The Specials’ English ska band’s main vocalist Terry Hall went dead at the age of 63. The band sent a message on social media announcing his passing. According to reports, the singer passed away after a mysteriously brief illness. He was referred to as one of “the kindest, funniest, and most genuine of souls” in the band’s statement.
The Specials sent a sorrowful statement on social media regarding Terry Hall’s passing, reading, “Terry was a wonderful husband and father and one of the kindest, funniest, and most genuine of souls. His music and his performances encapsulated the very essence of life… the joy, the pain, the humour, the fight for justice, but mostly the love.” The Specials were known for their famous tracks such as Ghost Town and Gangsters. The popular British band was formed in 1977.
About Terry Hall
Terry Hall was born on March 19, 1959, in Coventry, England. After being abducted by a teacher when he was 12 years old, Hall developed depression at a young age. According to BBC, the musician discussed the same topic when he spoke with The Spectator in 2019 and said, “II was abducted, taken to France and sexually abused for four days.” Hall claimed that the incident caused him to experience chronic depression and that it also contributed to his decision to leave school at the age of 14 and develop a Valium addiction. Later, Hall joined the local punk group Squad, where he also gained his first composition credit.
Together with fellow Specials musicians Lynval Golding and Neville Staple, Hall founded Fun Boy Three. The band cooperated with other bands like Bananarama and experienced considerable success. Later, the singer formed a second band called the Colourfield, which in 1984 had a big hit with the song Thinking of You. Hall rose to fame as a result of his partnerships; he has collaborated with Lily Allen and Blur’s Damon Albarn. He collaborated with Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, with whom he created the band Vegas in 1992.
Hall was open about his struggles with mental illness. According to The Guardian, the musician expressed his want to share his experience, saying, “Talking about mental health problems is a conscious decision. It’s something I want to share with people. The stigma is difficult, but so many people have been affected in the last year, especially, so if you’ve got knowledge or history, it is good to talk to people going through it. Not to tell them what to do, but to suggest a way to calmer living. It can be done.”
