Despite a brief career, the band lit up the late 70's music scene with their melding of punk and ska creating the 2-tone sound that is still today is held up as an influence by bands across the world. Now, thirty years since the release of their debut single, 'Gangsters', The Specials will take to the road for a UK tour starting in April.
From just two studio albums, The Specials scored eight top ten singles, including two number ones for the 'Too Much Too Young live EP and the era defining 'Ghost Town, two Top 5 albums.
The band were the starting point of the ska scene that swept the UK through 1978 and, in many ways, were emblematic of their times, their songs dealing with the confusion of a country in industrial decline whilst struggling to come to terms with multi-culturalism and a new creed which became known as Thatcherism.
Their re-emergence into a Britain teetering on the edge of recession and still plagued by the same divisions and problems that they so memorably highlighted in 'Ghost Town' could not seem more apt, the songs from 'The Specials' and 'More Specials' seem as relevant today as they did 30 years ago.
The Specials' 'Nothing Ever Changes - Do Nothing' 2009 tour is as follows:
Wed 22 April O2 (formerly Carling) Academy, Newcastle upon Tyne
Thu 23 April O2 (formerly Carling) Academy, Sheffield
Sat 25 April O2 (formerly Carling) Academy, Birmingham
Sun 26 April O2 (formerly Carling) Academy, Birmingham
Tue 28 April O2 (formerly Carling) Academy, Glasgow
Sun 03 May Manchester Apollo, Manchester
Wed 06 May Brixton Academy, London
Thu 07 May Brixton Academy, London
eGigs certainly doesn't think these shows are going to be a 'Ghost Town' so get tickets early. Tickets go on sale 9am Thursday 11th December priced £32.50 in except London £35.
article by: Scott Williams
photos by: Karen Williams
published: 02/12/2008 12:05
FUTURE GIGS
sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.