Terry Hall dies
20.12.2022 - 14:49
/ completemusicupdate.com
The Specials’ Terry Hall has died, aged 63, following a short illness.In a statement, the band tweeted: “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”.“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”, they continued.“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’”.Co-frontman of The Specials, Neville Staple, added: “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”.Born in 1959 in Coventry, Hall was abducted by a paedophile gang age twelve, which triggered a lifelong struggle with depression. He dropped out of school aged fourteen, having become addicted to valium.
He told The Spectator on 2019: “I didn’t go to school, I didn’t do anything. I just sat on my bed rocking for eight months”.In the late 70s, he discovered the burgeoning punk scene in Coventry, and joined his first band, Squad, who released one single, ‘Red Alert’.
He then joined a band called The Automatics, who became Special AKA, and then The Specials, who mixed ska and punk. Already known as an impressive live band, they released their debut single ‘Gangsters’ in 1979, gaining support from
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