Specials Reunion Set for Spring ‘09

Maybe they could tour with Phish... or the Faces... or Jesus Lizard... or Led Zep... or....

By Fred Mills

Word arrives this morning from the British media that ska godfathers the Specials are reuniting next year for a 30^th anniversary tour, tentatively slated for April. According to the NME, Specials founder Terry Hall commented, "It's the right time to do it [reunite] - we talked about it at 25 but we weren't together enough. Now we're all getting on and it feels comfortable again."

The band hasn't performed under the name the Specials since 1981. Co-founder Jerry Dammers apparently will not be along for the ride (Hall: "The door remains open to him") but original members Neville Staple, Sir Horace Gentleman, Roddy Radiation, Lynval Golding and John Bradbury will be taking part in the reunion.

The shows will take place April 22, 23, 25, 26, 28 and May 3, 6, t at Newcastle, Sheffield, Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester and London. And you just know that those lucrative summer festivals dates await, too.....

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Meanwhile, over at the official BLURT anti-reunion poll (go HERE), the votes are coming in fast and furious. Thus far, gentle readers, you have spoken vehemently in opposition of a proposed Robert Plant-less Led Zep, with Creed coming in second as a 2009 reunion you would most NOT want to see. (Note that the poll was created prior to the recent news that the Jesus Lizard, the Faces and the Specials were all considering getting back together, but you can write those in at the comments section if you so choose.) The stats thus far:

Pavement (2)    3%

Led Zeppelin w/new frontman (29)    43%

The Kinks (3) 4%

Blink-182 (3)   4%

The Smiths (1)             1%

Sublime w/new frontman (8) 12%

Faith No More (2)       3%

Klaatu (2)        3%

Creed w/ANY frontman (18)