Neville Staple, Elvis Costello and more pay tribute to Terry Hall of The Specials

Neville Staple has led tributes to his The Specials bandmate Terry Hall following news of Hall's death at just 63.

Hall’s death from a "short illness" was announced via the band’s official Twitter account on Monday.

Writing on Twitter, The Specials said: "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.

"He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him and leaves behind the gift of his remarkable music and profound humanity," the statement continued.

"Terry often left the stage at the end of The Specials' life-affirming shows with three words…'Love Love Love'."

The statement also called on everyone to "respect the family's privacy at this very sad time".

"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 pic.twitter.com/sHNMJIwPII

— From THE SPECIALS Neville Staple (@NevilleStaple) December 19, 2022

Neville Staple also penned an emotional statement following the tragic announcement.

"This has hit me hard," Staple wrote on Twitter, adding: "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.

"In the music World, people have many ups and downs, but I will hang onto the great memories of Terry and I, making history fronting The Specials and Fun Boy three together. Rest easy Terry Hall."

Hot Press Assistant Editor, Stuart Clark, recalls The Specials' cultural and political importance.

“I was a little punk rocker running round London when The Specials burst out of Coventry with ‘Gangsters’,” he says. “It sounded like nothing else I’d heard before - an adrenaline-fuelled mix of punk, ska, reggae and your favourite Stax and Motown records. You couldn't not dance to it.

“At the same time, the National Front were marching through the streets, recruiting members at gigs and football grounds and getting close to an electoral breakthrough. I’d just had the shit kicked out of me by Combat 18 skinheads, unvarnished Nazis whose name was derived from the first and eighth letters of the alphabet: AH - Adolf Hitler. There were hundreds of the c**ts running round London attacking people. A lot of bands were afraid to confront this but not The Specials whose very existence was a two-fingered riposte to the racists. They quickly allied themselves with the nascent Rock Against Racism movement, which made such a profound difference back then. The Specials were the embodiment of Black and White, Unite And Fight, a multicultural band with something to say - and the musical chops to back it up.”

Thousands of fans paid their respects online, with fellow singer and songwriter, Midge Ure, describing Hall's death as "dreadful news".

UK icons Massive Attack tweeted: "The protest soundtrack to our youth and the blueprint of our band. Rest in power Terry Hall."

The protest soundtrack to our youth & the blueprint of our band.

Rest in power Terry Hall. pic.twitter.com/tBiXvhwlil

— Massive Attack (@MassiveAttackUK) December 20, 2022

Sleaford Mods, reggae band UB40 and Andy Bell added their voices to the tributes, with the former tweeting: "Rest In Peace Terry Hall. King of the Suedeheads. A big man. Hope you find peace now mate."

At 11 I suddenly wanted a Harrington with red tartan lining, a Fred Perry shirt, black sta prest, white socks and black loafers with tassles, all because this mans music had swept through my school like Elvis in ‘56. Those 2 @thespecials albums are pure genius. RIP Terry Hall ❤️

— Andy Bell (@Andybebop) December 20, 2022

"We are very sad to hear of the passing of Terry Hall the lead singer of The Specials. Another one gone too soon!" UB40 wrote online.

We are very sad to hear of the passing of Terry Hall the lead singer of @thespecials
Another one gone too soon!

RIP Terry#terryhall #rip pic.twitter.com/P0n9InMVpu

— UB40 (@UB40OFFICIAL) December 20, 2022

English punk/folk musician Frank Turner wrote on Twitter that The Specials were one of the "most important" figures of his childhood.

"God damnit. Just heard the news about Terry Hall. What an absolute sadness," he said.

"The Specials were one of the most important bands for me as a kid. Taught me many things I needed to know. Gutted. RIP."

God damnit. Just heard the news about Terry Hall. What an absolute sadness. The Specials were one of the most important bands for me as a kid. Taught me many things I needed to know. Gutted. RIP.

— Frank Turner (@frankturner) December 19, 2022

Jane Wiedlin, guitarist and co-founder of The Go-Go’s, who co-wrote the band’s breakout hit 'Our Lips Are Sealed' with Hall, joined Staple in mourning his death.

She wrote on Twitter: "Gutted to hear of the passing of #terryhall. He was a lovely, sensitive, talented and unique person.

"Our extremely brief romance resulted in the song Our Lips Are Sealed, which will forever tie us together in music history. Terrible news to hear this."

