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Two Tone Britain

31 replies

Marina · 30/11/2004 09:18

Did anyone else in the more mature Mumsnet line watch this in a glow of nostalgia last night? I had forgotten how really excellent The Specials were live (The Beat were the band I liked best on record). And seeing Desmond Tutu and the great man himself grooving along to Free Nelson Mandela at the end reminded me forcefully and happily that in my lifetime apartheid bit the dust! V interesting documentary all round I thought. Used to work at the same college as Gilroy, he's still as eloquent and hunky as ever

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moondog · 30/11/2004 09:25

Oh God yes yes yes!!!
Bore people senseless by constantly playing 'Mirror in the Bathroom' when a bit over excited.
Fond memories of lurching around the Student Union
with my 10th pint in hand grooving away to 'Free Nelson Mandela' with some guys from Zimbabwe and thinking I was so cutting edge and 'aware'!! (Cringe!)
Wish I'd seen it but not in UK. Noone seems to do a retrospective thing on that like they have on everything else (eg disco and eeeezeee listening) do they?
Maybe they will very soon..

motherinferior · 30/11/2004 09:45

Bugger. Missed it.

I could have lurched all night...and frequently did, I seem to remember.

Davros · 30/11/2004 12:52

I loved Madness and used to go and see them all over London (yes, the Dublin Castle etc). And LOADS of other 2-tone/ska gigs (and everything else under the sun!). However, I thought the Specials were po-faced and took themselves tooooo seriously. Didn't see programme, can't handle nostalgia too much, makes me feel unsettled!

suzywong · 30/11/2004 12:55

Me and Dh were gutted we missed this

CathB · 30/11/2004 14:43

Happy days (for me if not society at large) ! I have taped it for tonight. School blazer covered in badges, aspirations of a black and white mini skirt. . I particularly loved the Beat, too nice to talk to, the doors of your heart etc. They were on VH1 a few weeks ago in bands reunited, 4/6 were reunited - the cannibal contingent could not be contacted. Also Madness, Specials

I remeber Ghost Town being no 1 when there were riots going on. I get the feeling we are less angry about things now, but perhaps my age is catching up with me.

spacemonkey · 30/11/2004 14:44

bugger, I missed it

the specials were my favourite, I still love them even now

Davros · 30/11/2004 20:54

There was a great band called Long Tall Shorty and the Vipers (crap) and the Q-tips (more soul than 2-tone). I was well out of my school blazer by then but mine had been ripped up and had London's Burning With Boredom painted on the back

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Marina · 30/11/2004 21:00

Oh I liked the Q Tips too Davros...
I'd like to have seen that Beat programme CathB, Dave Wakeling was a bit prominent in his absence from last night's programme. Ranking Roger was there though - and the wonderful Rico from The Specials.

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Marina · 30/11/2004 21:01

So while we're on the subject of tours, anyone see the Live Stiffs with Wreckless Eric, Rachel Sweet and Jona Lewie (he was crap but the other two were good...)

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CathB · 01/12/2004 12:44

Dave Wakeling is apparently working as a musician in Los Angeles and seems to be wearing well (I had such a crush on him....). Rankin Roger now teaches in line skating back in Birmingham. The programme said that it was Dave Wakeling's sudden decision to leave (accompanied by Rankin Roger) that lead to the break up, possibly there is still ill feeling. Lead singer's disease as DH would say.

Very impressed with your cred blazer Davros!

Thomcat · 01/12/2004 12:47

It was great wasn't it.

DingWongMerrilyOnHigh · 01/12/2004 12:50

I'm surprised the Canibal Contingent could not be contacted from the Beat. They are now producers and have worked with the Reverend Al Green.

Slight tangent, but Roland from FYC hangs about Holloway Road.

MariNativityPlay · 01/12/2004 12:50

Doing WHAT, Suzy? The mind boggles.

hester · 01/12/2004 13:08

OH, I'm so upset I missed it. How funny to think that MNetters may have been at the same gigs. I used to follow the Specials all around, wearing a trilby (cringe). Lynval (was that his name? old age playing tricks on my memory) was always very sweet to us - this little multiracial gang of schoolgirls - and sometimes invited us backstage. And I got to kiss Rankin' Roger once...

Can't say they were happy days, because I was the world's most miserable teen, but Two Tone was a high spot.

MariNativityPlay · 01/12/2004 13:09

You got to kiss Roger? And you say your teen years were miserable

DingWongMerrilyOnHigh · 01/12/2004 13:14

I've had Terry Hall in the back of my cab a number of times, nice bloke but looks miserable as sin constantly.

Roland just loitering really, probably minding his own business, but I used to see him all the time

hester · 01/12/2004 13:35

Ah MNP, you've either got it or you haven't...

He was LOVELY, wasn't he? Almost put 'is', then realised he's probably decrepit and warty by now. And then realised that he'd probably think the same of me...

MariNativityPlay · 01/12/2004 13:41

He looks as fit as ever if the telly is to be believed Hester, and he's still got that warm lovely West Mids accent...

spacedonkey · 01/12/2004 13:44

Gosh Hester, how cool were you?!

I had a pair of red and white loafers and a red harrington jacket. The Specials were the greatest.

hester · 01/12/2004 14:34

Sta-prest trousers with side zip, loafers, two-tone frock coat, lilac braces, button-down shirt and trilby, and a black best friend. I can't tell you how often we nearly or actually got bashed by skinhead girls (and that was the downside, wasn't it - that awful violence and racism at the gigs).

Anyone remember The Selecter? I used to think the lead singer (Rhona? Rhoda?) was the ultimate in cool, but I've met her a couple of times over the last decade and... she isn't any more.

CathB2 · 01/12/2004 14:35

Perhaps the FYCs could not so much be not contacted as refused to be doorstepped or involved in any way.

Its true Rankin' Roger is still looking good.

pamina3 · 01/12/2004 14:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DingWongMerrilyOnHigh · 01/12/2004 14:37

Pauline Black I think was the singer from Selecter

hester · 01/12/2004 14:39

Oh yes! I meant the other ones, girl band. Sang 'The Boiler'?

Pauline Black's still looking pretty good, isn't she? Always was very pretty.

MariNativityPlay · 01/12/2004 14:40

I thought Pauline Black looked VERY good too Hester. It was Rhoda Dhakar and I had erased her band from my mind, they were awful!