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Terry Hall, singer of ska band The Specials, dies aged 63

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For those of us who were teenagers in the 80s Terry Hall was a big part of our music.

The Specials, Fun boy three.

Thanks man.

It ain't what you do it's the way that you do it, and you did it so well.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Damn, what a fine and talented chap he was, and all his band projects were good stuff. A sad loss for British culture.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Ghost Town - stunning track among many. One of the best and subtlest political songs ever written.

“Can’t go on no more ( the people getting angry )”

RIP. A talented man.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

JimizoToday  01:51 pm JST

Ghost Town - stunning track among many. One of the best and subtlest political songs ever written.

“Can’t go on no more ( the people getting angry )”

RIP. A talented man.

I remember that song being used in an episode of 20/20 in the US. The Specials were really good, added more variety in the wake of the punk/new wave revolution of the late 70s and early 80s and the alternative revolution that sprang from that. And ska has existed since the early 60s in the Caribbean but still, modern ska bands like Mustard Plug from Michigan (which I have seen and met) at a gig where the moshing was so extreme the club was totally trashed!) and the Planet Smashers from the great city of Ottawa all owe a debt to this man. May he skank on in Rock'n'Roll Heaven.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I remember that song being used in an episode of 20/20 in the US

I remember this song as a kid in the early years of the Thatcher government in the UK. The sound of it, the delivery and the lyrics nailed what it was depicting.

Still stands up as a classic today as well as being a clear product of a particular time and place.

An outstanding track in a great era of British music.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

So many great songs and lyrics that still stick in my head.

One art O-level, eh?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

RIP Terry. 1979-1980 we're great years for new wave and Ska in the post punk music world. The Specials and Madness really tore it up.

Terry also co-wrote The Go-Gos biggest hit "Our Lips are Sealed" with Jane Wiedlin.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Actually Jerry Dammers, the founder of The Specials, who invited Terry to join, wrote 'Ghost town' and Terry Et al. didn't like it or want to release it.

When The Specials reformed, Dammers was not invited by Terry and the rest.

I'm not saying he wasn't an excellent singer, but all his bands, Fun Boy Three aside, were rather non-eventful.

RIP, all the same.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

And ska has existed since the early 60s in the Caribbean but still, modern ska bands like Mustard Plug from Michigan (which I have seen and met) at a gig where the moshing was so extreme the club was totally trashed!) and the Planet Smashers from the great city of Ottawa all owe a debt to this man. May he skank on in Rock'n'Roll Heaven.

Bit different, the main difference between ska and reggae is subtle and beats are more nuanced, mostly involving a much faster tempo and rhythm, on the other hand, Reggae is a lot slower and more laid-back, while ska is a bit punchier. Reggae music essentially evolved from ska, both of these musical styles originated in Jamaica, but Ska started to pick up a mass following in the UK circa 1977 with rock music or progressive rock taking a backseat and splintering off into various emerging genres Ska, Punk and Gothic.

Desmond Dekker is without a doubt the King of Ska, the man was a genius and was a heavy influence on many of the upcoming Ska bands of the late 70s from Madness, the English Beat, Bad Manners, etc.

Definitely a sad moment in history, the man went through a lot and achieved so much. Without a doubt one of the best eras. Me, my favorite song from the Specials is "Too much, too young." Just love that classic 4-4 beat

Great memories, RIP.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

RIP Terry. Ghost Town sums up the mood of Thatcher's Britain in 1981, but it also describes what is happening right now in Japan in 2022. Things are going to get a lot worse.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

bass4funk  the main difference between ska and reggae is subtle and beats are more nuanced, mostly involving a much faster tempo and rhythm, on the other hand, Reggae is a lot slower and more laid-back, while ska is a bit punchier. Reggae music essentially evolved from ska, both of these musical styles originated in Jamaica, but Ska started to pick up a mass following in the UK circa 1977 with rock music or progressive rock taking a backseat and splintering off into various emerging genres Ska, Punk and Gothic.

Desmond Dekker is without a doubt the King of Ska, the man was a genius and was a heavy influence on many of the upcoming Ska bands of the late 70s from Madness, the English Beat, Bad Manners, etc.

Definitely a sad moment in history, the man went through a lot and achieved so much. Without a doubt one of the best eras. Me, my favorite song from the Specials is "Too much, too young." Just love that classic 4-4 beat

Great memories, RIP.

Also, ska is a bit more oriented towards the use of horns while reggae has a slower tempo and is based more towards guitars and maybe keyboards. Both ska and reggae are fun, I like and have seen live bands in both genres. The Specials are considered by critics and pundits as 'UK ska' or '2nd Generation Ska'. A 3rd wave of ska came in the mid 90s, mostly by US bands that fell into the 'alternative' label. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are an example of that era, but where are they now? Specials and Madness they ain't. Unfortunately after a few years it morphed to the so-called 'neo-swing' trend/movement which I totally loathe, hate viciously and have nothing but distaste and disgust for. During the awful 00's Roman Catholic church parishes were holding free swing dancing lessons after Masses, for those who gave a damn for that rubbish. Pathetic. Nobody wants to recall or remember that crap now, but the Ska remains the Same. And when you hear the word 'SKA' people around the world usually think 'Specials' or 'Madness'. And this guy was in the heart of it all which makes him so important.

When I was in college, I had a tape of a band called Colourfield and I read elsewhere on the net that Terry Reid was in that band too. I have some more research to look into. I remember the Colourfield album being good as well.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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