The Specials
About
Credits
Videos
The Specials (originally known as The Coventry Automatics, then later named The Special AKA) were the first band of the 2-Tone era in the late '70s and early '80s in Britain. Led musically by keyboardist Jerry Dammers, the band also comprised Terry Hall (lead vox), Neville Staple (vox/percussion), Lynval Golding (rhythm gtr/vox), Roddy "Radiation" Byers (lead gtr), Sir Horace Gentleman (aka Horace Panter; bass), and John Bradbury (drums). From 1979 to 1981, they released seven singles, two of which ("Too Much Too Young" & "Ghost Town") got to #1. By the time "Ghost Town" reached UK#1 on July 11, 1981 amidst massive street violence in the UK's major cities, The Specials had split. Jerry Dammers and John Bradbury continued under the name The Special AKA until 1985, as did Horace Panter to a certain extent. Roddy Byers left but made a guest appearance on one single, and Terry Hall, Neville Staple, and Lynval Golding formed Fun Boy Three.
From Coventry
Roles Group, Arrangements, Writer, Producer
Jamaican Genres Played Dancehall, Dub, Reggae, Reggae-Pop, Rocksteady, Ska, Ska-Punk
Other Genres Played Alternative Rock, Blues, Disco, Drum n Bass, Dubstep, Electronic, Euro House, Funk, Funk / Soul, House, Jungle, New Wave, Pop, Pop Rock, Post-Punk, Public Broadcast, Punk, Rock, Rock & Roll, Vocal
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Adam Birch

Roles: Vocals, Flugelhorn, Trombone, Trumpet
Jamaican Genres Played: Reggae, Ska

Charlie 'H' Bembridge

Roles: Musician, Vocals, Drums, Percussion
Jamaican Genres Played: Reggae, Ska

Dick Cuthell

Roles: Backing Vocals, Bass Guitar, Brass, Cornet, Drums, Flugelhorn, Horn, Horns, Percussion, Piano, Trumpet, Writer, Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Producer, Photography
Jamaican Genres Played: Reggae, Ska, Dub, Roots Reggae, Rocksteady, Reggae-Pop

Gary Powell

Roles: Drums
Jamaican Genres Played: Reggae, Ska

Horace Panter

Roles: Bass Guitar, Guitar, Writer, Producer
Jamaican Genres Played: Reggae, Ska, Dub, Rocksteady

Jerry Dammers

Roles: Backing Vocals, Vocals, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Arrangements, Writer, Mixing Engineer, Producer, Artwork
Jamaican Genres Played: Reggae, Ska, Dub, Roots Reggae, Rocksteady, Reggae-Pop

John Bradbury

Roles: Musician, Drums, Percussion, Writer, Mixing Engineer, Producer
Jamaican Genres Played: Reggae, Ska, Dub, Roots Reggae, Rocksteady

Jonathan Read

Roles: Accordion, Trumpet
Jamaican Genres Played: Reggae, Ska

Kenrick Rowe

Roles: Drums
Jamaican Genres Played: Reggae, Ska, Dancehall

Lynval Golding

Roles: Musician, Backing Vocals, Vocals, Bass Guitar, Guitar, Harmonica, Percussion, Rhythm Guitar, Arrangements, Composer, Writer, Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Producer
Jamaican Genres Played: Reggae, Ska, Dub, Rocksteady, Dancehall, Reggae-Pop

Mark Adams

Roles: Musician, Vocals, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Arrangements, Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Producer
Jamaican Genres Played: Reggae, Ska

Neville Staple

Roles: Musician, Backing Vocals, Vocals, Drums, Guitar, Percussion, Arrangements, Composer, Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Artwork
Jamaican Genres Played: Reggae, Ska, Dub, Rocksteady, Dancehall, Reggae-Pop, Ragga

Nikolaj Torp

Roles: Vocals, Keyboards, Melodica, Writer, Producer
Jamaican Genres Played: Reggae, Ska, Dub

Rico Rodriguez

Born: Emmanuel Rodriguez

Roles: Musician, Vocals, Brass, Drums, Horn, Horns, Percussion, Trombone, Trumpet, Arrangements, Writer, Executive Producer, Producer
Jamaican Genres Played: Reggae, Ska, Dub, Roots Reggae, Rocksteady, Dancehall, Calypso, Lovers Rock

Roddy Byers

Roles: Vocals, Electric Guitar, Guitar, Writer, Producer
Jamaican Genres Played: Reggae, Ska, Rocksteady

Silverton Hutchinson

Roles: Drums

Steve Cradock

Roles: Guitar
Jamaican Genres Played: Reggae, Ska

Terry Hall

Born: Terence Edward Hall

Roles: Vocals, Banjo, Jew's Harp, Panpipes, Piano, Composer, Words By, Writer, Mixing Engineer, Producer, Artwork
Jamaican Genres Played: Reggae, Ska, Rocksteady, Dancehall

10 Commandments

Performed By The Specials

Music Video - Official | Video Quality: 5| Audio Quality: 5

A Message To You Rudy

Performed By The Specials

Music Video - Official | Video Quality: 4| Audio Quality: 5

A Message To You Rudy

Performed By The Specials

Music Video - Official | Video Quality: 4| Audio Quality: 5

Enjoy Yourself

Performed By The Specials

Live - Professional | Video Quality: 3| Audio Quality: 3

Friday Night and Saturday Morning

Performed By The Specials

Music Video | Video Quality: 4| Audio Quality: 4

Gangsters

Performed By The Specials

Music Video | Video Quality: 5| Audio Quality: 5

Gangsters

Performed By The Specials

Music Video - Official | Video Quality: 5| Audio Quality: 5

Ghost Town

Performed By The Specials

Music Video - Official | Video Quality: 4| Audio Quality: 5

Ghost Town

Performed By The Specials

Music Video - Official | Video Quality: 5| Audio Quality: 5

Ghost Town by : The Sound of Impending Doom

Performed By The Specials

Other | Video Quality: 5| Audio Quality: 5

Guns Of Navarone

Performed By The Specials

Live - Professional | Video Quality: 4| Audio Quality: 4

House Bound

Performed By The Specials

Music Video - Official | Video Quality: 5| Audio Quality: 5

Hypocrite

Performed By The Specials

Live - TV Appearance | Video Quality: 2| Audio Quality: 2

Hypocrite

Performed By The Specials

Music Video | Video Quality: 3| Audio Quality: 3

Interview

Performed By The Specials

Interview | Video Quality: 5| Audio Quality: 5

Live

Performed By Bad Manners & The Selecter & Madness & The Specials & Dexys Midnight Runners

Other | Video Quality: 4| Audio Quality: 4

Long Shot Kick De Bucket

Performed By The Specials

Live - Professional | Video Quality: 5| Audio Quality: 5

Maggie's Farm

Performed By The Specials

Live - Amatuer | Video Quality: 4| Audio Quality: 3

Nelson Mandela

Performed By The Special AKA & The Specials

Music Video - Official | Video Quality: 5| Audio Quality: 5

Racist Friend

Performed By The Special AKA & The Specials

Live - In Studio | Video Quality: 5| Audio Quality: 5

Rat Race

Performed By The Specials

Music Video - Official | Video Quality: 5| Audio Quality: 5

Rude Buoys Outa Jail

Performed By The Specials

Audio Only | Audio Quality: 5

Rudie's Come Back 1979 (Chapter One)

Performed By The Specials

Other | Video Quality: 3| Audio Quality: 4

Skinhead Moonstomp

Performed By The Specials

Live - Professional | Video Quality: 3| Audio Quality: 3

Stupid Marriage

Performed By The Specials

Live - Professional | Video Quality: 3| Audio Quality: 4

Terry Hall Tribute

Performed By The Specials

Music Video | Video Quality: 4| Audio Quality: 4

Vote For Me

Performed By The Specials

Music Video | Video Quality: 5| Audio Quality: 5

Vote For Me

Performed By The Specials

Music Video - Official | Video Quality: 5| Audio Quality: 5

You\'re Wondering Now

Performed By The Specials featuring Amy Winehouse

Live - Professional | Video Quality: 4| Audio Quality: 5

You're Wondering Now

Performed By The Specials featuring Amy Winehouse

Live - Professional | Video Quality: 4| Audio Quality: 5

You're Wondering Now/Ghost Town

Performed By The Specials featuring Amy Winehouse

Live - Professional | Video Quality: 4| Audio Quality: 4

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