Thursday, December 13, 2012

The Specials / Return To Maida Vale Studios


The Specials
BBC 6 Music Session
Maida Vale Studios
12/12/12



Session Tracks

01 A Message To You Rudy
02 Ghost Town
03 Nite Klub
04 Too Much Too Young

Saturday, December 1, 2012

The Specials / Rude Buoys At The BBC



The Specials

BBC Radio 6 Music

Wednesday 12 December

4.00-7.00pm

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Steve Lamacq has a very special session from The Specials. The iconic ska band, who reformed in 2008, are live at the BBC's Maida Vale studios.

Topping off a year that saw them bring the Olympics to a close, Terry Hall fronts the band in a live set at the BBC's Maida Vale studios. They’ll be performing hits from their back catalogue, such as Ghost Town, Rat Race and a Message To You Rudy in front of an audience of 6 Music Listeners.

Presenter : Steve Lamacq

Producer : Paul Sheehan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/shows/6music_the_specials_12dec12

Sunday, September 30, 2012

The Specials / Glasgow Revisited 28/04/09


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For those of you who attended any of The Specials gigs during the 30th anniversary tour 2009 you should enjoy the review and pictures below as much as you enjoyed the gig I hope?

The venue was full to capacity - there were skinheads, Harrington jackets, Fred Perrys and shiny doc marten boots everywhere. The crowd were a mixed bunch, mostly men and women in their mid forties but there were many youngsters who weren’t even born 30 years ago when two-tone started. The DJ was playing some good old ska, getting the crowd even more in the mood than they already were....

Full Review : By Dod

http://punkglobe.com/thespecials609.html

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Flipron feat. Neville Staple / The Comet Returns





Live & Direct! This is the promo for the new Flipron single featuring the legend that is Neville Staple. A twangy guitar off beat spaghetti-ska number with a comet theme that is available for download on 10th September. Neville, you are a gentleman! From the forthcoming album on Tiny Dog records 'Firework Shoes', produced by Rat Scabies & mixed by David M. Allen.

Made by Paul Collins at Goanna Films with Josh Randall & assistance from Adam & CJ. Huge thanks also to the people at 2-tone Central in Coventry for giving us complete freedom to do what we like in & around the venue where we shot the performances. Specials scholars will know who the legendary gentleman is blowing smoke into the camera at 2.59. A free promo CD of the tune for the first person to identify him!

Guitarists & gearheads who are interested, on both the audio & video that's a Peerless Gigmaster SC with handmade Creamery Sonic Six pickups fitted for pure clean twangy tone, going through a rare Dickinson 45w head & a custom cab.

More Flipron vids at FLIPRONXXOFFICIAL on youtube. Flipron info, dates, music & merchandise on

www.flipron.co.uk

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

The Specials More... Or Less. The Specials Live



Artist : The Specials
Title : More... Or Less. The Specials Live
Label : EMI 6210141
Year 2012
Double Vinyl, 2CD, Download
Release Date : 06/08/12

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Side One
01. A Message to You Rudy (Live in Bournemouth)
02. Do the Dog (Live in Paris)
03. It's Up to You (Live in Manchester)
04. Nite Klub (Live in Hull)
05. Doesn't Make It Alright (Live in Cardiff)
06. Concrete Jungle (Live in Brighton)
07. Too Hot (Live in Brixton)
Side Two
08. Monkey Man (Live in Manchester)
09. (Dawning of A) New Era (Live in Coventry)
10. Blank Expression (Live in Manchester)
11. Stupid Marriage (Live in Manchester)
12. Too Much Too Young (Live in Bournemouth)
13. Little Bitch (Live in Brighton)
14. You're Wondering Now (Live in Hull)
Side Three
01. Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think) (Live in Manchester)
02. Rat Race (Live in Milan)
03. Man At C&A (Live in Brighton)
04. Hey Little Rich Girl (Live in Hull)
05. Do Nothing (Live in Manchester)
06. Pearl's Cafe (Live in Cheltenham)
Side Four
07. Stereotype (Live in Cardiff)
08. Ghost Town (Live in Coventry)
09. Friday Night, Saturday Morning (Live in Bournemouth)
10. International Jet Set (Live in Glasgow)
11. Gangsters (Live in Bournemouth)
12. Guns of Navarone (Live in Hull)

Available Now In All Good Record Shops :)

http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?sku=625624

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Root Diamoons {Feat} Rico Live / Rototom Sunsplash 2011

Artist : Root Diamoons {Feat} Rico Live!

