Fun Boy Glee as Special legend Neville Staple packs out Magna

The former steelworks rang to the sound of 2-Tone on Saturday night as former Specials and Fun Boy Three star Neville Staple marked 40 years of the distinctive musical genre.
Neville Staple in action. Photo: Ian BeckNeville Staple in action. Photo: Ian Beck
Neville Staple in action. Photo: Ian Beck

THE ORIGINAL “Rude Boy” had fans eating out of his hand as he brought the classic ska sound to Magna.

A bouncing crowd of more than 800 joyfully joined in as Neville and fellow ex-members of The Specials and The Beat brought out all the 2-Tone classics, from Monkey Man and Gangster to A Message to You, Rudy and the 1980 number one Ghost Town.

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As well as the Neville Staple Band, the retro gig also featured fellow Midlanders Roddy Radiation & The Skabilly Rebels and The Beat Goes Bang, which is made up of former members of The Beat. 

The show was dedicated to Neville’s grandson, Fidel, who was fatally stabbed last September in his hometown of Coventry.

Neville is still producing new music and his 2018 album Rude Rebels — featuring his wife and long-time collaborator Christine “Sugary” Staple and former Specials bandmate Roddy Radiation — was nominated for the Best of 2018 awards.

Promoter Dean Darwin said: “I’m a big fan of ska and 2-tone and it’s something that’s close to my heart so I wanted to bring Neville to Magna.

“It was brilliant and everybody seemed to love it.”

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Saturday’s concert was the first instalment in a double bill of nostalgic gigs at Magna this spring.

On March 16, it will be the turn of All Mod Cons, featuring From the Jam, the band led by ex-The Jam bassist Bruce Foxton and former The Gift frontman Russell Hastings.

Another milestone will be marked as the band are celebrating the 40th Anniversary of The Jam’s third studio album, All Mod Cons, by playing it in its entirety. 

As well as classics such as Down in The Tube Station at Midnight and A Bomb in Wardour Street the band are also said to be excited about playing Billy Hunt, Mr Clean and the The Butterfly Collector, which only featured on the US release of All Mod Cons originally.

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From the Jam have toured relentlessly since their formation in 2007, playing almost 1,000 shows in the UK.

“The energy in rehearsals is great and we're really looking forward to getting back on the road,” said Foxton.

Tickets are priced at £26.50. Head to visitmagna.co.uk to book.