'This town is coming like a ghost town'

SEPTEMBER 20, 2008

Don't you miss the Specials? Thankfully, my digital cable "Retro-Active" music channel plays Ghost Town about every hour on the hour. So I have sustenance.

The band formed in 1977 in Conventry, England. Perhaps more than any other band of the era, the Specials got some expert help from fellow musicians. The Clash's Joe Strummer and Elvis Costello provided guidance and producing help. And Chrissie Hynde, Belinda Carlisle and Jane Wiedlin sometimes pitched in to provide backing vocals.

Alas, lineup and name changes finally did them in, and the band broke up in 1991.

But here's the good news: The Specials are back. The band announced earlier this year that they were reuniting, performing again and working on new material. Click here to check out their official Web site for the latest info.

Posted by Steve Spears at 8:04:25 am on September 20, 2008 in

Reunions

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About the blogger

Relive the '80s music, movies and culture with Tampa Bay Times entertainment news editor Steve Spears. A teen during the greatest decade ever, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.

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