The Specials, Troxy

In their heyday, The Specials were one of Britain’s most important bands. Just look at their number one hit in 1981 ‘Ghost Town’: an eerie hymn to post-industrial decay, it inadvertently became an anthem to the 1981 England riots
and subsequently one of the defining songs of the early 80s.

The Specials, anti-racism
The band formed in multicultural Coventry during the punk explosion, and made anti-racism and cultural inclusion a key part of their mission. From the background of its members to its mixture of rock 'n' roll punch with Jamaican ska rhythms, and even the black-and-white colour scheme of their 2 Tone record label, they were a radical force at a time of racial turmoil in British politics.

The Specials break-up, reason
By 1984 they had gradually broken up. The band split into two parties – The Special AKA and with the hit Our Lips are Sealed
Fun Boy Three. Jeremy Dammers, the founding member of The Specials, dissolved the band in 1984 in order to pursue political activism. Political activist ‘Jerry’ Dammers has since then received awards for his role in the anti-apartheid movement.

The Specials, reunion
It wasn’t until 1993 that The Specials reunited (although without founding member and Free Nelson Mandela writer Jerry Dammers). Since then they’ve been touring sporadically, including a gig in Hyde Park London with Blur and New Order to close the 2012 Olympics, and meeting with a rapturous response everywhere they go.

The Troxy, The Specials
The group’s current tour includes two sold out nights at the Roundhouse London in Camden, but this date at the Troxy should be extra special. Named ‘Friday Night And Saturday Morning’ after one of the B-sides to ‘Ghost Town’, the event features full live sets by both The Specials and Blur guitarist Graham Coxon, before Don Letts – BBC 6 Music DJ and documentary maker - takes over to keep the party going well past midnight.

It’ll be a rowdy, energetic, life-affirming evening, with a vibrant crowd of all ages and backgrounds skanking away together. Almost 40 years since they first formed, The Specials’ message is very much alive. If you got your tickets on time, this is set to be an incredibly cool night out in London.

Tickets for the Specials' upcoming concert have now sold out