SKA NEWS
MADNESS TOUR DATES 2009/10
1st December 2009
Bournemouth Intl Centre
2nd December 2009
Brighton Centre
4th December 2009
Plymouth Pavilions
5th December 2009
Southend Cliffs Pavilion
5th December 2009
Southend Cliffs Pavilion (MATINEE)
7th December 2009
Swindon Oasis
8th December 2009
Leeds O2 Academy
9th December 2009
Sheffield O2 Academy
10th December 2009
Birmingham O2 Academy
12th December 2009
Newcastle O2 Academy
12th December 2009
Newcastle O2 Academy (MATINEE)
13th December 2009
Glasgow O2 Academy
15th December 2009
Manchester Apollo
17th December 2009
Wolverhampton Civic Hall
18th December 2009
London O2 Arena
28th December 2009
Dublin O2
29th December 2009
Belfast Odyssey Arena
31st December 2009
Edinburgh Hogmanay
8th May 2010
Milan Palasharp
14th May 2010
Zenith De Paris
15th May 2010
Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam
FOR MORE INFO AND TICKETS WWW.MADNESS.CO.UK
THE BEAT TOUR DATES 2009 / 10
Thu 3 Dec The Beat The Globe
Cardiff
Fri 4 Dec The Beat + Eddie Piller The Rhythm Factory
London
Sat 5 Dec The Beat + The Master Colony O2 Academy Liverpool
Liverpool
Fri 11 Dec The Beat The Music Cafe
Leicester
Sat 12 Dec The Beat The Priory
Doncaster
Fri 18 Dec The Beat Moneyfields Social Club
Portsmouth
Sat 19 Dec The Beat Xmas Party:
The Beat Asylum
Birmingham
Sun 27 Dec The Beat The Crypt
Hastings
Sat 23 Jan 2010 The Beat The Trades Club
Hebden Bridge
Fri 19 Feb 2010 The Beat The Venue
Derby
Sat 20 Feb 2010 The Beat Subscription Rooms
Stroud
Sun 21 Feb 2010 The Beat Sub89
Reading
Fri 26 Feb 2010 The Beat Komedia
Bath
Sat 27 Feb 2010 The Beat Hertford Corn Exchange
Hertford
Thu 4 Mar 2010 The Beat + Pauline Black (Of Selector) The Assembly
Leamington Spa
Sat 13 Mar 2010 The Beat University of Luton SU (Sub Club)
Luton
Thu 18 Mar 2010 The Beat The Rescue Rooms
Nottingham
Fri 19 Mar 2010 The Beat The Warehouse (formerly Moshulu)
Aberdeen
Sat 20 Mar 2010 The Beat HMV Picture House
Edinburgh
Sun 21 Mar 2010 The Beat The Doghouse
Dundee
Fri 26 Mar 2010 The Beat The Rhodes Centre
Bishop's Stortford
Sun 4 Apr 2010 The Beat Beacon Court Tavern
Gillingham
Thu 8 Apr 2010 The Beat The Waterfront
Norwich
Fri 9 Apr 2010 The Beat The Junction
Cambridge
Sat 10 Apr 2010 The Beat TJ's Woodhouse Club
Leeds
Fri 16 Apr 2010 The Beat Concorde 2
Brighton
Sat 17 Apr 2010 The Beat Electric Palace
Bridport
Fri 23 Apr 2010 The Beat O2 Academy Oxford
Oxford
Sat 24 Apr 2010 The Beat Chinnerys
Southend-on-Sea
Sat 1 May 2010 The Beat Pyramids Centre
Portsmouth
Fri 7 May 2010 The Beat Salisbury Arts Centre
Salisbury
Sat 8 May 2010 The Beat Thekla
Bristol
Fri 14 May 2010 The Beat Holmfirth Picturedrome
Holmfirth
Sat 22 May 2010 The Beat + Pauline Black (Of Selector) + Neville Staple HMV Forum
London
Sun 23 May 2010 The Beat Corn Exchange
Ipswich
FOR MORE INFO OR TICKETS WWW.THEBEATOFFICIAL.COM
SKAVILLE UK TOUR DATES 2009
4 DECEMBER WORLDS END (FREE GIG) FINSBURY PARK,LONDON
5 DECEMBER THE GARAGE SWANSEA, WALES
6 DECEMBER CIVIC HALL SHILDON
18 DECEMBER THE HAT FACTORY LUTON
19 DECEMBER LE TAPIS ROUGE COLOMBES, PARIS
FOR MORE INFO WWW.SKAVILLEUK.WEBS.COM
NEVILLE STAPLES TOUR DATES 2010
Fri 29 Jan 2010 Neville Staple Hootananny (formerly The Hobgoblin)
London
Sat 6 Feb 2010 Neville Staple Moneyfields Social Club
