The Specials

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

The Specials: Encore review – a chequered mix of great and so-so | Alexis Petridis's album of the week
Terry Hall, Lynval Golding and Horace Panter are best when sounding both anthemic and doom-laden
Alexis Petridis
31, Jan, 2019 @12:00 PM

Send us your questions for the Specials
Want to ask Terry Hall, Lynval Golding or Horace Panter about the golden age of 2 Tone? Here’s your chance
The Observer
12, Jan, 2019 @12:00 PM

Pop, punk and protest songs: the hottest music on the horizon in 2019
With the uproarious Idles hitting the road, Kamasi Washington play a mind-expanding UK show, and new albums from the Specials, Weezer and AJ Tracey, here are the sounds the new year will be shaking to
Alexis Petridis
01, Jan, 2019 @3:00 PM

Recalling Coventry’s great cultural heyday | Letters
Letters: John Green remembers growing up in Coventry after the war when world-famous artists and architects flocked to the city. And Ian Joyce wonders why a replica of Frank Whittle’s first jet aircraft adorns a Lutterworth traffic island
Letters
10, Dec, 2017 @6:50 PM

Readers recommend playlist: your songs about knowledge
A reader picks a playlist from your suggestions teaching us that knowledge really is power. Talking Heads, Bill Withers and XTC all feature
George Boyland
23, Mar, 2017 @12:00 PM
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