The singer’s musical free spirit scored him hits with everyone from the Specials and Fun Boy Three to collaborations with the Go-Go’s and Bananarama
• Terry Hall was the self-assured eye of the Specials storm | Alexis Petridis
• Terry Hall: lead singer of the Specials dies aged 63
The astonishing split single (with an embryonic version of the Selecter on the B-side) that introduced the Specials and the 2 Tone label to the nation. With the lineup drawing on ska, punk, eastern music and rockabilly, Gangsters radically reworks the tune of Prince Buster’s 1964 ska classic Al Capone. A misunderstanding – or possibly an argument – with Clash manager and Specials champion Bernard Rhodes over some hotel damage provided the initial inspiration for songwriter Jerry Dammers’ lyrical odyssey about paranoia and surveillance. Hall sang two vocals – one bored and deadpan, one combative – which were then mixed to startling effect. The song began life on 5,000 hand-stamped singles; eventually it reached No 8 and kickstarted the 2 Tone sound’s ascent to global phenomenon.