Portsmouth
Sat 20 Feb 2010 Neville Staple The Fleece & Firkin
Bristol
Fri 26 Feb 2010 Neville Staple The Charlotte
Leicester
Sat 27 Feb 2010 Neville Staple Chinnerys
Southend-on-Sea
Sat 22 May 2010 The Beat + Pauline Black (Of Selector) + Neville Staple HMV Forum
London
FOR MORE INFO WWW.NEVILLESTAPLE.CO.UK
PAMA INTERNATIONAL TOUR DATES 2009
December 2009
16 Norwich Arts Centre
17 BBC Radio 2 - Janice Long session
19 Newcastle Live Theatre
20 Leeds Hi Fi Club
FOR MORE INFO www.pamainternational.co.uk
You’re Wondering Now - The Specials From Conception
Paul Williams
1979. The dawning of a new era. Against the backdrop of the demise of punk, social unrest and the coming to power of Margaret Thatcher, The Specials burst onto the scene with their unique brand of music, sweeping up the nation’s youth with their edgy, politically-charged message and iconic ‘2Tone’ branding. Thirty years later, as the band celebrate their anniversary with a reunion tour, their hard hitting, poignant tales of teen pregnancy, knife crime and racism are still as prevalent as they always were.
Timed to coincide with the band’s Anniversary and the huge revival of interest that has aroused this year, this is the only book of its kind, meticulously detailing the story of this one-of-a-kind band, its members and their post-Specials careers, up to and including their reunion at Bestival in 2008. It also sees the first publication of a full gig listing, complete discography and an amazing collection of rare, unseen photographs from the band themselves. It also contains a foreword from Phill Jupitus.
Paul Williams is a concert promoter, creator and editor of the 1990s cult fanzine “Street Feeling”, administrator of The Specials website and valued contributor to many varied projects within the lively ska world. His life-long interest in The Specials inspired him to be the first to research and document the bands’ history, which he portrays with an easy, familiar style, making their story accessible to all.
(CLICK PICTURE FOR MORE DETAILS)
You’re Wondering Now: The Specials, From Conception To Reunion
by Paul WilliamsA hefty message to you
The original 1995 paperback of Williams’ “lifework” (his words) will set you back £40 on Amazon.
This expanded reprint, nearly double the length and, of course, now including the latest reformation shenanigans, is most welcome.
While there remains plenty of, “Yeah, they opened the door for reggae,” quoting and a wealth of regurgitated interview material, it’s nevertheless a (or the) vital tome on the band, awarded four stars here largely for the sheer blood, sweat and tears originally invested into it by this Specials’ website administrator. Certainly he has a lot to learn about keeping a reader engaged as, at times, it reads more like a list of pure biographical facts than the “chequered” history of one of pop’s most barrier-breaking bands. Williams’ passion for the group (and every single offshoot that followed), however, is frankly above and beyond.
Add to this the fact that, for some reason, Cherry Red insist on presenting it in a tightlypacked, small-fonted way, and you really feel you’re getting chapter and verse on these 2- Tone heroes. Not a light read by any stretch, but a vital one.
