The specials encore cddb lookup
According to Dammers, anti-racism was intrinsic to the formation of the Specials, in that the band was formed with the goal of integrating black and white people. The Specials began at the same time as Rock Against Racism, which was first organised in 1978. This performance gave the Special AKA a new level of national exposure, and they briefly shared the Clash's management. Joe Strummer of the Clash had attended one of their concerts, and invited the Special AKA to open for his band in their "On Parole" UK tour. Vocalist Neville Staple and guitarist Roddy Byers (usually known as Roddy Radiation) joined the band the following year the new line-up changed their name to the Special AKA. The band was first called the Automatics, then the Coventry Automatics. Strickland was replaced by Terry Hall shortly after the band's formation. The 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.
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Continuing as "The Special AKA" (a name they used frequently on earlier Specials releases), a substantially revised Specials line-up issued new material until 1984, including the top 10 UK hit single " Free Nelson Mandela". Īfter seven consecutive UK Top 10 singles between 19, main lead vocalists Hall and Staple, along with guitarist Golding, left to form Fun Boy Three. In 1981, the recession-themed single " Ghost Town" also hit No. In 1980, the song "Too Much Too Young", the lead track on their The Special AKA Live! EP, reached No. The band wore mod-style "1960s period rude boy outfits ( pork pie hats, tonic and mohair suits and loafers)". Lyrically, they present a "more focused and informed political and social stance". Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude". After some early changes, the first stable lineup of the group consisted of Terry Hall and Neville Staple on vocals, Lynval Golding and Roddy Radiation on guitars, Horace Panter on bass, Jerry Dammers on keyboards, John Bradbury on drums, and Dick Cuthell and Rico Rodriguez on horn. The Specials, also known as The Special AKA, are an English 2 Tone and ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry.