The Specials to play Los Angeles April 15th

Los Angeles’ CLUB NOKIA has announced a Thursday, April 15 performance by THE SPECIALS. The legendary British ska band is playing Club Nokia as part of their first North American tour in nearly 30 years, after having reunited for a U.K. tour in 2009.  Tickets for the April 15 show go on sale Friday, February 12 at 10:00 AM. Advance tickets are $32.50 and day of show tickets are $35. 

True innovators of the Punk era, THE SPECIALS began the British ska revival craze, combining the highly danceable ska and rocksteady beat with Punk's energy and attitude, and taking on a more focused and informed political and social stance than their predecessors and peers. The band was originally formed in Coventry in 1977 as the Coventry Automatics and later the Special A.K.A. by songwriter/keyboardist Jerry Dammers, with Terry Hall (vocals), Lynval Golding (guitar, vocals), Neville Staples (vocals, percussion), Roddy Radiation (guitar), Sir Horace Gentleman (bass), and John Bradbury (drums). In 1979, the song "Too Much Too Young", the lead track on their The Special AKA Live! EP, reached number one in the UK. In 1981, the unemployment-themed single "Ghost Town" single also hit number one in the UK Singles Chart. After seven consecutive UK Top 10 singles between 1979 and 1981, the band broke up. In 2008, it was announced that the band would reform and embark on a 30th anniversary tour in 2009. The Specials played a sold-out 30th anniversary tour of U.K. clubs in May 2009, marking the first time that the six members of the ska band, including singer Terry Hall, had performed a full set together since a Boston, Mass. show in 1981.