Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Terry Hall of The Specials PA Images

Terry Hall hailed as 'musical pioneer' following death at 63

The singer-songwriter rose to fame as part of the band, who were pioneers of the ska scene in the UK.

LAST UPDATE | 20 Dec 2022

NEVILLE STAPLE HAS led tributes to his The Specials bandmate Terry Hall following Hall’s death at the age of 63.

The singer-songwriter rose to fame as part of the band, who were pioneers of the ska scene in the UK.

Hall’s death was announced via the band’s official Twitter account yesterday evening.

“This has hit me hard,” Staple wrote on Twitter.

“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.”

Shane McGowan also paid his respects, saying that he was praying for Hall’s family.

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.”

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”.

Stone Roses lead singer Ian Brown described Hall as “A musical pioneer, a true original,one of the great frontmen, an inspiration and a lovely fella.”

Punk and folk singer 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.”

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 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.”

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

Singer-songwriter Elvis Costello offered his condolences, tweeting: “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.”

Lightning Seeds frontman Ian Broudie kept his tribute short, posting an emoji of a broken heart alongside a picture of himself with Hall.

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

Close
32 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Dunne
    Favourite Brian Dunne
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 7:15 AM

    Enjoy yourself, its later than you think. What a frontman and songwriter. No song sums up Thatchers Britain better than Ghost Town.

    469
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute George Thompson
    Favourite George Thompson
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 6:52 AM

    One of my favorite lead singers RIP Terry.

    259
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sara McS
    Favourite Sara McS
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 7:45 AM

    Ghostown (and UB40s 1 in 10) kick started political awareness for many kids of the early 80s. Terry Hall was a great talent and though the themes were serious the Specials, Fun Boy 3 and Colourfield always gave off positive happy vibes. A sad loss at a young age.

    243
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Daftbit Jelly
    Favourite Daftbit Jelly
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 11:23 AM

    @Sara McS: Unfortunately UB40 tickets soon became beyond the reach of the 1 in 10. Terry Hall though standing still amongst it all said everything.

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seamus Quaide
    Favourite Seamus Quaide
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 7:12 AM

    Hugely talented, inspirational artist. Difficult to believe this news. The Specials introduced a lot of people to Ska on this side of the world. Terry Hall was certainly an icon of British culture.

    215
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Kenny
    Favourite John Kenny
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 7:13 AM

    Just reading about his earlier life.
    Left school at 14 after been kidnapped at 12 from Coventry by a school teacher and brought to France, abused for 4 days and left at side of road. Got addicted to the resulting medication following the incident. Turned into an amazing song writer.

    216
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pauline Gallagher
    Favourite Pauline Gallagher
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 2:21 PM

    @John Kenny: jesus!

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
    Favourite sean o'dhubhghaill
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 6:49 AM

    I always wondered what he thought if that Fr. Ted eoisode! Godspeed, Terry Hall. Such a part of my teenage years.

    186
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean McCarthy
    Favourite Sean McCarthy
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 9:07 AM

    @sean o’dhubhghaill: and now we’ll stand for the national anthem.

    89
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pauline Gallagher
    Favourite Pauline Gallagher
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 2:20 PM

    @sean o’dhubhghaill: Every time i hear the opening bit to that song i just start laughing.

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Quinn
    Favourite Tom Quinn
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 8:39 AM

    Fronted one of the greatest English bands of all time, thanks for the music, rest in peace mate.

    145
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Hickey
    Favourite Shane Hickey
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 6:52 AM

    big influence on me as a kid. Rip Terry

    135
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rúraíocht
    Favourite Rúraíocht
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 7:38 AM

    Gutted. The passing of a great, rip

    123
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colin Mullen
    Favourite Colin Mullen
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 10:13 AM

    I went to see The Specials in the Olympia a good few years ago. It’s easily one of my favourite gigs of all. From the very first note until the very last, the crowd were up on their feet and dancing!! Brilliant band. RIP Rude Boy

    116
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Radioska
    Favourite Radioska
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 12:25 PM

    @Colin Mullen: They played about every two years, mostly in the Olympia. Always one of the best nights. I’m gutted for his family and friends and really sad myself (not least that those nights are sadly over).

    55
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin
    Favourite Kevin
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 7:38 AM

    You’ve wondering now, what to do, now you know this is the end.

    107
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cathal
    Favourite Cathal
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 8:39 AM

    RIP Legend

    81
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
    Favourite sean o'dhubhghaill
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 8:53 AM

    Just heard his version of ‘Windmills of your mind’ on the radio. My God, it’s fabulous.

    75
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anna Carr
    Favourite Anna Carr
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 7:52 AM

    Love The Specials. My Mom hated the music lol. RIP. Fly high bro :(

    70
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keth Warsaw
    Favourite Keth Warsaw
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 11:04 AM

    A talent. A loss. Truly sadly missed.

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Biddulph
    Favourite Alan Biddulph
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 11:32 AM

    RIP, great band.

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Philip Kennedy
    Favourite Philip Kennedy
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 7:49 PM

    Went to see them in the stardust, 1981, The Beat supported.

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute IRISH HODL is defendingbtc.com ☘⚡
    Favourite IRISH HODL is defendingbtc.com ☘⚡
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 6:34 PM

    He and his music educated a generation. Thanks Terry. Rip

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Hammond
    Favourite Dave Hammond
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 3:08 PM

    Sad loss / amazingly talented writer and singer / here’s one of his more obscure tracks from the Vegas project with his sublime vocals
    https://youtu.be/6znRtWl_B4w

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute thesaltyurchin
    Favourite thesaltyurchin
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 1:39 PM

    ‘if you don’t ike it, you don’t have to dance’… best advice

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Terry Fagan
    Favourite Terry Fagan
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 7:27 PM

    So sad. Grew up listening to his music. May he Rest In Peace.

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Davey Ohanlon
    Favourite Davey Ohanlon
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 8:48 PM

    Probably one of the best of the UK ska and two tone revival bands that ever was or will be.

    Great voice, great song writer and made the origonal versions pale by comparrison.

    Rest easy, the world will end before Terry is ever forgotten.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Virgil
    Favourite Virgil
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 8:55 PM

    You get too much, much too young, you’re married with a kid when you should be havin fun – Ouch and touché

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Punker
    Favourite Punker
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 9:03 PM

    My biggest ever celebrity crush, seen The Specials live in Leeds and Trinity College, two of my favourite gigs of all time. Thanks so much for amazing memories. RIP TERRY

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simon Eales
    Favourite Simon Eales
    Report
    Dec 20th 2022, 9:04 PM

    https://youtu.be/5L9RaPLjqxY

    A hidden gem from his solo career
    RIP genius

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Derek Hickey
    Favourite Derek Hickey
    Report
    Dec 21st 2022, 12:31 PM

    Sad news,

    takes me back to the time I got sacked from my job as a waiter for asking the customers if they would like to hear the specials,

    and then going “This town, ahh ahh, is coming like a ghost town”

    RIP Terry

    4
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds