A MESSAGE TO YOU, AMERICA

The Specials came swaggering across the cracked concrete of Coventry’s inner-city despair to spark a musical and cultural revolution in late ’70s London. From the start, their style, attitude, and sound were superbly cool and extremely original. The band lasted 4 years, but still managed to churn out seven consecutive top 10 UK hits before busting up in 1981.

Specials lead singer Terry Hall says he had “years of reservations” about reforming, but since long-held tensions between various members have been resolved, the original interracial gangsters from Ghost Town are planning its first shows in more than 25 years for this fall, possibly as early as October.

Take a look at one of their greatest, “Too Much Too Young,” and then click through to find out more about the upcoming tour and the new Best of CD/DVD.

If you get a chance to catch a Specials show, don’t blow it, man!

Original singer-songwriter Neville Staple and Terry Hall are both said to have rejoined the line up, after leaving because of the obligatory “band rift.” Speaking to BBC Radio 6 Music earlier this year, Hall said no tour dates had yet been confirmed. “Well we’re still trying to put dates together, but hopefully September or October time. Check back here because as soon as they let us know, we’ll let you know.

Rude boys and rude gals can prep for the ska-punk revolution (‘08-style) with the a new release, The Best of The Specials, which features 20 tracks on CD & DVD that put together choice singles and tracks from the first three Specials albums (Specials, More Specials and In The Studio) together with a DVD of live performance footage and videos for all singles. This includes the spooky and atmospheric “Ghost Town” and “Concrete Jungle.”