The Specials: Last News

Tricky has spoken to NME about the new reissue of his debut album ‘Maxinquaye’, as well as sharing his memories of The Specials‘ Terry Hall, and shooting down rumours of an alleged fight with Portishead.The Bristol-born artist (real name Adrian Thaws) is known for co-founding Massive Attack, who spear-headed the ‘trip-hop’ scene along with Portishead and Tricky himself. He released his debut solo album ‘Maxinquaye’ in 1995, which featured Tricky on production and singing with his then-partner, Martina Topley Bird.

The Specials have announced that they will be sharing a new single to honour the “fallen heroes” of ska. Find out more below.The new track is set to be shared by The Specials Family and will be titled ‘When A Light Goes Out’.

The Specials with lead singer Terry Hall, before his untimely death in 2022, is set to air on television.The Specials: Live From Coventry Cathedral was filmed in the band’s hometown in 2019 as part of their 40th anniversary tour over a four-day engagement at the local landmark. The band announced its release on social media yesterday (November 28).The concert film will now be screened for the first time via Sky Arts on December 20 at 9pm UK time.

The Specials‘ Lynval Golding delivered a speech about No Doubt backstage at Coachella 2024 ahead of the band’s reunion show at the festival – watch it below.The group played their first live gig since 2015 at the Indio, California event last Saturday (April 13), where they brought out Olivia Rodrigo to perform ‘Bathwater’ alongside frontwoman Gwen Stefani.Prior to the career-spanning, 16-song set, Golding gave an encouraging message to the camera about Stefani and co’s long-awaited return. “I can tell you one thing, right,” the musician began.

The Specials singer Neville Staple has cancelled all his scheduled live performances due to health reasons.Yesterday (January 18), Staple’s team shared a statement that confirmed he had been diagnosed with a serious heart defect at the beginning of last month.The vocalist has received treatment at three different hospitals, and has been prescribed medication to control his symptoms. He is now in a stable condition, according to the update.“However, specialists have decided that Neville needs to take a complete rest from live performing and touring,” the message continued.

Mixmag reports, multiple DJs have spoken out about their alleged abusive experiences with Hall, who is the son of the late Terry Hall of The Specials.On Tuesday (April 11), New York-based artist Rainstick (real name Anthony Lowe) shared a statement on Instagram in which he accused Hall of sending “completely unprovoked, violent zionist messages, including vile death threats against my family”.“I learned that he also menaced at least two other people – female musicians of colour – with zionist messages, and that this may be a pattern of anti-Palestinian behaviour,” Lowe continued.In a statement obtained by Mixmag, Lowe said: “I have never before had a personal issue with Felix Hall. The issue is the bigotry, racism and violence he has displayed (and then tried to hide), and the greater dangers they represent.”Several other artists have since come forward to detail their experiences with Hall, including North African DJ Marwa Belhaj Youssef.

Damon Albarn has recalled his first encounter with The Specials’ Terry Hall in a new interview, calling the late star “the coolest human being on earth”.Hall died in December 2022 after being diagnosed with cancer months earlier. He was 63 years old.Speaking to Radio X, Albarn spoke about the first time he was in Hall’s presence.

The Lightning Seeds have announced their first album in 13 years, ‘See You In The Stars’. Check out new single ‘Sunshine’ below along with our interview with frontman Ian Broudie.Due for release on October 14, the album coincides with a new 14-date tour for the Autumn.Although Lightning Seeds’ 1996 football anthem ‘Three Lions’ with comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner has revisited the Top 40 singles chart four times in the last 13 years – reaching Number One in 2018 – ‘Sunshine’ is the first new Lightning Seeds song since their sixth album ‘Four Winds’ was released in 2009.The band have stayed busy by regularly touring and playing festivals, which is a change of direction as Broudie – who effectively is Lightning Seeds – didn’t tour at all until his alias’ third album ‘Jollification’ in 1994.

Rock Werchter, which is still set to continue.“The desire to experience festivals in all their glory again after two years of silence is great,” Herman Schueremans, who promotes the festival alongside Live Nation Belgium, said in a statement (per IQ).“But there are a few dampers on the revelry. Consumer confidence is lost, the live entertainment sector is struggling with staff shortages, production costs are skyrocketing.”The majority of acts originally scheduled to perform at Rock Werchter Encore have now been integrated into sister festival TW Classic, which takes place on June 25.Florence + The Machine, The Kid Laroi, The Specials, and Sky Ferreira are among the acts that have joined the TW Classic bill.

The Specials bassist Hor­ace Panter has revealed that the band would love to collaborate and tour with Madness.Panter told the Daily Star newspaper’s ‘Wired’ column (via Music News) that there had previously been talk of the groups doing a co-headline tour or heading into the studio together to record.He said: “Let’s see what we can do. There was talk about a doubleheader, but nor­mally if we are mak­ing a record then they are tak­ing a break, but it would be good to do something with those guys.”The Specials, who formed in 1977, currently comprise of bassist Panter, guitarist Lynval Golding and vocalist Terry Hall.Back in September, The Specials released an album of cover songs titled ‘Protest Songs 1924-2012’.

The Specials have pushed back the release of their forthcoming protest song covers album by a week.‘Protest Songs – 1924 -2012’, which was originally due to hit shelves on September 24, will now be released on October 1 to allow for the vinyl format to reach fans on the same day.The band confirmed the move in a statement posted to their Twitter: “In order to get everyone their vinyl on [the] release date we’ve had to move the release of ‘Protest Songs 1924-2012’ back a week to October 1st.”Earlier this month the group shared the first track ‘Freedom Highway’, a track written by the Staple Singers for the famous civil rights marches from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.Across the album’s 12 songs, The Specials also take on versions of tracks

The Specials guitarist Lynval Golding has said it felt “great” to see so many young people out supporting the Black Lives Matter protests.