The Specials

‘If there are death threats, don’t tell me’ – how Rock Against Racism fought fascism

In the 1970s, the National Front were on the march. So Britain’s music fans and artists united. As a new show celebrates RAR’s achievements, we examine its impact, its legacy – and its thrilling, shambolic climactic concert

Tim Jonze

23, Aug, 2022 @4:22 PM

The Specials: Protest Songs 1924-2012 review – genre-hopping calls to action

This selection of covers runs the gamut from Bob Marley to Frank Zappa and proves an excellent stop gap for the perennial activists

Damien Morris

26, Sep, 2021 @12:00 PM

Pork pie hats and politics: Coventry pays tribute to 2 Tone legacy

Major exhibition charts rise of record label that spawned musical and cultural movement in late 1970s

Jessica Murray Midlands correspondent

26, May, 2021 @1:45 PM

On the road with the trailblazing record label 2 Tone

Chalkie Davies’s 1979 shot of musicians from Madness, the Specials and the Selecter captures the cultural power of the emerging ska scene

Killian Fox

25, Apr, 2021 @6:00 AM

The Guardian view on two-tone nostalgia: the pride of Coventry | Editorial

Editorial: Britain’s city of culture for 2021 is rightly celebrating a musical movement that still carries a potent message

Editorial

11, Feb, 2021 @6:38 PM

Coventry to host Turner prize in city of culture year in 2021

City’s bid is ‘glimmer of hope’ for UK arts sector amid coronavirus crisis, say organisers

Lanre Bakare Arts and culture correspondent

21, Oct, 2020 @12:47 PM

The 100 greatest UK No 1s: 100-1

Look back on our complete countdown of the greatest UK No 1s, from the Beatles to Baby D, and So Solid Crew to Suzi Quatro

Ben Beaumont-Thomas, Alexis Petridis and Laura Snapes

05, Jun, 2020 @8:00 AM

The 100 greatest UK No 1s: No 2, The Specials – Ghost Town

The remarkable, dark power of this song, with its harrowing wail of a chorus, plunges you straight back into the anger, violence and despair of the early 80s

Alexis Petridis

04, Jun, 2020 @8:00 AM

The Specials review – veteran fighters strike a chord with young recruits

The highly influential band bring their 40-year campaign against injustice to a new generation of music fans

Caroline Sullivan

16, Apr, 2019 @11:42 AM

Ranking Roger obituary

Singer and frontman for the ska revival band the Beat

Peter Mason

27, Mar, 2019 @11:07 AM

The Specials reach No 1 in album charts for first time with Encore

Band’s latest release is their first album of new material in 37 years

Staff and agency

08, Feb, 2019 @8:41 PM

The Specials: ‘Respect people. Be kind to people. What else have we got?’

On the eve of their first album in four decades, 2 Tone’s finest talk to Miranda Sawyer and, further down, answer questions from readers and famous fans

Miranda Sawyer

03, Feb, 2019 @9:00 AM