Gutted to hear of the passing of #terryhall. He was a lovely, sensitive, talented and unique person. Our extremely brief romance resulted in the song Our Lips Are Sealed, which will forever tie us together in music history. Terrible news to hear this. 😢 pic.twitter.com/Fxxqr0p01T

— Jane Wiedlin (@janewiedlin) December 19, 2022

Folk singer Billy Bragg paid tribute to Hall’s cultural impact on Britain in the 1970s.

He tweeted: "The Specials were a celebration of how British culture was invigorated by Caribbean immigration but the onstage demeanour of their lead singer was a reminder that they were in the serious business of challenging our perception of who we were in the late 1970s. RIP Terry Hall."

The Specials were a celebration of how British culture was envigorated by Caribbean immigration but the onstage demenour of their lead singer was a reminder that they were in the serious business of challenging our perception of who we were in the late 1970s. RIP Terry Hall pic.twitter.com/PVwbXyXubq

— Billy Bragg (@billybragg) December 19, 2022

Jane Wiedlin’s bandmate and 'Heaven Is A Place On Earth' singer Belinda Carlisle said The Go-Go’s and Hall were "forever bound in music history".

Forever bound in music history with #terryhall. He co-wrote the @officialgogos breakout hit, "Our Lips Are Sealed" with @janewiedlin. RIP Mr. Hall. https://t.co/bhZOCC5bAR

— Belinda Carlisle (@belindacarlisle) December 20, 2022

Singer/songwriter and Strictly Come Dancing star Matt Goss described how he was "in shock" over Hall's death.

The Amy Winehouse Foundation said Hall's death was "truly sad news", sharing a picture of him with the 'Valerie 'singer.

Radio DJ Jo Whiley also paid her respects, tweeting how she has "always been a fan" of Hall.

Truly sad news. RIP Terry Hall. Sending love to our friends @horacepanter and @lynval_golding and all the @thespecials family at this sad time. pic.twitter.com/8wuoRKCL7a

— AmyWinehouseFdation (@AmysFoundation) December 19, 2022

Culture Club frontman Boy George referred to it a "sad day", tweeting: "Very sad to hear about Terry Hall! Absolutely loved him as an artist."

Singer-songwriter Elvis Costello also offered his condolences, tweeting: "Sad to receive the news of Terry Hall’s passing last night from Lynval Golding.

Sad to receive the news of Terry Hall’s passing last night from Lynval Golding. Terry’s voice was the perfect instrument for the true and necessary songs on “The Specials”. That honesty is heard in so many of his songs in joy and sorrow. My condolences to his family and friends.

— Elvis Costello (@ElvisCostello) December 20, 2022

"Terry’s voice was the perfect instrument for the true and necessary songs on "The Specials". That honesty is heard in so many of his songs in joy and sorrow. My condolences to his family and friends."

Lightning Seeds frontman Ian Broudie posted an emoji of a broken heart alongside a picture of himself with Hall.

💔 pic.twitter.com/DhbqmtstQd

— Ian Broudie (@IanZBroudie) December 19, 2022

Comedian David Baddiel followed a similar vein, writing on Twitter: "Terry Hall was great. That’s the tweet."

The Specials were formed by Jerry Dammers, Lynval Golding and Horace Panter in Hall's home city of Coventry in 1977.

Hall, together with Neville Staple, Roddy Byers and John Bradbury joined a year later.

The band were originally called the Automatics before eventually settling on The Specials in 1978.

They quickly rose to fame with their ska and rocksteady style, credited for providing a musical backdrop to economic recession, urban decay and societal fractures in the early 1980s.

The band produced a string of iconic hit records, including 'Too Much Two Young' and 'Ghost Town', which both hit No.1 in 1980 and 1981 respectively.

The Specials decided to part ways in 1981, with Hall, Golding and Staple going on to form the band Fun Boy Three, which achieved four top 10 singles.

They duetted with Bananarama on 'Really Saying Something' and a cover of the jazz standard 'It Ain't What You Do'.

Two years later Hall departed to form The Colourfield before taking on a series of solo and collaborative projects (Vegas and Terry, Blair and Anouchka), including working with singer Lily Allen.

He launched a solo career in 1994 with the critically-acclaimed 'Home', by which time he was being cited as a key influence by artists like Massive Attack and Damon Albarn (who appeared on the song 'Chasing A Rainbow').

He went on to record with trip-hop artist Tricky and Albarn's hip-hop side project Gorillaz.

