The Specials have seemingly changed their mind about splitting up and have hinted that they will continue to perform together.
Previously, frontman Terry Hall had claimed that he no longer wanted to play live shows with the band, indicating that last night’s show at London‘s Alexandra Palace (November 3) would be their final gig.
He had said: “I just don’t want to be in a band anymore. I think this is the time to say ‘Thanks very much. See you later really.’ I have been doing this for over 30 years and just think it its time to go now.”
However, The Specials‘ guitarist Lynval Golding told BBC 6 Music after the show that the band were now “in a completely different mood” and suggested that they had not decided to part ways.
Speaking of their previous agreement to disband, he said: “It was a decision we took after [guitarist] Roddy Byers left us recently. [Keyboardist] Jerry [Dammers] had left us a few years before, so we were wondering whether it actually made sense to keep going, but now we have played this tour it seems we are in a completely different mood.”
Singer Neville Staple, meanwhile, added: “A few months ago we were insecure and weren’t even sure if we could bare another long and tiring tour, but now it is all a different scenario. Seeing the people dancing right into the back of the venue made us reconsider our decision and we realised that an iconic band like The Specials shouldn’t go and leave their fans in this sad way.”
Staple also hinted that Dammers, a founding member of The Specials, could rejoin the band in the future.
The ska legends reformed minus Dammers in 2009, but when asked about a possible reunion, Staples said: “You never know. He is an amazing performer and it would be great to work with him again, so maybe one day.”
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