News

Terry Hall dies aged 63

1959-2022

By Paul Sinclair

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79

Rest in Peace Terry Hall
The cover of Terry Hall’s 1994 single, Forever J.

Specials singer Terry Hall has died at the age of 63.

The Specials confirmed the news earlier today, tweeting: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing, following a brief illness, of Terry, our beautiful friend, brother and one of the most brilliant singers, songwriters and lyricists this country has ever produced”.

Born in Coventry, Hall enjoyed significant success in the early 1980s with The Specials and Fun Boy Three, racking up numerous top ten singles and two number ones (The Special’s ‘Too Much Too Young’ and ‘Ghost Town’).

Forever J. was the lead single from

Other bands and collaborations followed, including The Colourfield and Vegas (the short-lived album/group with Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart). Hall also co-wrote a number of songs with Ian Broudie for Lightning Seeds’ albums, including ‘Lucky You’ from 1994’s Jollification.

Home and Laugh, the two solo albums issued under his own name, in 1994 and 1997 respectively, are well regarded, although neither produced any hits, despite the quality of the former’s ‘Forever J’.

Hall had toured occasionally with The Specials in the last 15 years or so and was part of the band’s success in 2019 when they topped the UK charts with the Encore album. This was followed up last year with Protest Songs 1924–2012.

Rest in Peace, Terry Tall. Leave your tributes and condolences in the comments.

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79 Comments

79 thoughts on “Terry Hall dies aged 63”

  1. This was just totally heartbreaking and unexpected out of nowhere. I followed Terry Hall from all his groups with the exception of The Specials, and I loved his solo work. I specifically loved his two albums “Home” & “Laugh”. He will be missed.

  2. I’m a massive Specials and 2 Tone fan. Terry was the voice of a generation when l was growing up. Dammers was the brains but Terry was the face. Can’t wait for the new dance craze DVD and CD boxset next March. R. I. P Mr Hall.
    P. S Fun boy 3 Waiting is a fantastic album as is Colourfields Virgins and Philistines.

  4. Very sad news – love the Specials – the majestic ‘Our Lips are Sealed’ is one of my all time favourite songs and was thrilled to finally get my hands on his great solo album ‘Home’ on vinyl when released for RSD a couple of years ago. Now how about a vinyl re-release of The Colourfield album.
    I listened again to his hilarious interview/ appearance on Richard Herring’s ‘RHLSTP’ podcast from 2019 yesterday ( Herring dropped it again this week in tribute) and raised a glass. I highly recommend it – he talks candidly and hilariously about his life and career. One of the most entertaining hours I’ve spent and a lovely way to remember the great man – laconic, droll, witty and of course not one to mince his words (his bits on experiences with 2 tone and Madness, who he dismisses as “that bloody comedy band” are hilarious). RIP.

  5. The main image reminds me that I bought the cassette single of Forever J when it was released in 1994. I have no means of listening to that cassette now. I don’t even think it was a Top 40 hit as good songs had gone out of fashion by the 1990s.

    The Colourfield’s 1985 album Virgins and Philistines is one of my all time favourite albums.

    RIP Sir.

  7. Obviously it’s a shock. I was planning on going to see the Specials who have been playing gigs in Liverpool in the last decade.i should have gone! Soundtrack to my youth. He will be sorely missed.

  8. A truly groundbreaking talent – so very very sad!

    Will The Specials continue now to celebrate his and their shared legacy? At the very least a tribute with Dammers, Staple, Radiation, Dakar, Stewart etc would be a wonderful thing.

    RIP Terry.

  9. I wrote this elsewhere when I first heard the news. I can’t really improve on these words so…

    Another special person leaves us. In the wake of punk the Two Tone phenomenon was perhaps unexpected but was a terrific shot in the arm for so many reasons. I heard the first Specials single on John Peel and grabbed it immediately in that hand-stamped white sleeve with the wonderful label that is up there with the all time greats in terms of artwork.

    I saw the band with the Selector and Madness on that first Two Tone Tour. What a privilege it was to experience that. One of the great gigs.

    The first album when it appeared was such a magical piece of vinyl and it opened up a lot of musical and cultural explorations for me.

    I have a pretty extensive run of 2-Tone singles (there are a few later ones missing) and they were all brilliant.

    Terry of course was not a one-trick pony and he has left a wide variety of material that we can all now have the pleasure of reassessing in the coming days as this sad loss hits home.

    There will be a lot of recordings in more recent years that I will never have heard so that will mean that I will be able to check out the missing pieces of the puzzle.