Reviewed by Jake Kennedy
SKA'D FOR LIFE BY HORACE PANTER IS AVAILABLE NOW FROM WWW.PANMACMILLAN.COM
PAPER BACK ONLY £7.99
A warmly humorous insider's account of The Specials by bass player Horace Panter. In Ska'd for Life Horace takes the reader on a musical odyssey with the Specials from their early days on Coventry's punk circuit to chart storming success with singles like 'Too Much Too Young' and the eerily prescient 'Ghost Town', released as the race riots saw Toxteth and Brixton go up in flames. Written with wry humour, taking an affectionate look at a band whose sublime music remains influential today, this is a must for all Specials fans. After leaving the Specials, Horace played with General Public and later with Specialbeat. Today he teaches art to children with special needs during the week, but can be found playing his bass on weekends in various pubs around Coventry. 'I found myself laughing out loud whilst revisiting some long forgotten memories . . . It was a fantastic journey and I thank Horace for sharing it' Lynval Golding Ska'd for life by Horace Panter "A personal journey with The Specials" A wonderful book by Sir Horace Gentleman, bass player with The Specials that provides a fascinating insight into our greatest ska band. I was totally engrossed from start to finish. This is no lightweight quick buck production it is a seriously good read and I urge you to go and buy it! S.FLAHERTY SKA'D FOR LIFE" by Horace Panter Therefore it is purely his account of his time within the band and it still makes rivetting reading.The book is full of Horace's diary recollections,smart insights some of them, a lot his personal opinion on things at that time but he does also give a great account of the life and music in and around Coventry. What is clear though is that incessant touring and mismanagement were the reasons The Specials crumbled. The never ending schedule exhausted the group,causing erratic behaviour thus causing friction within the band.Horace does give a good scope on the individual members.Neville Staple is the true rude boy,Lynval Golding as a peaceful,charismatic guy,John Bradbury as a sullen broody moody type,Roddy Radiation is the wild one of the group at times,Terry Hall is another brooding character,possessing the driest of wit with occasional legendary outburst of violence ( the band being barred from entering their dressing room by manager Rick Rogers after their Bridlington gig while Terry Hall systematically trashed the dressing room),and Jerry Dammers comes out as the brains before the pressure started to take its toll. The fact that the group detested America comes across pretty much easily apart from the author who loved his sight seeing trips around it, but it did wear away at the nerves of the other band members as did a trip to Japan.Horace also talks with extreme pride about being a Special, and his enthusiasm for the music,political stance and bands ability is second to none. The problem i find with the book is that its a bit finer detail into facts we already know,but a lot of times isnt overly earth shattering.There a little bits of info like the time he played with The Clash onstage (only for a sound check!),the fact he almost was asked to join The Pretenders and that his wife Clare slapped ex Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten hard around the face in America after he had told her to "shut the fuck up"-which then resulted in Mrs Panter rolling around on the floor in a bizarre punch up with Mr Lydon.!!!! The obvious bristling effect of recording "More Specials" is gone into good detail and it seems it really was a pain to record.The groups demise can be seen coming when you read on. The distance some band menbers were putting between themselves,the fact "Ghost Town" rehearsal was virtually people all stood away from each other as far as possible,but as is that rock n roll star thing- money,drink/drug excesses and egomania added to the fuelling melting pot that was to become the split of one of the most original and influential groups of all time. REVIEW BY Paul Willo (Street Feeling)
As bass player with the Specials, in his second-hand suit and pork pie hat, Horace Panter was a member of one of the most innovative and exciting bands to come snarling out of the punk era. Founded by Jerry Damners, their fusion of punk, reggae and ska created a new musical fashion, spearheaded by their own record label Two Tone. They stood for unity and racial harmony in a polarised society. They even got British men dancing again.
Published by Sidgwick & Jackson
Out of all the books on Ska,2Tone and specifically The Specials,this tome has been eagerly awaited.A book by a band member? This should be good!! Is it good I hear you say? Well,Yes it is really worth the read but I found it falls just a little short on detail.In fairness,Horace Panter,king of all bass players, was a quite sedate,cultured member of The Specials who loved to go sight seeing on tour and by his own admission if he could get to bed early he did whilst other more raucous band members partyed all night.
Back to The Specials and the early days and fond memories of the group piled into the back of vans,the trip on a bus to a Euro festival with AC/DC that saw their singer Bon Scott piss on teh coach and the urine trickle to the front of the coach around teh ankles of The Specials(nice!).
Horace recalls with glee facts like Roddy smashing lights in the dressing room prior to filming the "Gangsters" video,himself pretnding to browse through records in Coventry's Virgin record shop while he was really noticing how many people were buying "Gangsters" or Jerry Dammers spraying the words "SPECIAL AKA" across the M5 services bridge and Terry Hall rushing onto stage like a madman to sing "Do the Dog" then slipping on beer and flat on his arse.The book is full of these anecdotes.
