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Description: The late 1970s and early 1980s Coventry 2-Tone innovators play their ska-pop hits.
Phone: 0844477 2000
Website: www.brixton-academy.co.uk
Email: mail@brixton-academy.co.uk
Trains: Tube/BR: Brixton 
, Tube / Bus: 2, 35, 37, 59, 109, 133, 159, 333, 432 
Extra info: Pub
Times: Nov 24 & 25, 27, 7pm
Price: £35
Re-formed: The Specials rampaged through old favourites
Specials relationship: lead singer Terry Hall
The Specials? Almost. Depending on whom you believe, leader Jerry Dammers either refused to join the 30th anniversary re-formation beyond one megadate, or was excluded.
And yet while Dammers may have been the chief songwriter, live he was only the keyboardist. Since no Special has truly flourished since the mothership came to rest in 1981, it’s hard to begrudge the foot soldiers a wholly sold-out, money-making, pomp-revisiting nationwide tour.
I’ve rarely seen a crowd — which included actor Clive Owen, Streets leader Mike Skinner and drug smuggler Howard Marks — so beside themselves with delight at the opportunity to relive their carefree youth.
They may be weaker of eyesight, thinner of hair and broader of girth, but this was still Geezer Central and there were moments where their response, be it the bellowed verses to Gangsters or the frenzied dancing to Little Bitch, was as spine-tingling as anything the band offered.
And the band — also weaker of eyesight, thinner of hair and broader of girth — offered so much, except, mercifully, new material. With almost palpable joy, the six remaining Specials and low-profile keyboardist Nikolaj Torp Larsen rampaged their way through hits and choice album tracks.
Singer Terry Hall’s throat infection caused the cancellation of Wednesday’s show, but you’d never have guessed. Indeed, by the encore he was asking for cigarettes. Lugubrious, hunched and celebrating the 21st birthday of his son Felix, to whom A Message To You Rudy was dedicated, Hall took special delight in dedicating Doesn’t Make It Alright (opening line: “just because you’re nobody”) to Frank Lampard.
Before Too Much Too Young, the Manchester United fan received a football and mischievously re-enacted Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League free kick against Arsenal on Tuesday.
Better still, the weary hopelessness of rhythm guitarist Lynval Golding’s Do Nothing still packs an emotional punch and in wisely resisting making any statements linking an anger-laden Ghost Town to the present day made the obvious connection stronger still.
Whatever the truth of the Dammers saga, that the band he founded are so spectacularly and so life-affirmingly re-born without him means he is the big loser in all this. Last night, though, everyone else was a winner.
The Specials are playing four more sold-out Brixton Academy shows —tonight, and on 11, 12 and 16 May.
Box office: Call 08444 77 2000 or www.02brixtonacademy.co.uk
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
I saw The Specials way back in 1980 or 81 at The Rainbow Theatre in Finsbury Park, that gig was amazing and I am so looking forward to seeing them again when they play their one and only gig in New Zealand on 1st August. My 10 year old daughter loves The Specials and SKA too and will be dressing the part in her new Ben Sherman, braces, denim mini skirt, fishnets, white socks and loafers. I'll be a little more reserved with my dress code as yes I'm suffering a little extra girth these days. Bring it on Rude Boys!
- Christine Headey, Thames, New Zealand
shame on you for your comments about jerry dammers... the other 6 wouldn't have a stage to play on or songs to sing if it wasn't for him...
- Rain..., UK
Yep, I couldn't agree more with Lesley of London. Specials were brilliant, worth every penny, one of the best live bands I've ever seen, my wife and I are both still ruing the day that we didn't get tickets for all of the Brixton Academy gigs over the weekend, and yes we're both mid 40 somethings who were both jumping about like a couple of deranged teenagers, god only knows what our 11 year old son would of made of us(he probably would've joined in with us)! Sadly these days I am weaker of eysight and broader of girth, but I've still got a mass of long , flowing barnet, and I'm a lot wiser and happier for it! Cheers.
- Al Martin, Walthamstow, London
I was at The Specials last night and thought it was fantastic, and am I so glad I was around when Ska happened in '79. I have followed The Specials et al since '79 and go to gigs all the time. A lot of bands are still gigging and have been doing for ages such as The Beat, Bad Manners, Nevilles Specials and Madness. I don't find that their girths have expanded much considering their age esp the likes of Ranking Roger and Neville who can put the fittest 20 year old to shame. The Specials still have the energy, enthusiasm, motivation and drive that makes me want to purchase tickets and hear live Ska and have it running through my veins....oh what a feeling. Is it a money making gig...NO. "Stars" that charge over £50 for a ticket and have final shows etc and charge excess of £20 quid for a T-shirt are in it for the money. The Specials what can I say about last nights gig, I only wish I had bought tickets for every night. Buy the way I am 42 years old, female have perfect vision and a size 10. Message to you (reviewer)...Enjoy yourself...The years go by, as quickly as you wink.
- Lesley, London
Apparently Neville Staple has his biography out at the moment - well, I know because I co-wrote it with him. I look forward to a review in the Evening Standard. Neville will be signing copies today at the Vans store on Carnaby Street and then on Tuesday next week at FOPP on Earlham Street. Both signings at 1pm. Evening Standard journalists very welcome!
Neville lays bare the whole story of 2-Tone and his own past as a burglar - for which he did a year in borstal. Pete Waterman has written the intro. A rollicking good read!
- Tony Mcmahon, London, UK