    So I would like to add my thanks to Terry for his work and offer my sincere condolences to his family and friends.

    So long Terry. The world is a slightly better place for your contribution. And that is a massive compliment.

  10. R.I.P Terry, gone far too soon. His work with The Funboy 3 was really inventive too (and often overshadowed by The Specials), The Colourfield’s Thinking Of You is a beautiful song too.

  11. Terry Hall and Martin Duffy, both far too young.
    I guess most people will know Martin from Primal Scream but he’ll be forever Felt for me. I think the superb “Primitive Painters” was the first one he was involved with.
    And Terry, no-one else sounded like him. More Specials, Waiting and Virgins & Philistines are certainly in my top 100 albums ever.

  12. ‘Brief illness’ is a popular euphemism used for literally every famous person who passes away.Just wish they would be a bit more specific,as few people just die without a prime medical reason/ diagnosis.I notice that whenever somebody famous dies their death it is usually announced without the cause ever being told to us.Getting the real cause of death of some famous people is like getting blood from a stone.Vague phrases all all they ever seem to use!Unless the cause of death really is a complete mystery to everyone why are we rarely told what was the actual cause of death?

    1. In Terry’s case it was an extremely late cancer diagnosis. My best friend went the same way and was dead within three weeks of finding out anything was wrong. Sadly it’s not always months or years of battling. Although like many I am never sure which is better. Both seem shit.

      Although it has to be said I am not sure it has anything to do with any of us. We have no absolute right to know what killed any person, famous or otherwise. (Family and partners excepted). It’s curiosity and little more.

    3. @Ken99
      Might that be because its none of our business?
      These are deeply personal matters for everyone – including people in the public eye & their families. And we should respect their choices.

      1. I disagree. He was a public figure, and part of accepting that is there will be interest in how you die. Much can be learned from thee events. In this case, he was diagnosed late with Pancreatic Cancer. You have much higher survival rates if diagnosed early, and that should be a lesson to us all.

      2. Exactly, whilst it has been confirmed, it is none of our business and really not sure why anyone would be miffed about not being informed of something that is private.

      3. Although I agree it should be up to the family whether details go live it sadly isn’t particularly in the UK media industry. The likes of the utterly contemptible Mail for example will publish anything as clickbait. The only times articles tend to totally ignore the actual reasons seem to involve young people (especially in sports) dying prematurely. I’m not one for conspiracy theories but it doesn’t take a genius to see something being clearly glossed over there…

    4. It’s actually nobody else’s business, Ken99. What difference does it make to you personally by knowing the cause of death? Your ‘post’ is rather nasty considering the circumstances.

    5. Hmmm, this is a strange post, slightly sad, somewhat morbid. I could understand your ‘curiosity’ if these musicians were under 50 but the older we get, the more likely an illness will be the cause.

    6. Although I personally feel it a none of anyone’s business how Terry passed apart from his loved ones, if his family released this information in the hope of preventing anyone else suffering, and raising the profile of what to look out for that is a decision i have the utmost respect for.
      I was very shocked when I heard the news; he was a very important part of my teenage years and his songs were very socially relevant and still are today. RIP.

    7. It is the families’ decision alone. No one has a right to demand anything from them. Everyone is entitled to privacy, especially in times of grief. The attitude of social media entitlement in which we sadly live in these days infuriates me. Respect the departed and the families wishes.

    8. It’s not yours, or mine or anyone else’s business outside of family and friends. I hate this ghoulish sense of entitlement that we have a right to know the personal details of the people whose art we love and admire. I still see Bowie fans online complaining that we don’t know the exact details of his passing and we don’t even know the type of cancer he suffered from outside of a disputed and unconfirmed comment from the director of the play he was involved in. The fact that Bowie’s family friends and colleagues still refuse to disclose any more than already stated simply increases my admiration and respect for them

  13. Shocked and gutted, Terry Hall was part of the soundtrack to my youth, a great singer, front man, icon & central to the whole two-tone movement. I became a massive fan the day my sister bought the Too Much Too Young EP and have been ever since.
    He also wrote some fantastic songs and although I didn’t get to see The Specials in the 79 – 81 period, I did catch them on the first reunion tour & even without Dammers, they were fantastic.
    This is a really sad loss and I feel for his family and friends.
    RIP Terry

  14. This is sad news indeed. RIP Terry. Condolences to his friends and family …………..and on another sad note…………

    Kim Simmonds (Savoy Brown) passed last week on 13 Dec. One of the best English blues players.
    RIP Kim – you will deeply missed.

