MUSIC
How did Terry Hall die? What were The Specials’ biggest songs?
The artist has died at the age of 63 “after a brief illness”. Icon in the United Kingdom and key to the spread of ska.
Terry Hall, lead singer of the group The Specials, has died at the age of 63 “following a brief illness” a statement said. The sad message was conveyed via the band’s official Twitter account, and the news has spread quickly around the globe on social media to the millions of fans, while messages of condolence rolled in. Hall was an icon for an entire generation, especially in the United Kingdom, and he is considered key to the spread of ska.
RIP Terry Hall
Born in Coventry, at the end of the 70s he was part of the group with the most successes achieved and the one that helped him become a legend throughout the country, especially with songs like Ghost Town, A Message to You Rudy or Too Much Too Young.
‘It is with great sadness that we announce the passing, following a brief illness, of Terry, our beautiful friend, brother and one of the most brilliant singers, songwriters and lyricists this country has ever produced,’ the statement began.
‘Terry was a wonderful husband and father and one of the kindest, funniest, and most genuine of souls. His music and his performances encapsulated the very essence of life… the joy, the pain, the humour, the fight for justice, but mostly the love.
‘He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him and leaves behind the gift of his remarkable music and profound humanity. Terry often left the stage at the end of The Specials’ life-affirming shows with three words…”Love Love Love”
‘We would ask that everyone respect the family’s privacy at this very sad time.’
Fellow band member Neville Staple was as shocked as anyone.
‘I was deeply saddened to hear about Terry Hall’s passing on Sunday. @SugaryStaple was called as we arrived in Egypt. We knew Terry had been unwell but didn’t realise how serious until recently. We had only just confirmed some 2023 joint music agreements together. This has hit me.’ Together with him and Lynval Golding, Hall founded Fun Boy Three.
No further details of the illness have yet been shared.
The success of Ghost Town
The track from The Specials reached number one on the UK charts in the early 1980s. The lyrics deal with disenfranchised youth, unemployment and urban decay in England, so many British found an anthem in the midst of riots that broke out in the summer of 1981 between young blacks and the police.
But the influence of Terry Hall and The Specials was not limited only to English soil, but also had its weight in the development of different groups in Spain, such as Kortatu. In the United States it influenced bands like Rancid and No Doubt and in Argentina it did the same with Karamelo Santo, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs and Los Pericos.