The group was formed by songwriter/keyboardist Jerry Dammers, with Terry Hall (vocals), Lynval Golding (guitar, vocals) and a rhythm section featuring Horace Panter (bass) and John Bradbury (drums; born 16 February 1953, died 28 December 2015). The band wore mod-style 1960s period "rude boy" outfits (pork pie hats, mohair suits, and loafers). In 1980, their 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" 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 1984. A version of the band reformed from 1994-2001. In 2008, the band reformed again and, in2009, embarked on a 30th anniversary tour. In 2010, they toured America and Europe. In 2011 they again touring the UK.
In 1979, their debut LP hit the shelves and quickly soared into the UK Top Five. The album was produced by Elvis Costello and was released under founding member, Jerry Dammer's record label 2 Tone Records.
Following the success of their debut album, Specials, their second and final album, More Specials was released. This expanded the group's 2 tone sound to include lounge music and other influences.
After two albums and a string of very successful singles the band called it quits in 1984. The bands members moved onto their other musical projects. In 1994 they toured with the original line-up without Terry Hall and Jerry Dammers. Roddy sang Terry's parts. The line-up changed in 1996. The band split again in 2001.
In 2008, The Specials officially announced that they would reform and embark on a 30th Anniversary Tour in 2009. The founding member, Jerry Dammers was not part of the reformed Specials and relationships between him and the rest of the band have remained sore, particularly on Dammers' side of things.
In January 2013, the Specials announced the departure of Neville Staple. In February 2014 it was revealed that another original member, Roddy Radiation, had left the reformed group. In spite of this, the Specials played an extensive tour in the autumn of 2014 with Steve Cradock as lead guitarist.
On 19th December 2022 it was announced that Terry Hall had passed away after a short illness. He was 63.
www.thespecials.com
Stereotype
The Specials Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He drinks his age in pints
He has girls every night
But he doesn't really exist
He spends his weekends with a load of blokes
He forgets the punchline when he tells a joke
He wants to stay out, he don't want to go home
He's just a stereotype
He drinks his age in pints
He drives home pissed at night
And he listens to his stereo
He blamed his fiance when he caught VD
The doctor said no drink for seventeen weeks
He wants to go out but he has to stay home
Sit in and watch color TV on his own
He's just a stereotype
He drinks his age in pints
He drives home pissed at night
And he listens to his stereo
The tablets are finished, the cure is complete
He hasn't had a drink now for seventeen weeks
Seventeen pints, tonight is the night
It goes straight to his head, he ends up in a fight
Police chase him home through the dark rainy night
Fluorescent jam sandwich with flashing blue light
His mums waiting up, she hopes he's alright
But he's wrapped round a lamp post on Saturday night
He's just a stereotype
He drinks his age in pints
He has girls every night
He doesn't really exist
The Specials' song Stereotype is a satirical take on the typical "lad" or "lad culture" that was prevalent in Britain in the 1980s. The song describes a young man who fits into all the stereotypes associated with this culture: heavy drinking, promiscuousness, hanging out with his male friends, and behaving recklessly. Despite his seemingly wild and carefree lifestyle, however, the singer asserts that this man "doesn't really exist." Rather, he is simply a product of his environment - a stereotype perpetuated by society at large.
The lyrics of the song are meant to be humorous, but also cutting. They point out the absurdity of the "lad" lifestyle, and suggest that it ultimately leads to self-destructive behavior. The man described in the song is reckless and irresponsible, and his actions have consequences - both for himself and others. By the end of the song, he is in a fight and has crashed his car, illustrating the danger of this kind of behavior.
Overall, Stereotype is a commentary on the ways in which societal norms and expectations can shape individual behavior. It suggests that the pressure to conform to a certain image or persona can be damaging, and that it is important to be aware of the stereotypes that we use to make sense of the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
He's just a stereotype
He's a caricature of a type of person, lacking in nuance and complexity
He drinks his age in pints
He drinks excessively and recklessly, using his age as an excuse
He has girls every night
He promiscuously sleeps around, using women as a means to fulfill his desires
But he doesn't really exist
He's a product of society's expectations and assumptions, devoid of true individuality
He spends his weekends with a load of blokes
He surrounds himself with other men who share his lifestyle and mindset
He forgets the punchline when he tells a joke
He's not particularly clever or witty, despite trying to present himself as such
He wants to stay out, he don't want to go home
He prioritizes drinking and socializing over responsibilities and commitments
'Til his nicotine fingers are stuffed down his throat
He indulges in harmful habits, even to the point of endangering his own health
He drives home pissed at night
He operates a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, endangering himself and others
And he listens to his stereo
He uses music as a means to disconnect from reality and escape the consequences of his actions
He blamed his fiance when he caught VD
He refuses to take responsibility for his own actions and instead shifts the blame onto others
The doctor said no drink for seventeen weeks
He suffers consequences for his behavior but struggles to break free from his destructive habits
He wants to go out but he has to stay home
He feels trapped by the consequences of his actions but still desires to continue his reckless lifestyle
Sit in and watch color TV on his own
He uses media as a crutch to fill the void left by his destructive lifestyle
The tablets are finished, the cure is complete
He attempts to seek treatment and improvement for his behavior but struggles to maintain it
He hasn't had a drink now for seventeen weeks
He makes progress in breaking free from his habits and seeking help, but it's a slow and difficult process
Seventeen pints, tonight is the night
He falls back into his old ways and indulges in a dangerous amount of alcohol
It goes straight to his head, he ends up in a fight
He becomes aggressive and violent when under the influence
Police chase him home through the dark rainy night
He faces the consequences of his actions, putting himself and others in danger
Fluorescent jam sandwich with flashing blue light
The police car pursuing him is symbolized as a warning and a threat
His mums waiting up, she hopes he's alright
His loved ones are concerned and worried about his destructive behavior
But he's wrapped round a lamp post on Saturday night
He suffers the physical consequences of his actions, with no one to blame but himself
He doesn't really exist
Despite his attempts to appear larger than life, his behavior and choices have reduced him to a stereotype and a caricature of a real person
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Jerry Dammers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@andrewphippsphillips1455
Rest In Peace Terry, massive loss and another part of my childhood gone 😢
@adnilbraganza2211
Precisely...
@andyj639
How many different music styles can you fit in one track! Absolute unadulterated genius.
@ittybitty6474
Best summary comment. Genius...
@bertiew6771
The God like genius of Jerry Dammers.
@gimmemorebeer9995
Amazing track. Timeless. RIP Terry x
@bobcatcomms
RIP Terry ❤️
@kramnesnay
I remember at school my English teacher asked our class to write the lyrics to our fav song, most kids chose Baggy Trousers by Madness, but I chose this one. My teacher couldn't understand how and why a 13 year old kid liked such a dark song, but the kids thought it was cool as I read it out to the class, I said 'pissed' and 'VD' and got away with it. Great group, whose songs perfectly reflected the mood of the times.
@numonefranbegbiefan
This was a few years back but I had to do a similar assignment, did this song too lol. The specials cross generations!
@Roscoe.P.Coldchain
I was 10 when listening to this, my teacher asked us if we followed current affairs in class and couldn’t understand why a 10 year old kid could tell him more about the sinking of the Belgrano and the war itself..!! Us kids were clever back in 1980 ☮️