Best known as singer, toaster and composer with The Specials, and as one of the founding members of Fun Boy 3, Neville Staple is credited with changing the face of pop music not only once but twice.
Catch his show these days, and you’ll get a mix of old favourites from The Specials/Fun Boy three back catalogue plus choice solo releases.
Neville’s first involvement with The Specials was when they were still called The Coventry Automatics. He initially joined as their roadie but at a gig supporting The Clash, Neville took to the stage and never looked back. For a while, The Clash’s manager Bernard Rhodes managed The Specials. Neville used to toast of Bernie, “Bernie Rhodes knows. Don’t argue” at the beginning of the Specials hit single “Gangsters”.
When The Specials split up, Neville departed with Terry Hall and Lynval Golding, to form Fun Boy Three. They had a string of chart hits, some in collaboration with the all- female trio Bananarama.
It was officially confirmed on the 7 April 2008 that the Specials were to reform, and on the 6 September 2008, six members of the band performed on the Main Stage at the Bestival billed as the ‘Surprise Act’. By December 2008, the band had announced 2009 tour dates to celebrate their 30th anniversary. Throughout 2010 the band played many festival dates and toured the USA in the early autumn. After which Neville returned to the UK with a string of dates with his own incredibly tight band. 2011 saw Neville play various festivals including Glastonbury and Beatherder, also supporting Madness.
Neville’s autobiography, THE ORIGINAL RUDE BOY, was published by Aurum Press in the UK in May 2009.
Websites
www.nevillestaple.co.uk
www.myspace.com/nevillestaplefromthespecials
www.facebook.com/nevillestaplefromthespecials