Horace does a good job but as he is a more mild mannered Special,the "real", I suppose juicy tit bits, stay away.The Specials according to Jerry dammers is the book we all wait for, but until then this goes some way into clearing up Specials folklore and is told in an upbeat fond recollection.A must for Specials fans without a doubt with some nice unseen pics and posters.As with Horace,this band left us all "Ska'd for Life".
THE SPECIALS AT BESTIVAL 2008!!!!!
The Specials play Bestival
For the first time in 27 years, six members of The Specials stood together in unison on the dramatic Main Stage of Bestival on the Isle of Wight.
Playing to a mud-filled field full of hard-core festival goers, through the pouring rain the big screen introduction by actor Nick Moran (best known for Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels) was accompanied by "Jerusalem" which really stirred the blood and built the tension to those famous opening lines "Bernie Rhodes knows…don't argue!" and the six Coventry boys slammed straight into the classic track "Gangsters".
Sounding just as tight and with as much vigour as the vintage Specials circa 1980 the years ebbed away and the band put on a performance that befits the Specials' name. The finale of "Gangsters" burst into a searing version of the very apt "Dawning Of A New Era". Roddy Radiation's lead guitar thrashing masterfully over John Bradbury's beat perfect drums, rolling and thumping the tune along. Terry Hall's trademark, almost reluctant, stage presence belied his fantastic vocals and lyrics still filled with venom. His dry wit and sarcasm shining through in his address to the crowd: "I've waited 27 years to perform in front of a field full of prawns". Neville Staple and Lynval Golding rolled back the years with an energetic run-a-round stage show, Nev whipping the audience up into a bouncing mass of mud and umbrellas. Horace Panter's bass rhythmically vibrating through the crowd with his famous looping boom sounding even better this time round. The matter of an absent Jerry Dammers is band business but credit has to be given where credit is due and replacement keyboard player Nikolai Torp's performance was delivered with proficiency and style, he even broke his keys in the process!
"Do The Dog" rattled with power and precision and then Neville really worked the crowd during "Monkey man". By this time the view from the Main Stage was filled to bursting with brightly coloured rain macs, umbrellas and strangely dressed sea creatures as far as the eye could see. Brad really made "Blank Expression" his own, drumming out big, beefy pure rhythms.
Lynval Golding proved that the message of the original band is still relevant today with a heartfelt plea to the crowd regarding the knife crime culture in the UK, he spoke about his own experience back in 1982 when he was knifed outside a club in Coventry: "I would never pick up a knife." he said, and introduced the track that had the crowd going berserk - "Message To You Rudy". The track saw the inclusion of the 3 piece brass section consisting of Jon Read, Warren Middleton and a guy called Tim, who walked very confidently in the footsteps of original brass line-up legends Rico Rodriguez and Dick Cuthell.
To the sound of the crowd chanting "Specials!" "Concrete Jungle" saw Roddy take up lead vocals, as he had on the first album, and his archetypal guitar solo never sounded better. "Its up to you" was rollicking and the placid but effective "Doesn't make It Alright" slowed proceedings down before a superb version of "Too Much Too Young" exploded out across the gathered 30,000 converts in the immense crowd. Obviously relishing every second, the lads kept up the vigorous pace and gave us "Little Bitch 2008" and then changed pace again with "Nite Klub" and its' sleazy, crawling intro. The band mastered the stage and wowed the crowds, Horace's sublime bass-line was played with aplomb. The crowd had time to gather their breath one more time as the set finished with a rousing rendition of "You're Wondering Now" complete with audience sing-a-long. With that it was over and the band were gone to the sound of the roaring crowd shouting for more and massive rallying cries of "Rude Boys!" echoing around the Bestival arena.
It cannot be denied that it was an utter success and leaves me in no doubt that it can be followed up just as proficiently. What better way to test the public's reaction than by playing to a 30,000 strong crowd of non-ska fans? The crowd were quickly converted! People you had better believe it- the rude boys are back in town. About time too!
Paul Willo & Ruth Lilico
"GANGSTERS" THE SPECIALS 2008