  15. “Sense” from his solo album is as good as the earlier version with Lightning seeds and is a constant earworm for me. Very sad hearing of Terry’s death.

  17. Truly gutted to read this very sad news about Terry Hall’s passing. The Specials were a cornerstone band of my formative music years and were on my turntable constantly. “Sock it to em TH” RIP !

  18. The Specials and Fun Boy Three were part of my youth but as much as I enjoyed “Gangsters”, “A Message to you Rudy” or “Ghost Town”, what really drew me to Terry Hall was The Colour Field’s first album, released in 1985 : definitely a thing of beauty that has stood the test of time, it is one of my all-time favourite records.
    RIP Terry.

  19. I was 12 years old when the Too Much Too Young ep came out, what a soundtrack my youth had, everything about The Specials was amazing, the songs, image, artwork, T shirts, saw The Specials at Kingston a few years back, they mainly played covers, they did my favourite Do Nothing, went with my mates from school in Slough, amazing night, so sad to hear the news of Terry Hall passing, he was simply brilliant.

  21. So sad hearing this news today. It seems to be a really upsetting year for music fans born of a certain age. Terry Hall and Andy Fletcher’s passing earlier this year are particularly sad for me. From now on whenever I hear a Two Tone or Ska song, let alone The Specials, I shall feel a sharp pain in my heart as I remember that Terry Hall is no longer with us. Thank you for all the great music, we are all going to miss you so very much. RIP Terry.

  22. Always sad to see artists from our youth pass away…

    Sadly, not covered by the media, In recent times we have also lost Manuel Gottsching an ambient genius from Ashra and Mark Shreve from Redshift…both amazing in their field.
    Thank you for your music
    RIP

  23. Stop your messing around
    Better think of your future
    Time you straightened right out
    Creating problems in town
    Rudy, a message to you
    Rudy, a message to you

    Singing this fantastic tune the whole day. I followed them when I was nearly 20 years old.
    Such tragic news; thanks for the music Terry!!
    RIP

  24. This is so sad. Ghost town is a work of genius.

    Another bad news: Martin Duffy, who played keyboards in Felt and Primal Scream, died today. He was an integral part of the sound of these two great bands.

  26. As has been the case for everyone the news was a real shock, and another pang of regret as The Specials were a band that I always intended to go and see but for a plethora of reasons the dates never coincided with me being free. I wish I’d made the effort to travel a bit further afield now, but hindsight is 20/20 of course. So today’s lesson is, go and see those bands you want to see while you can, as you never know when it’ll be too late.

  27. I think it was Paul Morley that said “ the cultural wave that has sustained us for 60 marvellous years is coming to an end “ chiefly because the main protagonists are coming to an end . This is another star in heaven going out . Rip TH

  28. Too Much Too Young and Rat Race hurt they were so good. And whilst it was Dammers who crafted much of the material, Terry took possession of each track with his wonderfully tuneful deadpan delivery. He never lost his ear for melody and I can’t recommend the various career retrospectives enough. The album Laugh distils his abilities and range as well as anything he did. Such a loss.

  31. This time of the year is made all the more poignant, particularly around the New Year when one reflects upon the year that has passed. Losing my sister suddenly in January. Someone who had very similar music tastes as myself. We were going to see Nick Mason in March and we had been talking about it the day before she passed. Then we lose Vangelis and Christine McVie, two artists she loved. Had seen Fleetwood Mac as her”bucket list” earlier in 2021 I think. Julie Cruise and Angelo Badalamenti are two more I can think of. Now Terry Hall. Not someone I listened to, but The Specials were part of my youth. I dread to think who we may lose in 2023, but as quite a few of my musical favorites are getting closer to their eighties you do start to ponder. And don’t forget all the film and TV “stars” we’ve lost as well. On that cheery note, to Paul and all SDE fans, have a great Christmas and a good 2023!

  33. For me, the second worst part about losing someone is the realization that when they were there, you didn’t appreciate them (as much as you should have at least). This goes not only for those close to you but also far, like Mr Hall.

    In the past 24h, I have listened to his music in various bands/solo projects and can’t help but admire his voice, again. In my childhood, I lumped his music with the likes of Madness but there was far more to him than just The Specials and FB3.

    As someone on this forum implied, death is closer than you think; or like or want.

  34. Such a loss. I loved all his projects, especially Colourfield. I was thrilled to finally see him live in June 2019 with The Specials in Philadelphia. Way too soon…

  35. Such sad news, but what wonderful music and memories are left with us. I was just hitting my teens as the 2 Tone movement swept the country and like many, the music, politics and social stance played a huge part in shaping the man I am today. Was lucky to catch numerous shows on the reunion tours and was blown away by their energy and vitality 30 years later on. Love and peace to his family, friends, bandmates and fans.

