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.
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August 20, 2022
Escot Park
Ottery Saint Mary, England, United KingdomThe last show with Terry Hall, who passed away in December 2022
View on Setlist.fm →July 9, 2022
Rochester Castle
Rochester, England, United Kingdom1. Freedom Highway(The Staple Singers cover)
2. Friday Night, Saturday Morning
3. Stereotype
4. The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)(Fun Boy Three cover)
5. Rudy a Message to You(Dandy Livingstone cover)
6. The Dog(Rufus Thomas cover)
7. Too Much Too Young
8. Gangsters
9. Listening Wind(Talking Heads cover)
10. Ghost Town
July 8, 2022
Moseley Park
Birmingham, England, United KingdomJuly 2, 2022
Trinity College Dublin
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland1. Freedom Highway(The Staple Singers cover)
2. Rat Race
3. Man at C&A
4. Friday Night, Saturday Morning
5. Do Nothing
6. Stereotype
7. International Jet Set
8. Vote for Me
9. The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)(Fun Boy Three cover)
10. Blank Expression
11. Doesn't Make It Alright
12. Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round([traditional] cover)
13. Rudy a Message to You(Dandy Livingstone cover)
14. Nite Klub
15. Too Much Too Young
16. The Dog(Rufus Thomas cover)
17. Gangsters
18. Monkey Man(Toots & The Maytals cover)
1. Listening Wind(Talking Heads cover)
2. Ghost Town
3. You're Wondering Now(Andy and Joey cover)
June 28, 2022
Paradiso Grote Zaal
Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands1. Freedom Highway(The Staple Singers cover)
2. Rat Race
3. Man at C&A
4. Friday Night, Saturday Morning
5. Do Nothing
6. Stereotype
7. International Jet Set
8. Vote for Me
9. The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)(Fun Boy Three cover)
10. Blank Expression
11. Doesn't Make It Alright
12. Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round([traditional] cover)
13. Rudy a Message to You(Dandy Livingstone cover)
14. Nite Klub
15. The Dog(Rufus Thomas cover)
16. Too Much Too Young
17. Gangsters
18. Monkey Man(Toots & The Maytals cover)
19. Listening Wind(Talking Heads cover)
20. Ghost Town
21. You're Wondering Now(Andy and Joey cover)
June 25, 2022
Festivalpark
Werchter, Flemish Brabant, Belgium1. Freedom Highway(The Staple Singers cover)
2. Rat Race
3. Man at C&A
4. Friday Night, Saturday Morning
5. Do Nothing
6. Stereotype
7. International Jet Set
8. Vote for Me
9. The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)(Fun Boy Three cover)
10. Blank Expression
11. Doesn't Make It Alright
12. Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round([traditional] cover)
13. Rudy a Message to You(Dandy Livingstone cover)
14. F**k All the Perfect People(Chip Taylor cover)
15. Too Much Too Young
16. Monkey Man(Toots & The Maytals cover)
17. Gangsters
June 17, 2022
Sofienbergparken
Oslo, Oslo, Norway1. Freedom Highway(The Staple Singers cover)
2. Rat Race
3. Man at C&A
4. Friday Night, Saturday Morning
5. Do Nothing
6. Stereotype
7. International Jet Set
8. Vote for Me
9. The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)(Fun Boy Three cover)
10. Blank Expression
11. Doesn't Make It Alright
12. Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round([traditional] cover)
13. Rudy a Message to You(Dandy Livingstone cover)
14. Nite Klub
15. Too Much Too Young
16. Gangsters
17. Monkey Man(Toots & The Maytals cover)
June 15, 2022
Plenen, Bergenhus Festning
Bergen, Hordaland, Norway1. Rat Race
2. Friday Night, Saturday Morning
3. Do Nothing
4. Too Much Too Young
5. Rudy a Message to You(Dandy Livingstone cover)
6. Gangsters
7. Monkey Man(Toots & The Maytals cover)
8. The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)(Fun Boy Three cover)
9. Nite Klub
10. Stereotype
11. Man at C&A
12. Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round([traditional] cover)
June 5, 2022
Botanic Gardens
Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom1. Freedom Highway(The Staple Singers cover)
2. Rat Race
3. Man at C&A
4. Friday Night, Saturday Morning
5. Do Nothing
6. Stereotype
7. International Jet Set
8. Vote for Me
9. The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)(Fun Boy Three cover)
10. Blank Expression
11. Doesn't Make It Alright
12. Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round([traditional] cover)
13. Rudy a Message to You(Dandy Livingstone cover)
14. Nite Klub
15. Too Much Too Young
16. Gangsters
17. Monkey Man(Toots & The Maytals cover)
1. Listening Wind(Talking Heads cover)
2. Ghost Town
3. You're Wondering Now(Andy and Joey cover)
June 3, 2022
Bedford Park
Bedford, England, United Kingdom1. Freedom Highway(The Staple Singers cover)
2. Rat Race
3. Man at C&A
4. Friday Night, Saturday Morning
5. Do Nothing
6. Stereotype
7. International Jet Set
8. Vote for Me
9. The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)(Fun Boy Three cover)
10. Blank Expression
11. Doesn't Make It Alright
12. Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round([traditional] cover)
13. Rudy a Message to You(Dandy Livingstone cover)
14. Nite Klub
15. The Dog(Rufus Thomas cover)
16. Too Much Too Young
17. Gangsters
18. Monkey Man(Toots & The Maytals cover)
1. Listening Wind(Talking Heads cover)
2. Ghost Town
3. You're Wondering Now(Andy and Joey cover)
February 5, 2022
Private Venue
Los Angeles, California, United States1. Nite Klub
2. Freedom Highway(The Staple Singers cover)
3. Rat Race
4. Man at C&A
5. Friday Night, Saturday Morning
6. Do Nothing
7. Blank Expression
8. Doesn't Make It Alright
9. The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)(Fun Boy Three cover)
10. Rudy a Message to You(Dandy Livingstone cover)
11. Too Much Too Young
12. Gangsters
13. Monkey Man(Toots & The Maytals cover)
14. You're Wondering Now(Andy and Joey cover)
1. Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)(Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra cover)
October 7, 2021
PRYZM
Kingston upon Thames, England, United KingdomPresented by Banquet Records. Early show
1. Everybody Knows(Leonard Cohen cover)
2. Freedom Highway(The Staple Singers cover)
3. I Don’t Mind Failing(Malvina Reynolds cover)
4. Do Nothing
5. Black, Brown and White Blues(Big Bill Broonzy cover)
6. F**k All the Perfect People(Chip Taylor cover)
7. Get Up, Stand Up(The Wailers cover)
8. Breaking Point
9. Stereotype
10. Listening Wind(Talking Heads cover)
11. Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round([traditional] cover)
12. Rudy a Message to You(Dandy Livingstone cover)
13. You're Wondering Now(Andy and Joey cover)
October 7, 2021
PRYZM
Kingston upon Thames, England, United KingdomPresented by Banquet Records. Late show
1. Everybody Knows(Leonard Cohen cover)
2. Freedom Highway(The Staple Singers cover)
3. I Don’t Mind Failing(Malvina Reynolds cover)
4. Do Nothing
5. Black, Brown and White Blues(Big Bill Broonzy cover)
6. F**k All the Perfect People(Chip Taylor cover)
7. Get Up, Stand Up(The Wailers cover)
8. Breaking Point
9. Stereotype
10. Listening Wind(Talking Heads cover)
11. Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round([traditional] cover)
12. Rudy a Message to You(Dandy Livingstone cover)
13. You're Wondering Now(Andy and Joey cover)
October 5, 2021
Engine Rooms
Southampton, England, United Kingdom1. Everybody Knows(Leonard Cohen cover)
2. Freedom Highway(The Staple Singers cover)
3. I Don’t Mind Failing(Malvina Reynolds cover)
4. Do Nothing
5. Black, Brown and White Blues(Big Bill Broonzy cover)
6. F**k All the Perfect People(Chip Taylor cover)
7. Get Up, Stand Up(The Wailers cover)
8. Stereotype
9. Listening Wind(Talking Heads cover)
10. Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round([traditional] cover)
11. Do Nothing
12. Rudy a Message to You(Dandy Livingstone cover)
13. You're Wondering Now(Andy and Joey cover)
October 3, 2021
Chalk
Brighton, England, United Kingdom1. Everybody Knows(Leonard Cohen cover)
2. Freedom Highway(The Staple Singers cover)
3. I Don’t Mind Failing(Malvina Reynolds cover)
4. Do Nothing
5. Black, Brown and White Blues(Big Bill Broonzy cover)
6. F**k All the Perfect People(Chip Taylor cover)
7. Get Up, Stand Up(The Wailers cover)
8. Stereotype
9. Listening Wind(Talking Heads cover)
10. Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round([traditional] cover)
11. Rudy a Message to You(Dandy Livingstone cover)
12. You're Wondering Now(Andy and Joey cover)
September 29, 2021
BBC Radio Theatre
London, England, United Kingdom1. Do Nothing
2. Freedom Highway(The Staple Singers cover)
3. Everybody Knows(Leonard Cohen cover)
4. Stereotype
5. Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round([traditional] cover)
6. Listening Wind(Talking Heads cover)
7. Rudy a Message to You(Dandy Livingstone cover)
September 25, 2021
Troxy
London, England, United Kingdom1. Freedom Highway(The Staple Singers cover)
2. Rat Race
3. Do Nothing
4. Friday Night, Saturday Morning
5. Man at C&A
6. Stereotype
7. International Jet Set
8. Breaking Point
9. Get Up, Stand Up(The Wailers cover)
10. Vote for Me
11. The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)(Fun Boy Three cover)
12. Doesn't Make It Alright
13. Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round([traditional] cover)
14. Rudy a Message to You(Dandy Livingstone cover)
15. Nite Klub
16. Too Much Too Young
17. Gangsters
18. Monkey Man(Toots & The Maytals cover)
1. F**k All the Perfect People(Chip Taylor cover)
2. Listening Wind(Talking Heads cover)
3. Ghost Town
4. You're Wondering Now(Andy and Joey cover)
September 24, 2021
Roundhouse
London, England, United Kingdom1. Freedom Highway(The Staple Singers cover)
2. Rat Race
3. Do Nothing
4. Friday Night, Saturday Morning
5. Man at C&A
6. Stereotype
7. International Jet Set
8. Breaking Point
9. Get Up, Stand Up(The Wailers cover)
10. Vote for Me
11. The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)(Fun Boy Three cover)
12. Doesn't Make It Alright
13. Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round([traditional] cover)
14. Rudy a Message to You(Dandy Livingstone cover)
15. Nite Klub
16. Too Much Too Young
17. Gangsters
18. Monkey Man(Toots & The Maytals cover)
1. F**k All the Perfect People(Chip Taylor cover)
2. Listening Wind(Talking Heads cover)
3. Ghost Town
4. You're Wondering Now(Andy and Joey cover)
September 23, 2021
Roundhouse
London, England, United Kingdom1. Freedom Highway(The Staple Singers cover)
2. Rat Race
3. Do Nothing
4. Friday Night, Saturday Morning
5. Man at C&A
6. Stereotype
7. International Jet Set
8. Breaking Point
9. Get Up, Stand Up(The Wailers cover)
10. Vote for Me
11. The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)(Fun Boy Three cover)
12. Doesn't Make It Alright
13. Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round([traditional] cover)
14. Rudy a Message to You(Dandy Livingstone cover)
15. Nite Klub
16. Too Much Too Young
17. Gangsters
18. Monkey Man(Toots & The Maytals cover)
1. F**k All the Perfect People(Chip Taylor cover)
2. Ghost Town
3. You're Wondering Now(Andy and Joey cover)
September 21, 2021
Rivermead Leisure Complex
Reading, England, United Kingdom1. Freedom Highway(The Staple Singers cover)
2. Rat Race
3. Do Nothing
4. Friday Night, Saturday Morning
5. Vote for Me
6. Stereotype
7. International Jet Set
8. Man at C&A
9. Breaking Point
10. Get Up, Stand Up(The Wailers cover)
11. The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)(Fun Boy Three cover)
12. Doesn't Make It Alright
13. Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round([traditional] cover)
14. Rudy a Message to You(Dandy Livingstone cover)
15. Nite Klub
16. Too Much Too Young
17. Gangsters
18. Monkey Man(Toots & The Maytals cover)
1. Listening Wind(Talking Heads cover)
2. Ghost Town
3. You're Wondering Now(Andy and Joey cover)
The Specials has released 500+ albums. Some of their notable releases include Tas! asusta´o / Ghost Town, Number Ones Collection 80's - Volume 1, Now That's What I Call An Era The Sound Of The Suburbs 1977~1980. Explore their complete discography on this page.
Some of The Specials's most popular tracks include Ghost Town, A Message to You Rudy, Too Much Too Young, A Message To You Rudy - 2002 Remaster, Gangsters. Listen to these songs and discover more from their extensive catalog.
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 keyboard... Read the full biography on this page.
You can find The Specials vinyl records and merchandise on eBay. We feature a curated selection of vinyl releases and collectibles available for purchase.
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