The Specials announced in 2008 that they would reunite for a number of tour dates with the promise of new music to come.

In September that year, Hall and five other bandmates performed a surprise slot at Bestival music festival under the name Very "Special" Guests - to the delight of fans.

The group kicked off a tour to mark their 30th anniversary in 2009, later supporting The Rolling Stones during a concert at Coventry's Ricoh Arena in 2018.

In 2019 The Specials released their first album of new material in 37 years, Encore, which went straight to No.1 in the official UK album chart.

The album featured the politically-themed lead single, 'Vote for Me', fans felt was a follow-up to 'Ghost Town'.

"The arrival of the pandemic affected me enormously," Hall later told The Quietus. "I spent around three months trying to figure out what was going on. I couldn't write a single word. I spent the time trying to figure out how not to die."

He recorded an album of covers, inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. Released in October 2021, it featured new versions of Bob Marley's 'Get Up, Stand Up'; and The Staples Singers' 'Freedom Highway' amongst others.

Protest Songs charted at No.2, marking Hall's final appearance in the Top 75.

The musician was born in 1959 and raised in Coventry, where most of his family worked in the city's then-booming car industry.

His life took a dark turn when, at the age of 12, he was kidnapped by a teacher.

"I was abducted, taken to France and sexually abused for four days," he told The Spectator in 2019. "And then punched in the face and left on the roadside."

Hall said the incident left him with life-long depression and caused him to drop out of education at the age of 14, after becoming addicted to the Valium he had been prescribed.

"I didn't go to school, I didn't do anything. I just sat on my bed rocking for eight months."

Music was some form of therapy; and Hall joined a local punk band called Squad, receiving his first writing credit on their single 'Red Alert'.

He was spotted by The Specials' Jerry Dammers, who recruited him as a frontman when he worked in a stamp shop.

After gaining an acclaimed live reputation at home, the band rose to national prominence after Radio 1's John Peel played their debut single, 'Gangsters', on his show.

The song - a tribute to Prince Buster's ska classic Al Capone - established the band and their record label 2-Tone as a major force in British music.

They were a multi-racial group, documenting the turbulent Thatcher years by playing songs directly indebted to Jamaican ska - a pre-reggae style that remained popular in Britain's West Indian communities.

Hall, known for being droll, said the band's success was almost an accidental by-product of the punk movement.

"When I saw the Pistols and The Clash I realised it didn't seem that difficult," he told The Big Issue. "They didn't seem like they could play very well either, so the thing was to form a band then work it out.

"We didn't even know who was going to play what - we passed around all the instruments until we found what we were comfortable with. I wasn't comfortable with any of them so I became the singer."

The Specials then scored seven consecutive top 10 singles between 1979 and 1981.

Hall said his political awakening came in his teenage years "when I discovered that working men's clubs had a colour bar on their doors".

"That really shook me," he said, and resolved to take a stand.

"When you see injustice, all you can do is think: what can I do to help, what can I say about this, how can I make people aware of this?"

'Ghost Town' spent three weeks at No.1, and is widely regarded as one of the all-time great British pop songs. Hall was only 22 at the time, and found it hard to bridge the discrepancy between chart fame and the band's political message.

"When we picked up a gold disc for Ghost Town, I felt really bad about it," he said. "You are being told to celebrate this number one record that is about what is happening, the mess that we are in, and I felt very uncomfortable."

He created a legacy of powerful, meaningful music that defined an era of outspokenly political pop.

Hall is survived by his wife, the director Lindy Heymann. They had one son, while Hall has two older sons with his ex-wife, Jeanette Hall.

Here are some of the latest tributes that are being paid by musical friends and admirers. It's clear from them just how very much loved and respected Terry was:

Really f***ing sad to hear about Terry Hall, he was a great guy and I am praying 🙏 for his family and friends @thespecials pic.twitter.com/OIeNppnHg7

— Shane MacGowan (@ShaneMacGowan) December 20, 2022

His influence on the British working class cannot be underestimated, especially during the rise of the NF in the late 70s - he was inspirational & educated so many about racism & anti fascism - his legacy lives on - deepest sympathy to his family & friends #RIPTerry https://t.co/XLpTkLXvIE

— TheFarm/PeterHooton (@TheFarm_Peter) December 20, 2022

So upsetting to hear Terry Hall is gone. I will be playing The Specials’ brilliant ‘Ghost Town’ on loop tonight…. but oh dear, Twitter won’t allow me to link to it :(

— Thomas Dolby (@ThomasDolby) December 20, 2022

I'm just hearing that Terry Hall has passed away. What an awful shock. A sweet and shy man.

