The Specials celebrate the big 3-0
Everyone say it together now, “Reunion? R-e-u-n-i-o-n. Reunion!” Looks like our writer Drew Litowitz is going to have an aneurysm because there’s yet another reunion on its way. This time it’s a totally different genre than expected: ska. You’re heard it right, folks! All the way from Coventry, England, The Specials have decided to blow out the thirty birthday candles in style, with a 2009 anniversary tour.
The mod squad, rag tag team now led by Terry Hall came to the decision recently, and news leaked out shortly after Hall spoke with NME:
Frontman Terry Hall said that the band were playing in 2009 to celebrate their significant birthday. “It’s the right time to do it [reunite] - we talked about it at 25 but we weren’t together enough. Now we’re all getting on and it feels comfortable again,” he said. Hall revealed that Specials founder member Jerry Dammers is not set to join the band on the tour, although relations between the two parties are strong. “The door remains open to him,” Hall said.
This reunion should make some UK fans very, very happy. After all, these were the bad boys that once impressed the likes of Joe Strummer, who would later invite the band, in its early stages, to tour with them. However, oddly enough, The Specials’ short history is filled with smarmy anecdotes. Originally founded by keyboardist Jerry Dammers, the band made it big with their unique and then pioneering ska sound. Their pinnacle achievement was their 1979 debut album, Specials, which was actually produced by hip songwriter, Elvis Costello. With their reworked Jamaican stylings and raw punk edge, the English bunch took the UK ska scene by balls, eventually disbanding as the band’s many members went elsewhere.
Now that they’re on the same road again, things could get interesting. It’s just a shame Dammers refuses to participate, though let’s hope some common sense kicks in and he closes the door behind him. Whatever the case, start booking some flights and pulling those credit cards out as dates have been lined up and tickets are about to go on sale, as in like next week (12/11).
That is, of course, unless you’re holding out for Creed.
(Editor’s Note: You may recall this band made our Tricks n’ Treats feature back in October!)
Check Out:
The Specials 2009 Tour Dates:
04/22 - Newcastle, UK @ Academy
04/23 - Sheffield, UK @ Academy
04/25 - Birmingham, UK @ Academy
04/26 - Birmingham, UK @ Academy
04/28 - Glasgow, UK @ Academy
05/03 - Manchester, UK @ Apollo
05/06 - London, UK @ Brixton Academy
05/07 - London, UK @ Brixton Academy
Dec 26th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
[...] in London’s Victoria Park. While additional details are still forthcoming, The Specials, who recently reunited themselves, are among the acts rumored to be [...]