Venue : Rototom Sunsplash (Spain)

Date : 25/08/11

Time : 01:20:38

Source : Soundboard

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Download Here


"http://www.bergfiles.com/i/bf5a18fdaah32i0"

Photos

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rototomsunsplash/6081623146/

Enjoy :)

Friday, July 13, 2012

The Specials / Hope & Anchor 05/05/79

Image and video hosting by TinyPic Justin Thomas spent over 35 years working as a music photographer documenting Punk, Rock ‘n’ Roll and Britpop history through his pictures. In a display of some the most illustrious photographs ever captured When you Hear the Music Trouble Disappear features several unseen images of some of music’s most acclaimed talent. The exhibition begins in the early seventies and displays behind-the-scenes portraits and the on-stage theatrics of the biggest stars in the music business with hit groups such as The Clash and The Who. As his career progressed, early portraits of singers such as Sid Vicious, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and Bob Marley were followed by those of bands such as Rolling Stones, Stone Roses and Oasis. From pure punk, through Rock ‘n’ Roll and the birth of Britpop, When you Hear the Music Trouble Disappear challenges you to explore the dramatic developments of music and culture, and their lasting impact that continues to live in our memories today. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/multimedia/entertainment/music/2012/07/07/music-legends-captured-by-welsh-rock-photographer-justin-thomas-91466-31340587/#11 http://www.whats-on-guide.co.uk/uncategorized/graffik_gallery_presents_justin_thomas_when_you_hear_the_music_trouble_disappear

Friday, June 1, 2012

Jerry Dammers / interview (Future FM)

Jerry Dammers – founder of The Specials and 2Tone brings his SPATIAL AKA ORCHESTRA to Norwich on 26th May 2012 for the first time as part of the NNFestival. Future Radio’s Kate Roma caught up with Jerry earlier in the week to find out more :) Date: 24/05/12 Length: 11:37 minutes http://www.futureradio.co.uk/podcast/2012/may/kate-roma-interviews-jerry-dammers

Sunday, March 11, 2012

The Skabilly Rebels / Roddy Byers Interview 07/03/12

Between heavy accents, we understood each other. Roddy Radiation of the legendary “The Specials”, was the coolest and most sincere guest here at Piñata Hour. I am not kissing ass, but many people expected a shy man. Not at all. We drank a bit as we talked about the glory days with The Clash, hanging out with Elvis Costello, and 2 Tone Records. Our studios was filled with a great vibe. I really wanna thank Roddy’s great team for making this interview so much fun.

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http://www.skidrowstudios.com/pinata-hour/2012-03-11/4614/

Thursday, March 8, 2012

The Specials Get "Specialized" Limited Edition Double CD

WWW.THESPECIALS2.COM

PRESENT

SPECIALIZED

IN AID OF "T" CANCER TRUST

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Purchase CD

http://specialized.bigcartel.com/product/specialized-a-modern-take-on-specials-classics

http://www.specializedcharityalbum.co.uk/purchase.php

More specialized

www.specializedcharityalbum.co​.uk

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Lynval Golding / The Winter of Discontent

22/02/12

The Iron Lady portrays an England beset with social, political and economic strife. Strikes, food shortages, racial conflict played against the pomp and ceremony of the Silver Jubilee. By the late 1970s, with the Winter of Discontent eroding into the English people’s traditional resilience, the Conservative Party swept to power, winding back welfare programs and cracking down on industrial unrest. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher asserted that there was no such thing as society, only the individual. It was into this tumultuous environment that multi-racial ska band The Specials were born in 1977. The Specials came from the same sub-cultural and political melting pot as punk, first challenging the staid post-war institutions that had come to suffocate English society, and subsequently firing rhetorical bullets at Thatcher’s brutal social and economic policies.

