Terry Hall (1959-2022)

[rayshae3]

Terry Hall, the frontman for the pre-Reggae style/ska band The Specials, died recently on Dec. 20 at the age of 63. The cause of death was pancreatic cancer. They had eight top ten hits in the UK chart, including 2 no. ones #1: One EP and another for 3 weeks with “Ghost Town”. And no, “Ghost Town” is not a halloween-themed song; it’s about unemployment, violence, and urban decay that led to riots in the British streets during the summer of 1981. The record itself became the “Single of the Year” in Melody Maker, New Musical Express, and Sounds. They had two albums in this period with the female backing provided by the likes of Chrissie Hynde (of The Pretenders) and Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin.


But the connection with the Go-Go’s doesn’t end here. Terry Hall had a brief romantic relationship with Jane Wiedlin in 1980. And three members of the 9-member Specials left the band to form “Fun Boy Three”. After the success of “Our Lips Are Sealed’’ (co-written by Terry Hall and Jane Wiedlin) by the Go-Go’s, Fun Boy Three eventually recorded and released their own rhythmic version in 1983; produced by David Byrne, their take peaked at #7 in the UK charts.


Full Obituary



RIP. Your music lives on.


My all-time Terry Hall related songs:
1.Rat Race-The Specials
2.Our Lips Are Sealed-Fun Boy Three
3.Ghost Town-The Specials
4.It Ain’t What You Do-Fun Boy Three & Bananarama
5.Really Saying Something-Fun Boy Three & Bananarama