981: Hall, Staple, and Golding Leave to Form Fun Boy Three
In 1981, after a run of top 10 singles, The Specials' lead vocalists Terry Hall and Neville Staple, along with guitarist Lynval Golding, left the band to form Fun Boy Three.
1981: Founding of Fun Boy Three
In 1981, after leaving The Specials, Golding, Hall, and Staple founded the pop band Fun Boy Three.
1981: "Ghost Town" Number 1 Single, Band Conflict and Departures
In 1981, the non-album single "Ghost Town" hit No. 1. During their Top of the Pops performance of the song, Staple, Hall, and Golding announced their departure from The Specials due to internal conflicts and formed Fun Boy Three shortly afterwards.
1983: End of Fun Boy Three
In 1983, Fun Boy Three ended when Hall suddenly departed, leading to a 15-year rift with Staple.
1984: Hall Fronted The Colourfield
In 1984, Terry Hall fronted the Colourfield.
1984: In the Studio Album Release and "Free Nelson Mandela" Single
In 1984, The Special AKA released the album "In the Studio". The album was less successful, though the single "Free Nelson Mandela" was a No. 9 UK hit. Dammers dissolved the band and began political activism.
1984: "Free Nelson Mandela" Single Release
In 1984, The Special AKA released the single "Free Nelson Mandela", which reached the UK top 10. Later, founder Jerry Dammers dissolved the band and became a political activist.
1987: The Colourfield Disbanded
In 1987, The Colourfield disbanded and Terry Hall pursued a solo career.
1990: Formation of Special Beat
In 1990, Bradbury, Golding, Panter, and Staple teamed up with members of the Beat to form Special Beat.
1992: Vegas Album Release
In 1992, Terry Hall and David A. Stewart released an eponymous album as the duo Vegas.
1993: The Specials Reunion
In 1993, The Specials reunited and collaborated with Desmond Dekker on the album "King of Kings". The lineup featured Roddy Radiation, Neville Staple, Lynval Golding, and Horace Panter, alongside Aitch Bembridge and studio musicians.
1994: X Specials Release "Coz I Luv You"
In 1994, a single credited to "X Specials" featuring Staple, Golding, Radiation, and Panter released a cover of the Slade song "Coz I Luv You", produced by Jim Lea of Slade.
1996: Release of Today's Specials
In 1996, The Specials released "Today's Specials", a collection of reggae and ska covers.
1998: Release of Guilty 'til Proved Innocent!
In 1998, The Specials released "Guilty 'til Proved Innocent!", a collection of original compositions. Also in 1998 the band toured Japan, which Panter missed due to illness.
1998: Japan Tour
The Specials' tour of Japan occurred in 1998, although Panter missed the tour due to illness.
1999: Roger Lomas records with The Specials
In 1999, Roger Lomas brought The Specials back into the studio to record classic songs from the Trojan Records catalogue, similar to a previous project with the Selecter. Golding left the group two weeks prior. Neol Davies replaced Golding on guitar.
2000: Golding Leaves The Specials
In 2000, Lynval Golding left the 1990s Specials lineup.
2000: Release of Skinhead Girl
In 2000, Receiver Records, a sub-label of Trojan Records, released Skinhead Girl, recorded by Davies, Staple, Radiation, Panter, and session musicians.
2000: Limited Touring
In 2000, limited touring continued with a different line-up of the Specials. Also in 2000 Skinhead Girl by the band would be released.
2001: Release of Conquering Ruler
In 2001, Receiver Records released Conquering Ruler, which was recorded by Davies, Staple, Radiation, Panter and session musicians.
2006: Dammers Formed Spatial AKA Orchestra
In 2006, Jerry Dammers formed the jazz-style ensemble, the Spatial AKA Orchestra.
2007: Hall and Golding Reunite at Glastonbury and GuilFest
In 2007, Hall and Golding performed Specials songs together for the first time in 24 years at Glastonbury Festival with Lily Allen and at GuilFest with the Dub Pistols performing "Gangsters". Golding also performed and recorded with Pama International in 2007.
March 2008: Hall Announces Specials Reunion and Possible Recording
On 30 March 2008, Hall announced that The Specials would reform for tour dates in autumn 2008 and possibly for some recording.
April 2008: Specials Reunion Officially Confirmed
On 7 April 2008, the Specials' reunion was officially confirmed.
September 2008: Specials Perform at Bestival
On 6 September 2008, six members of The Specials performed as the "Surprise Act" on the main stage at Bestival.
December 2008: Specials Announce 2009 Tour Dates
In December 2008, The Specials announced 2009 tour dates to celebrate their 30th anniversary, though Dammers would not be joining the tour.
April 2009: Specials perform on Later... with Jools Holland
On 10 April 2009, The Specials appeared as guests on BBC Two's Later... with Jools Holland.
May 2009: Golding credits Lily Allen for Specials reformation
In May 2009, Golding claimed Lily Allen's reuniting him with Hall played a "massive part" in the group's later reformation. Later that day they played on the Park Stage with Damon Albarn of Blur on piano and beatboxer Shlomo providing rhythm, to perform "A Message to You, Rudy".
June 2009: Specials Announce Second Leg of 30th Anniversary Tour
On 8 June 2009, The Specials announced a second leg of their 30th anniversary tour, covering locations and venues they missed earlier in the year.
2009: Neville Staple
In 2009 Neville Staple was a part of The Specials when they reformed.
2009: Panter Rejoined The Specials
In 2009, Horace Panter rejoined The Specials for their reunion.
2009: Specials tour to celebrate 30th anniversary
In 2009, The Specials embarked on a tour to celebrate their 30th anniversary. Founder Dammers did not join the tour.
November 2010: Hall confirms future Specials dates
In November 2010, Hall confirmed further Specials dates in autumn 2011. He stated he enjoyed playing live and viewed it as a "celebration of something that happened in your life that was important".
2010: Specials Perform at Lowlands Festival
In 2010, The Specials performed at the Dutch Lowlands Festival.
2011: European Tour
In 2011, The Specials embarked on a European tour, from which the live album "More... Or Less. - The Specials Live" released in 2012 was compiled.
2011: Specials announce further dates
In November 2010, Hall confirmed that there would be further Specials dates in autumn of 2011, and confessed to having enjoyed playing live again.
February 2012: Specials to perform at Hyde Park for Summer Olympics
In February 2012, it was announced that The Specials would perform at Hyde Park with Blur and New Order to celebrate the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony. Panter stated the band was excited to be involved and believed it would be their only UK performance of the year.
August 2012: The Specials release "More... Or Less. - The Specials Live" album
In August 2012, The Specials released a new live album, More... Or Less. – The Specials Live, featuring "the best of the best" performances from their 2011 European tour, selected by the band themselves on a double-disc CD and double-vinyl LP.
2012: Staple Leaves The Specials
In 2012, Neville Staple leaves The Specials.
2012: Protest Songs Era
In July 2021, Horace Panter announced a new 12-track Specials album titled Protest Songs 1924–2012.
January 2013: Staple Departs from The Specials
In January 2013, The Specials announced Neville Staple's departure, citing ill health and missed shows as reasons. They expressed sadness and wished him well.
May 2013: Specials' UK Tour
The Specials were scheduled to perform on their UK tour in May 2013, without Neville Staple.
2013: Specials North American Tour
In 2013, The Specials completed a North American tour, performing to sold-out crowds in various cities.
February 2014: Roddy Radiation Leaves The Specials
In February 2014, it was revealed that Roddy Radiation had left The Specials. Despite his departure, the band toured in the autumn with Steve Cradock as lead guitarist.
2014: Radiation Leaves The Specials
In 2014, Roddy Radiation stopped playing with the Specials.
December 2015: Death of John Bradbury
On 28 December 2015, drummer John Bradbury died at the age of 62.
March 2016: Gary Powell Joins The Specials for Tours
On 22 March 2016, The Specials announced that Gary Powell, the drummer for The Libertines, would be performing on their upcoming tours.
2017: Saffiyah Khan invited to Specials show
In 2017, after a photo of Saffiyah Khan confronting an "English Defence League goon" in a Specials t-shirt went viral, the band invited her to a show. She later performed on stage, recorded a song, and toured North America with the band.
October 2018: Specials announce UK tour and new album
On 29 October 2018, The Specials announced a UK tour in 2019 to coincide with the release of a new album, Encore.
February 2019: Specials Announce North American Tour and Encore Release
On 1 February 2019, The Specials announced a spring North American tour to promote the release of Encore (out via Island Records). The following week, Encore debuted at number 1 on the UK Albums Chart, giving the band their first chart-topping album since 1980.
2019: Specials announce UK tour and new album
In 2019, The Specials embarked on a UK tour to coincide with the release of their new album, Encore.
March 2021: The Specials Announce UK Tour
In March 2021, the band announced a UK tour.
July 2021: New Specials Album Announced
On 7 July 2021, Horace Panter announced a new 12-track Specials album titled Protest Songs 1924–2012, to be released on 23 August 2021.
August 2021: Release of Protest Songs 1924–2012
On 23 August 2021, The Specials released their new 12-track album, Protest Songs 1924–2012. Vocalist Hannah Hu joined the band for their 2021 tour and also sang on the new album.
December 2022: Panter leaves The Specials
In December 2022, Horace Panter remained a member of The Specials until the group came to an end.
December 2022: Terry Hall's Death
In December 2022, Terry Hall, the singer of The Specials, passed away.
December 2022: Death of Terry Hall
On 19 December 2022, The Specials announced on social media that Terry Hall had died at age 63 after a brief illness, later revealed to be pancreatic cancer. They had planned to record a new album in the United States before his health deteriorated.
2022: Golding leaves The Specials
In 2022, Lynval Golding remained with the group until its end.
2022: Last filmed concert before Hall's death
In December 2024, Sky Arts aired The Specials: Live From Coventry Cathedral, the last-filmed concert by the band before Hall's death in 2022.
2023: Specials Cease to Be
In a 2023 interview, bass player Horace Panter confirmed that The Specials had ceased to be following Hall's death, stating that touring without Terry would be ludicrous.
December 2024: Sky Arts Aired The Specials: Live From Coventry Cathedral
In December 2024, Sky Arts aired The Specials: Live From Coventry Cathedral, the last-filmed concert by the band before Hall's death in 2022. The show was directed by Hall's wife Lindy Heymann.
Mentioned in this timeline
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