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Lynval Golding, guitarist and founding member of The Specials, describes it as ‘strange’ to see the events of his youth portrayed on the big screen in The Iron Lady. In fact, Golding says when he thinks back to his early days in The Specials, he’s immediately drawn to the images shown in the movie. “My recollection of that time is seeing part of it on the big screen in The Iron Lady,” Golding says. “We played a gig in 1979 that’s shown in the film, although we’re not actually on the soundtrack – our songs would never be used in that film!” he laughs. “But I can remember the miners strikes and all the unrest that’s shown in the film. There can’t be many bands that can go back to their roots in that way!” Golding says.



Golding was born in the then-English colony of Jamaica in 1951. A few years later his family migrated to England, where they settled in Coventry. In 1977 Golding, Horace Panter – also known as Sir Horace Gentleman – and Jerry Dammers formed The Coventry Automatics, which eventually morphed into The Specials. “Jerry Dammers got the band together originally, and I was the first member,” Golding recalls. “And then Horace Panter joined. But we were the original three members.”



The Specials were soon joined by Silverton Hutchinson (who left early in the band’s career), Neville Staple, Roddy Byers and Terry Hall. Dammers had already sowed the seeds of the band’s political stance, which would subsequently become a significant ingredient in the band’s public and musical image. Ska had its roots in the Caribbean islands, most notably in Staple and Golding’s home country of Jamaica. While England wasn’t the only country with colonial interests in the Caribbean, the concentration of post-war Caribbean migration toward England meant that it became the focus for the fledgling European ska movement. “The ska in the band came from me and Neville,” Golding says. “I think The Specials played a huge part in educating people Europe about ska music, and reggae,” he says. While paying tribute to Bob Marley’s efforts in bringing reggae to the attention of the world, Golding has a surprising nomination for his own favourite band. “When we were touring in Europe we played with AC/DC,” Golding recalls. “They’re my favourite, favourite band! We did a gig with Bon Scott just before he died. It was absolutely fantastic!”



The other critical influence on The Specials was The Clash. Joe Strummer had been to see The Specials play in 1977, and suggested them as support act for The Clash shortly after. The tour introduced The Specials to an audience well beyond their Coventry roots, and led eventually to The Specials’ nation-wide popularity. “The Clash tour probably gave us our audience,” Golding says. “It proved to us that we could crossover. I don’t think that without Joe Strummer and Mick Jones there would be The Specials. They are just fantastic guys.”



Jerry Dammers formed the 2 Tone label in 1979, which released The Specials’ debut single, Gangsters. The Specials had already adopted the pork pie and suit look adopted partly from the mod sub-culture – of which Dammers had once been a member – and partly from Golding and Staple’s own Caribbean roots. “Back then when I was leaving Jamaica, you’d have your best clothes on – you’d be wearing a suit and looking very nice. You dressed up in your best clothes,” Golding says. “So dressing up like did was part of my roots.”



The Specials went on to release a series of successful singles, including a re-worked version of Dandy Livingstone’s Rudy, A Message to You (re-titled A Message to You, Rudy), Too Much Too Young and Ghost Town. The Specials also formed a strong bond with Los Angeles girl punk band The Go-Gos during the latter band’s European tour in 1980.



Specials singer Terry Hall would go on to write Our Lips Are Sealed with Go-Gos’ guitarist Jane Wiedlin (in addition to becoming the Go-Gos’ most successful single, the song would also be recorded by Hall’s post Specials band, Fun Boy Three). Golding is circumspect, almost coy in describing the relationship between The Specials and Fun Boy Three. “In this wonderful world we live in we’ve got guys and girls,” Golding says cryptically. “Terry Hall wrote this wonderful song with the Go-Gos called Our Lips Are Sealed – that song says a lot. Let’s just say it was a great combination,” Golding cackles.



