The Specials head into the studio | News | NME.COM


The Specials head into the studio



Band hint at reunion and future tour

Ska legends have announced plans to reform.

MC and vocalist Neville Staple has confirmed that the band have been rehearsing together and plans could be in the pipeleine for a UK tour later this year.

"A couple of months ago we [all] started talking," he said. "We had to talk first to see if we could get on, but we got past the talking stage. Then we said, 'Okay, let’s see what we're like in a room together rehearsing with instruments'."

Following early talks Staple said singer Terry Hall met up with the band and they held two rehearsals.

"We're just seeing how it goes," Staple told Music Week. "If it gels, it gels. If it doesn’t, you don't wanna go out there as some old geriatrics – not me. What we've got to do is make sure the music at least is right.

"So if it works, we'll do it. If not, well. I'm sorry lads and girls. But we're trying."

Hall and fellow bandmates Lynval Golding and Staple left to form Fun Boy Three after the band scored their second UK Number One single in 1981 with 'Ghost Town'.

The band carried on as the Special AKA, most notably scoring a hit in 1984 with 'Free Nelson Mandela'. Songwriter/keyboardist Jerry Dammers split the band shortly afterwards.

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Well, I hope this isn't a total fuck-up. I love The Specials. I'm somewhat hopeful about this...

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Time is the distance that you can't return by miles.

I escaped somehow. Let's go

actualy [sic] I have quite a blessed life if I'm honest. I have many people to love, hate few and have few money problem's [sic].... What more does a person need? Oh yeah and I have some kind of humbleness unlike you of course ^_^ ~ CarefulCarpenter

i love them too, i've only ever got to see the "special beat" the bastardized version of the specials and the english beat.

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Well i should bloody hope they are back together seeing as I have tickets to see them with the beat at the Jazz cafe in June!. x

Not the mixy up beat band I mean as two seperate bands, The specials with the beat supporting.

i saw neville staples playing specials songs with a different band, and something of a cameo from the guy from the beat. it was really really cool and LOTS of fun. i actually skanked, and i usually don't even move at all (that's a lie, but i certainly don't skank).

i don't think it will be a failure, old neville definitely still has it in him. they still had plenty of energy and yeahhhhh.

seriously, he's a complete stud.

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Maybe you could send him like a coat hanger or soup mix in the mail with a post it-
"when you paint with your eyes closed, you never become picasso, you just become an ironic narcissist with uncomfortable shades".
Throwing people off is thrilling.

-ktlr

There needs to be a new Fun Boy Three record too. With help from Bananarama.

__________________
Time is the distance that you can't return by miles.

I escaped somehow. Let's go

actualy [sic] I have quite a blessed life if I'm honest. I have many people to love, hate few and have few money problem's [sic].... What more does a person need? Oh yeah and I have some kind of humbleness unlike you of course ^_^ ~ CarefulCarpenter

oh cool
now thats a band

gross. only ska can lead one to question whether nu-metal was really all that bad.

and if you don't mind my asking, how big is your cock, debaser?

Once you divorce it from toss like Mighty Mighty Bosstones - or any US ska and/or ska-punk ever - I think it becomes far more palatable. The Specials were skill, and easily transcended "ska". Two-Tone FTW.

__________________
Time is the distance that you can't return by miles.

I escaped somehow. Let's go

actualy [sic] I have quite a blessed life if I'm honest. I have many people to love, hate few and have few money problem's [sic].... What more does a person need? Oh yeah and I have some kind of humbleness unlike you of course ^_^ ~ CarefulCarpenter