  36. I hated “Thinking of You” when it came out in 1985 (I was a dumbass), but over time it became and continues to be among my all-time favorite songs. It sounds fresh, breezy, optimistic, and colorful. Just like good friendship and good love are.
    Thank you for the music, Terry.

  38. From leaving school in ‘79 up to Christmas ‘22 you have soundtracked my life Terry, and if I can’t hear anything new from you again, please know that me and the world have your gloriously magnificent and wide ranging back catalogue to play loud and with a glass raised will always remember you well. Much love to your family and friends and to you Terry, until we meet again, thank you and goodnight. You did well x

  39. I was never a fan really but cannot deny how important he was in music back then, he seemed to be everywhere for awhile and consequently a big part of music culture even for those like me whose tastes lay elsewhere.

    I hate 2022. Still reeling from the loss of Vangelis. We seem to be at a point in which so many musicians, actors etc that were so important to so many seem to be leaving us.

  40. Very sad loss. Terry will be much missed. A true Ska and British icon of music. RIP Terry. Also just heard the awful news that Martin Duffy of Primal Scream has also just passed away. RIP Duffy. Another one who will be sadly missed

  43. Can’t say anything, just read it here.
    I’m shocked.

    A friend of mine, also a huge Terry Hall-fan, died three years ago. The 1st thing I had to think of.

  45. Sad news indeed. The Specials and 2 Tone was the first music “scene” I got into at the trender age of 10. Friday Night/Saturday Morning remains one of my favourite songs. Looking forward even more now to seeing Dance Craze when it finally gets a reissue next year. RIP.

  47. Laugh – Sonny and his Sister. It’s going to get a hammering today.

    What a man. I heard an interview with him a couple of years back on Radio 5 talking about his depression and it’s causes. And to still rise up and accomplish everything he did was the real measure. RIP Terry and thanks for everything.

  48. I’m afraid I missed the Specials at the dawn of their career; I was just too far deep in rural Ohio for their music to find me.  Fantastically, decades later, my son fell in love with them as a teenager, just in time for the two of us to see them on their 2013 tour.  They played The Warfield in San Francisco in March of 2013 and the two of us stood together on the packed floor, dancing along with the rest of the rapturous crowd. 

    There was a moment in the show where Terry’s eyes clocked my kid dancing his heart out and locked onto him.  A moment later, my son realized it was happening and began to excitedly shout out to him.  Terry, bless him, stood absolutely stock still, stone-faced as the music roared behind him.  Then, at the very last moment before he turned his head back to sing, he gave my kid the tiniest nod and wink and it absolutely lit him up.  It was such a tiny gesture but it meant the world to a 14 year-old kid who’d just discovered ska and The Specials.  

    God rest your kind soul, Mr. Hall, our family sends their love.  

    2. I was at that show at The Warfield. Had been a fan since middle school in the mid-80s. Spent many hours listening to his music and collected everything he did. Had seen various versions of the Specials in the 90s onwards but was super stoked to see Terry perform live with them. I don’t think he had played in the US since touring for Waiting. It was surreal. Saw him again in 2019 in Seattle which was also great. He was really getting into the music and played a bit of keyboards. Was really sad to hear the news. Horace Panter posted some background info on his illness and how they had planned to record another album. RIP Terry.

  49. I was a bit too young for the Specials, but I did buy Ghost Town when it was cheap and ex-chart. I adored Fun Boy Three, both of their albums are superb, especially Waiting. The Colourfield, great, Terry, Blair & Anouchka, great, Vegas, pretty good and solo – his version of Sense co-written with the Lightning Seeds’ Ian Broudie is one of the most joyous musical sounds I’ve ever heard.

    What a total shock, much too young. But what a fantastic musical legacy he leaves behind.

    I hope the long promised overhaul of the Fun Boy Three albums appear next year as a fitting tribute.

  51. Just woken up to this awful news – i thought Prince was hard but this…. I want to thank Terry for being totally responsible for formulating my musical ideologies at the age of 13, and which have stayed with me to this day. Terry – you will be sadly missed. And thank you for the memories you leave me with – Specials at Finsbury Rainbow in May 81 (just before they split), seeing the Colour Field on the Sunday night at Glastonbury in 85 and the Monday night at Hammersmith Palais, and thankfully driving up to Coventry from Kent in summer 2021 to see Terry perform solo at the cathedral – an amazing night. Thank you again Terry!