The Specials were at the forefront of Rock Against Racism, a project instigated in the punk and ska music community to stem the rise of racism, and to counteract the insidious influence of right-wing rhetoric in the punk movement. 30 years on, and Golding says England has evolved since that time for the better, though he’s regularly disappointed with what’s seen as a return racist commentary. “England has become a multi-racial country, and there’s no doubt a multi-racial band helped stop racism” Golding says. “England has become the world, and that’s a good thing. I think if we can put together all these people in the one country, then that’s a good thing. England is no longer just white – and that’s a good thing,” he says. “But I’m also very saddened that racism is being used, even on the football field. I’m a big football fan – I follow Chelsea. I’ve gone to games where there’s been lots of racism directed at players on the pitch. I am really embarrassed when there’s this chanting at black players on the pitch – calling them ‘black bastard!’ I was at a game when someone was calling the black players black bastards, and then he turned to me and said ‘I’m not talking about you – I’m just talking to the players. How can it not be about me as well?” Golding asks rhetorically.



In the early 1980s, and with internal tensions rising, the members of The Specials went their separate ways. Hall, Staple and Golding formed Fun Boy Three (including collaborating with the members of Bananarama) while Dammers pursued his own political agenda under the moniker The Special AKA, including chart topping Free Nelson Mandela. Over the next 20-odd years the members of The Specials participated in the occasional part-reunion and one-off project. Golding says the seeds of The Specials’ 2009 reunion – albeit without Jerry Dammers – began when Golding tried to organise a 25th anniversary tour. With the various members spread around the world – Staple has lived in Los Angeles for many years – logistics proved a significant problem. “I tried getting everyone back together for the 25 year anniversary,” Golding says. “But it took five years to get everyone back together. But once we did manage it, it’s been fantastic to play again.”



The ongoing absence of Jerry Dammers – guitarist, principal songwriter and arguably the band’s political protagonist – has been something of a sore point. While Terry Hall was quoted in the English music media a few years ago as saying the door was open for Dammers to return, Dammers has publicly criticised The Specials’ reformation, claiming he had no option but to decline to participate. Golding is disappointed Dammers hasn’t been involved, but says it was unavoidable, given Dammers’ refusal to agree to the other members’ idea for the reunion tour. “Jerry Dammers isn’t playing with this lineup. We couldn’t agree with his idea with what to do with the 30th anniversary tour. There are lots of members in this band, and it’s a democratic decision. That’s the thing about democracy – you have to go with the majority decision,” Golding says.



But right now Golding’s immediate frustration is with the change in weather he’s just been confronted with after returning home to his adopted hometown of Seattle. “I was in Jamaica over Christmas, and I’ve just got back to Seattle. When I was in Jamaica, the weather there is absolutely beautiful,” Golding remarks in his Jamaica-via-Coventry accent. “And then I got off the plane in Seattle, where I live now, and it’s raining. It’s absolutely terrible! All this rain reminds me so much of England!” he laughs. “I’m so looking forward to coming back to Australia – I absolutely love it. I’ll make sure I leave all the bad weather behind!”



BY PATRICK EMERY

THE SPECIALS play Byron Bay Bluesfest, taking place from Thursday April 5 to Monday April 9. They also play the Palace Theatre in Melbourne on Thursday April 5.

http://www.beat.com.au/music/specials

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

John Bradbury / Coventry Wall Of Fame 31/01/12

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WHEN you put the number 13 together with a Friday you expect bad things to happen.

But that wasn't the case for three shining lights of the city music scene last week.

Ska drummer John 'Brad' Bradbury, singer Vince Hill and producer Roger Lomas became the latest names to join Coventry's Music Wall Of Fame.

Their induction took the number of plaques on the wall to a baker's dozen.

Other famous faces who have already been honoured include Selecter duo Neol Davies and Pauline Black, Specials star Lynval Golding and Hazel O'Connor.

Music historian Pete Chambers, who came up with the idea for the Wall of Fame last year, told the Coventry Telegraph: "Coventry has got such a fantastic and varied musical history so it is great to be able to celebrate it with this wall.

"There are a lot of musicians in Coventry, not just from the 2-Tone era, who have been around through the decades and have put Coventry on the musical map.

"This wall is a way of putting their names on our own map in the city and making sure they are not forgotten."

Vince Hill is the velvet voiced legend who went from Hen Lane to perform at some of the world's finest theatres.

