The Specials were an English 2 tone and ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry.[1] The bands first stable lineup of the group consisted of Terry Hall and Neville Staple on vocals, Jerry Dammers on keyboards, Lynval Golding and Roddy Radiation on guitars, Horace Panter on bass, John Bradbury on drums, and Dick Cuthell and Rico Rodriguez on horns.
By the time the band dispanded in 2022, they consisted of Hall (who had recently died), Golding and Panter, alongside keyboardist Nikolaj Torp Larsen and trombonist Tim Smart (both since 2008), lead guitarist Steve Cradock and trumpeter Pablo Mendelssohn (both since 2014), drummer Kendrick Rowe (since 2019), vocalist Hannah Hu and rhythm guitarist Stan Samuel (both since 2021).
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. Sir Horace Gentleman). Strickland was replaced by Terry Hall shortly after the band's formation. The band was first called the Automatics, then the Coventry Automatics.[2] Guitarist Roddy Byers (usually known as Roddy Radiation) agreed to join the band in March 1978 ahead of a recording session of demos.[3] During the tour Neville Staple, who was initially one of the roadies, became a full member of The Specials.[4] In 1979, drummer Hutchinson left the band and was replaced by John Bradbury. Horn players Dick Cuthell and Rico Rodriguez also joined the band at the same time.
In 1981 Staple, Hall and Golding all left the band.[5] [6] Rodriguez and Panter also stopped performing with the band. Rhoda Dakar (previously a backing vocalist) joined as permanent vocalist, alongside John Shipley (from the Swinging Cats) on guitar, and Nicky Summers on bass. Rodriguez and Panter returned to the band for touring. After touring, Dakar briefly departed the band were briefly joined by Satch Dickson and Groco (percussion) and Anthony Wymshurst (guitar). Dakar soon returned alongside new co-vocalists Egidio Newton and Stan Campbell, as well as violinist Nick Parker. The new line-up (still known as the Special AKA) finally issued a new full-length album In the Studio in 1984. Officially, the band was now a sextet: Dakar, Campbell, Bradbury, Dammers, Shipley and new bassist Gary McManus. Dammers then dissolved the band and pursued political activism.[7]
The first reunion under the Specials name occurred in 1993. Participants were Radiation, Staple, Golding and Panter, they were also joined by Aitch Bembridge of The Selecter on drums, and keyboardist Mark Adams.[8] The band fully reunited in 1996, again with Bembridge and Adams and horn players Adam Birch and Jon Read, after successful touring the band stopped performing in 1998. The band returned in 2000 with Staple, Panter and Byers, featuring The Selecter's Neol Davies in place of Golding as well as Anthony Harty on drums, Justin Dodsworth on keyboards, Steve Holdway on trombone, Paul Daleman on trumpet, and Leigh Malin on tenor saxophone.
In 2008, Terry Hall reunited with the band, alongside Staple, Panter, Golding, Byers, Bradbury,[9] Birch and Read, and new members Nikolaj Torp Larsen (keyboards),[10] Drew Stansall (saxophone) and Tim Smart (trombone).[11] Birch had departed by 2010. Staple departed in January 2013, due to personal reasons.[12] Byers also departed in February 2014.[13] He was replaced by Steve Cradock.[14] The band were also joined by Pablo Mandleson on trumpet around the same time. On 28 December 2015, drummer Bradbury died.[15] he was replaced by Libertines drummer Gary Powell.[16] In 2019, Kenrick Rowe replaced Powell.[17] Stansall also departed. Sid Gauld briefly replaced Mandleson in 2021.[18] Also in 2021 Stan Samuel joined the band on rhythm guitar,[19] and Hannah Hu also joined on second vocals.[20]
On 19 December 2022, Terry Hall died.[21] Panter confirmed the end of the band in November 2023.[22]
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerry Dammers | ||||
| bass guitar | all releases | |||
| Lynval Golding | all releases except Skinhead Girl (2000) and Conquering Ruler (2001) | |||
| Silverton Hutchinson | 1977–1979 | drums | none | |
| Tim Strickland | 1977 | lead vocals | ||
| Roddy "Radiation" Byers | all releases from The Specials (1979) to More... Or Less: The Specials Live (2012) | |||
| all releases from The Specials (1979) to More... Or Less: The Specials Live (2012), except In the Studio (1984) | ||||
| John Bradbury | drums | |||
| 1979–1984 | all releases from The Specials (1979) to In the Studio (1984) | |||
| Rico Rodriguez | ||||
| Rhoda Dakar | vocals | |||
| Stan Campbell | 1982–1984 | In the Studio (1984) | ||
| John Shipley | 1981–1984 | guitar | ||
| Anthony Wimshurst | 1982 | none | ||
| Satch Dixon | percussion | |||
| Tony 'Groco' Uter | ||||
| Egidio Newton | 1982–1983 | In the Studio (1984) | ||
| Nick Parker | 1982 | violin | ||
| Gary McManus | 1983–1984 | bass guitar | ||
| Mark Adams | ||||
| Aitch Bembridge | ||||
| Jon Read | ||||
| Adam Birch | ||||
| Kendell Smith | 1998 | vocals | none | |
| Neol Davies | 2000–2001 | |||
| Justin Dodsworth | keyboards | |||
| Anthony Harty | ||||
| Paul Daleman | trumpet | |||
| Leigh Malin | tenor saxophone | |||
| Steve Holdway | trombone | |||
| Tim Smart | 2008–2022 | |||
| Drew Stansall | 2008–2012 | More... Or Less: The Specials Live (2012) | ||
| Steve Cradock | 2014–2022 | |||
| Pablo Mendelssohn | trumpet | |||
| 2016–2019 | drums | Encore (2019) | ||
| Kenrick Rowe | 2019–2022 | |||
| Hannah Hu | 2021–2022 | vocals | Protest Songs 1924–2012 (2021) | |
| Stan Samuel | rhythm guitar | none | ||
| Sid Gauld | 2021 | trumpet |