Back in 1995, a ‘superfan’ told the story of the band which changed his life.
An overview in 125 pages of their short but glorious history, it went some way to explaining the rapid rise and fall of a band from the British Midlands who were to have a global impact on the underground music scene, almost single-handedly creating a musical genre that continues today. Now he’s back with what must surely be the definitive version of the band’s story… The Specials.
This complete reworking and retelling of his original book makes a fascinating read. Unlike the original version, this biography includes an in-depth account of how a disparate group of Coventry musicians brought their diverse tastes together and created one of the most exciting bands ever to come out of the UK.
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This edition tells not only of the halcyon 2-Tone days, but also follows the members’ varying careers (both in and out of music), the attempts to get the band back together, the reunion tour, and the final recordings by surviving members. No detail is too trivial, no story untold in this honest and occasionally blunt review of what went on behind the scenes.
Paul has had exclusive access to band members in the making of this book, and it shows. That he has come to know the band on a personal level over the years shows in the almost chatty way it’s presented, and in the way stories are relayed. There’s no attempt to polish over the cracks in the band, though; every major falling out and reconciliation is told here, each honestly and without taking sides.
It’s both a celebration of a brilliant band and a requiem for those they lost along the way. With an extensive discography listing all UK releases by them, along with notable rarities from abroad, and what has to be the most comprehensive list of gigs, right from their earliest days as Hybrid, through the Coventry Automatics and onto The Specials, this is really the only book fans of the band will need.
Review by: Nik Skeat