R.I.P.

— Jake Burns (@JakeBurnsSLF) December 19, 2022

A terrible loss to all of us, way too young, RIP Terry Hall pic.twitter.com/mp0ap1yzBD

— Madness (@MadnessNews) December 20, 2022

The Specials and Terry have been part of my life forever, and I’m going to miss him massively. Thank you for the music, thank you for the friendship, I love you mate. RIP. pic.twitter.com/cifwH6YkaP

— Dub Pistols (@dubpistols) December 19, 2022

Just heard the very sad news that Terry Hall has died. Such an amazing singer. He Sang about real people and real issues. People I could identify with. Such a loss. A brave guy.

— Leftfield (@Leftfield) December 19, 2022

At 11 I suddenly wanted a Harrington with red tartan lining, a Fred Perry shirt, black sta prest, white socks and black loafers with tassles, all because this mans music had swept through my school like Elvis in ‘56. Those 2 @thespecials albums are pure genius. RIP Terry Hall ❤️

— Andy Bell (@Andybebop) December 20, 2022

When Saffiyah Khan (wearing a Specials T- shirt), confronted a fascist at a march, Terry Hall commented:
“It felt like a vindication of everything the band had set out to do.”
Terry Hall.
Rest In Power. ❤️#TerryHall #Specials pic.twitter.com/7jE6nTGnxQ

— Stephen Lewis (@vegansmithsfan) December 20, 2022

Oh. This is terribly sad. @thespecials - the first band I went to see - at The Mayfair in Newcastle. Love to Terry’s band mates, family & friends. https://t.co/6qPbiXOp7e

— Wendy Smith (@wendyfinnandmax) December 19, 2022

By Connolly Station I sat down and wept. pic.twitter.com/a2sr0lpyIT

— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) December 20, 2022

RIP Terry Hall. 💔 pic.twitter.com/rXhmvmeFWk

— whipping boy (@WhippingBoyBand) December 20, 2022

Terry Hall, such sad news. Thanks for the songs and for singing them the way you did. And thanks for the time you came by Monorail sent there by your son. I think I told you I was a fan, I hope I did. pic.twitter.com/tmEQf1I2Ej

— the pastels (@pastels_the) December 20, 2022

Gone too soon. Terry Hall & The Specials were an important part of the soundtrack of my teenage life. Cool band, cool man.
Rest in peace. https://t.co/eJVFbnbDjU

— Curtis Stigers (@curtisstigers) December 19, 2022

We are so saddened to hear of Terry's passing.
It was a phone call from him that changed our lives. It was a pleasure and a privilege to have known him.
We will treasure the memories of the time we spent with this beautiful, talented and funny gentleman. pic.twitter.com/lTqSNVutfj

— Bananarama Official (@VivaBananarama) December 20, 2022

That understated, ghoulish cool; the anti-star, the anti-hero; Terry Hall gave us so much more than the music of The Specials…what a legend, may you rest in peace 🙏 x pic.twitter.com/JuWqHl6r4G

— Loz Colbert 🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@doctorloz) December 20, 2022

So saddened by the news that @terryhall_ has died.Massive influence on a 11year old me.Shaved my head & danced to the @thespecials with my mates,the Two-tone movement really represented us & we thought we’d change the world together,dancing to Ska.Too Much Too Young RIP Terry
Jp

— John power (@johnpowerla) December 20, 2022

I remember Australian festival we did with the Specials Byron Bay...When they walked on stage before a single note had been played Terry Hall gave a short angry speech to the crowd on how badly Aboriginals had been treated...no adulation bathing ,no rock star..others first...x

— GAZ WHELAN'S- LOVE & THE FAMILYTREE. (@GazWhelanMusic) December 20, 2022

R.i.P TERRY HALL. A musical pioneer, a true original,one of the great frontmen, an inspiration and a lovely https://t.co/3583iAjQJa and condolences to his family and band @thespecials X

— Ian Brown (@ianbrown) December 20, 2022

Damn. Terry Hall. Growing up he was that rarest of things -a pop star who was recognisably from your world. You could imagine him on the bus, smart-arsing at the back of class, in the pub. An inspiration, RIP

— Mat Osman (@matosman) December 20, 2022