The notoriety of the gang, which was part of a wider group in loyalist north and west Belfast known as the "NF Skinz" because of their vague support for the National Front, gained widespread notoriety on 14 January 1981 when "Seig Heiling" members launched a brutal attack on anti-racist fans of The Specials and The Beat when the two bands played a concert at the Ulster Hall.
She eventually rejoined the industry as an executive producer of 1998's Free Enterprise and 2000's The Specials.
Gus Chambers (1958 – 13 October 2008) took over vocals in Coventry punk band Squad (formed late 1977) from Terry Hall (who left to form The Specials).
His writing credits include the 1957 US chart hit "Over The Mountain, Across The Sea", by Johnnie and Joe, and his own 1966 recording "Sock It To 'Em J.B.", later recorded by The Specials.
In particular, Sister Ignatius nurtured the talents of tenor saxophonist Tommy McCook, trombonist Don Drummond and trumpeter Johnny "Dizzy" Moore, who went on to form the Skatalites, as well as trombonist Rico Rodriguez, who moved to Great Britain, played with the Specials on their chart-topping Special A.K.A. EP of January 1980 and is currently a member of Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra.
Ska Parade's second compilation, Runnin' Naked Thru the Cornfield, featured exclusive tracks by Reel Big Fish, The Specials, Save Ferris and The Aquabats.
Britain experienced severe urban decay in the 1970s and 1980s exemplified by the number 1 single in 1981, 'Ghost Town' by The Specials.
The Specials | List of Christmas television specials | BBC Wildlife Specials | More Specials |
Best of the Specials is a compilation album by The Specials, released in 1999 (see 1999 in music).
The film, shot in 1980, comprised performance footage of Madness, The Specials, The Selecter, The Bodysnatchers, The Beat and Bad Manners on tour throughout the United Kingdom.
"Nelson Mandela" (known in some versions as "Free Nelson Mandela") is a song written by British musician Jerry Dammers and performed by band The Special A.K.A. - with lead vocal by Stan Campbell - released on the single Nelson Mandela / Break Down The Door in 1984 as a protest against the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela by the apartheid South African government.
Guilty 'til Proved Innocent! is an album by The Specials, released in 1998 (see 1998 in music).
Los Hooligans has shared the stage with acts such as: The Aggrolites, Bad Manners, Bim Skala Bim, Dance Hall Crashers, The Skatalites, Hepcat, Soulfly, The Specials, The Toasters, The (English) Beat and Let's Go Bowling to name just a few.
During this time, The Upbeat shared the stage with the likes of such varied artists as The Skatalites, Burning Spear, Sublime, Sugar Ray, No Doubt, Bad Manners, The Specials, The Wailers, Fishbone, Steel Pulse, and The Twinkle Brothers, just to name a few.
Also Monty Python worked in Geiselgasteig in 1971 and 1972 for Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus, the specials for German and Austrian television.
The base hosted James May for the specials James May on the Moon and James May at the Edge of Space, looking at the 40th anniversary of the Moon Landing and highlighting the training necessary for flight at 70,000 ft.
Cuthell became, along with Rico Rodriguez, the horn section for The Specials, playing cornet on their debut album, and staying with the band into their later incarnation as the Special A.K.A., playing on the hit single "Free Nelson Mandela", and the album In the Studio.
Following the break-up of The Specials in 1981, Panter went on to play with General Public with Dave Wakeling and Rankin Roger from the original Beat, and then with the reformed Specials in the 1990s.
Delgado was always open-minded and embracing of music and in 1998 released the album Fearless, featuring rapper Maxi Jazz from Faithless and Jerry Dammers of the Specials as well as lots of the new wave of UK electronica stars such as Spacek, Ballistic Brothers, Kid Loops and Naked Funk.
He began his career on television with the production of the specials Sophia Loren in Rome, Elizabeth Taylor in London and Melina Mercouri in Greece.
After The Specials announced their break up in 1981, Jerry Dammers formed a new band called The Special AKA, along with Dakar and John Bradbury.
Joining him on stage were guests from UB40, The Specials, The Selecter along with saxophonist Carlos Garnett.