The Specials
United Kingdom, 1977–now
English 2 Tone band formed in Coventry in 1977, the flagship of the late-1970s ska revival. Fusing Jamaican ska and rocksteady with punk energy and sharp social commentary, they topped the UK charts with the recession anthem 'Ghost Town' (1981).
MusicRoots documents 4 artists who influenced The Specials and 2 artists The Specials influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced The Specials?
- Bob Marley — The Specials' 2 Tone revival is built on Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae — the tradition Bob Marley brought to the world.
- The Clash — The Specials fused ska with punk's energy and politics — Jerry Dammers linked the two, saying bands like the Specials and the Clash could be political.
- Prince Buster — Prince Buster is the foundation of The Specials: their debut single 'Gangsters' was built on his instrumental 'Al Capone', and they named their idea of 2 Tone after his ska sound.
- Toots and the Maytals — The Specials covered Toots and the Maytals' 'Monkey Man' on their 1979 debut, drawing directly on the Maytals' ska and rocksteady.
Which artists did The Specials influence?
- Gorillaz — Albarn named The Specials as the other half of the Gorillaz debut's blueprint — their 2 Tone ska and dub feed the project's reggae-tinged, socially aware side.
- No Doubt — No Doubt's ska-pop drew directly on The Specials — the band cite them as an inspirational touchstone of the 2 Tone sound.