His signature hit Edelweiss - a version of the song from the Sound of Music - reached number two in the UK charts in 1967 and made him a huge TV star.

John Bradbury is best known as the drummer with Coventry legends The Specials, but the soul aficionado also created Race Records.

He also led his own troupe, JB's Allstars, playing Northern Soul before The Specials reformed.

Roger Lomas is less of a household name but the former Sorrows and Dodgers member holds two unique honours which made him more than a match for his esteemed colleagues.

Not only was he responsible for the very first 2-Tone recording, but he is the only Coventrian to earn a Grammy for producing the album Jamaican E.T. for the legendary Lee 'Scratch' Perry.

He has also produced records for The Selecter and Bad Manners.

Pete said: "Vince was quite emotional about the whole thing and loves the way Coventry remembers him.

"As for John Bradbury, this is his home. He grew up just around the corner in Stoke, it is where he came from and where he was brought up so it means so much more to him.

"He was really chuffed to be added to the wall. It is great to have Roger on the wall now too.

"He is of course the only man in Coventry with a Grammy award and he was very delighted to be at the event."

A crowd of supporters gathered at the unveiling of the new plaques at the 2-Tone Village off Walsgrave Road, in Ball Hill.

Members of the public can now nominate the next names they would like to see on the wall.

And from tomorrow it is easier than every before, because you can vote at any one of the city's 17 libraries. You can also have you say online at www.2tonecentral.co.uk.

The final decision will be made by members of the steering group and the next names will be added on March 23.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Neville Staple / Coventry Skinhead Reunion

These 1970s skinheads got together in Coventry recently. Filmed by Adam Evans, edited by Phil Mutton, produced by me. They reminisced about a fight against a group of black rude boys in 1972 led by a young man called Neville Staple who would go on to be the front man in The Specials. His friend Trevor Evans helps Neville remember a big fight against skinheads in a Coventry park. The skins also remember the fight, though less happily.

Produced by Tony McMahon

Skinhead reunion in Coventry from Tony McMahon on Vimeo.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Jerry Dammers and Mick Jones / Chelsea Space 2011

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Jerry Dammers and Mick Jones at CHELSEA space in front of Barney Bubbles innovative designs for Armed Forces and Glastonbury Fayre.

http://www.chelseaspace.org/blog/archives/1208

Monday, January 23, 2012

Terry Hall / The Cover Field

Terry Hall / The Cover Field

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THE SPECIALS

SLF - Doesn't make it alright
Bob Dylan - Maggie's Farm
Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians - Enjoy Yourself

THE FUN BOY THREE

Ella Fitzgerald - T 'aint what you do It’s the Way that...
The Velvelettes - He was really saying something
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong - Summertime
Ron Goodwin - Murder She Said (Miss Marple's Theme)
The Doors - The End

THE COLOURFIELD

Noel Harrison - windmills of your mind
Bobby Goldsboro - Little things
? & The Mysterians - can't get enough of you baby
The Roche's - Hammond song
Sly & the family stone - Running away
The Monkees - She
The Doors - Take it as it comes
? & The Mysterians - 96 tears
Talking Heads - Memories can't wait
Godfrey - Let's Take A Trip

TERRY BLAIR & ANOUCHKA

Captain & Tennille - love will keep us together
The Coasters - Three cool cats.

VEGAS

Charles Aznavour - She
Talking Heads - Psycho Killer

TERRY HALL

The Beach Boys - God only knows
Herb Alpert - This guy's in Love with you
Gerry Rafferty - Stuck in the middle with you
Brian Protheroe - Pinball
David Bowie - Sorrow
Mamma Cass Elliott - Dream a Little Dream of me
Television - See no Evil
Andy Williams - Music to watch girls by
John Lennon - Working class hero
Todd Rundgren - I saw The Light
The Carpenters - Close to you.
Dana - All kinds of everything reminds me of you
Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton - Islands in the stream
Blondie - Rapture
Midnight Oil - Beds Are Burning
The Equals/The Clash - Police on My Back
Johnny Mercer - Moon River
Gonna Make You A Star - David Essex
We Have All the Time In the World (The Specials) - Louis Armstrong