  52. Woke up to a message from a friend announcing this. Really has saddened my day (he was only five years older than me!).

    I’m almost as saddened as I was by the loss of Bowie. 
    Bowie had a career before I got into music but The Specials started out just as my love of music was getting started and I’ve followed his career ever since. 

    Lesser-known albums I would recommend :
    – Vegas – the one-off collaboration with Dave Stewart mentioned above
    – Terry, Blair and Anoushka – also a one-off collaboration
    – Laugh and Home – his excellent bitter-sweet solo albums
    I never quite ‘got’ FB3 or The Colourfield but I guess now is the time to reinvestigate their albums.

    Was really hoping for more work from him either Solo or another collaboration.

    Oh I this quote from an online article :
    Apparently he was spotted by The Specials’ Jerry Dammers, who recruited him as a frontman by deploying a terrible pun.
    “He worked in a stamp shop” the musician told Mojo magazine. “I told him, Philately will get you nowhere'”

  54. Such sad news to wake up to this morning. The Specials and Fun Boy Three will inevitably loom large in the tributes, but fans will know he deserved so much more credit for his solo work. Home in particular is such a lush album; it reaffirmed his long-lasting talent on a crowded field at the height of Britpop.

    He was always a great collaborator, too, with musical partners as eclectic as e.g. Mushtaq, Tricky, Andy Partridge and Ian Broudie. Always exploring, seeking new routes of expression. His innate love of pop music is written all over his delightful cover of Todd Rundgren’s I Saw The Light, and for a sheer, giddy rush No, No No is hard to beat – four joyous minutes entirely at odds with that dour, protective public persona. What a rich, varied body of work he leaves us with.

    RIP Terry. Summer follows spring.

  55. This one hits close to home – as an 11 year old in 1981 from the midlands the 2 tone movement hit my playground like a tsunami following top of the pops – Harringtons and Doc Martens everywhere along with skin head hair cuts – I really didn’t appreciate the brilliance of the music then and assumed records like Ghost Town would always be Number One – how naive I was
    I finally saw the specials on the 2013 reunion tour and they were brilliant
    RIP Terry – a true music icon – and reading his tragic childhood experiences a true example of overcoming terrible trauma to create true art and make a lasting impression on the world

  56. I find this news so very very sad. People of a certain age can’t think of the early 80’s without seeing and hearing Terry Hall. A wonderful songwriter with a knack for producing killer hooks and memorable harmonies. The Lunatics (Have Taken Over The Asylum), Tunnel Of Love, Our Lips Are Sealed, Thinking Of You all absolute gems. He gave Sara Dallin, Keren Woodward and Siobhan Fahey their big break and I imagine it’ll be a very sad day for them, as it will be for so many others his life and music touched. Gone too young Terry but rest in peace knowing you did good.

  57. Such shitty news. Loved his music and message. The soundtrack to so much of my life. 63 is way too early to pass on! Rest easy young man, they broke the mold.

  58. So sad to hear about Terry’s passing, he was a singular and irreplaceable talent. Few people can span so many genres with so much quality all the way through. RIP. Thinking Of You, Terry

  59. Enjoy yourself….it’s later than you think.

    Very sad news. It is the time of year when we will shortly be reminded of all famous folk that have died this year.

    63 years young only. Thank you for all that music you left us terry. Thank you, sir.

  60. 63, no age. Loved so much of Terry’s stuff. Thinking of You and Our Lips Are Sealed are two of my all time favourite songs. His solo albums were criminally ignored, but I was lucky enough to see him play The Duchess in Leeds in 1994 where he played a great mix of songs with a terrific backing band. Brilliant gig. And of course the singer in The Specials. An iconic band with an iconic front man. RIP
    Martin Carritt
    Bradford

  61. Admittedly I’m not the most well versed in Terry’s music. That said his version of Dream a Little Dream (with Salad) is an all time fave! As well as of course Ghost Town and various collabs w Junkie XL and Sinead O’Connor. So sad he was so young and a terrible loss for the music community. My thoughts go out to his family band mates and friends.

  62. When i was 15 , three great albums came out in three months – The Specials, Setting Sons, London Calling.
    The start of my record collection

    … RIP Terry

  63. Damn I’m gutted, he was a big loss to me…huge fan of his work…Specials, Colourfield, Fun Boy Three, solo…such a brilliant artist he was…happy to have seen the Specials live in a rare show a few years ago supporting “Encore”…RIP Terry…he will be missed…

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