Terry Hall dead latest: Cause of death revealed as fans of The Specials all say the same thing
THE Specials' lead singer Terry Hall has been remembered for his "remarkable music" following his death at the age of 63 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Hall’s bandmate Horace Panter took to Facebook to reveal the cause of the Ska icon’s death, as he hailed his "unique voice."
The post claims the singer had wanted to keep his illness a secret before he passed away on Sunday evening.
In a poignant tribute, one fan wrote: “One of THE greatest British music artists. An iconic and utterly individual frontman with THAT voice . This cuts so hard.”
A second said: ''Terry Hall was the voice of a musical revolution. Such an important person in music. I own so many records featuring him. I am really upset to hear he’s left us. Going to listen to Man at C&A now. RIP Sir. Thank you for the music.''
Read our Terry Hall live blog below for the latest tributes...
Amy Winehouse and the Specials performed together
At V Festival in 2009, two of Britain’s most iconic acts performed together.
Amy Winehouse and Terry Hall’s The Specials played a legendary rendition of their hit song Ghost Town.
Terry Hall on The Specials’ many band members
In more than 40 years of The Specials, Wikipedia lists 31 different members of the band.
In 2019 three of the original seven bandmates were still in the group, so were these the only ones who got along?
Speaking with NME, Terry Hall said: “That wasn’t the idea. It just so happens that people have dropped off and they want to go and do their own thing.
“But the three of us sort of do get on and I think, musically, we share a lot, really, and there are certain members who don’t fit into that for whatever reason.
“But no, it just happened to be, I’d say, the three most talented and attractive members left.”
Credit: Getty Later With... Jools Holland remembers 'defining voice' of Terry Hall
Later... With Jools Holland posted a tribute to Terry Hall along with a link to The Specials' performance on the BBC's flagship music programme in 2009.
The show's official account tweeted: "We're deeply sad to hear about the passing of Terry Hall, @thespecials iconic frontman.
"A defining voice of Two Tone and Ska, here we remember him on the show in 2009: //bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0dqkd78"
Terry Hall on Specials rivalry with Madness
In the late 1970s and early ’80s The Specials and Madness were on the same record label, 2-Tone, as well as being fierce adversaries.
Speaking with NME in 2019 after the release of their chart-topping third album Encore, Hall said: “I always liked the bit of rivalry between us and Madness, it always felt quite good.”
When asked who came out on top, Terry joked: “We got to Number One with ‘Ghost Town’, they got a Number One with a comedy record…”
Terry Hall’s last song
A song co-written by Terry Hall and Ian Broudie was The Specials frontman’s last recorded song.
The song, Emily Smiles, was released in October and featured on The Lightening Seeds’ latest album See You in the Stars.
The lyrics embody much of what Hall stood for: “Just reaching out, are you OK?/Time is tight, life’s a fight/Now’s the time, get it right/People laughing, people crying/Can’t you see we’re really trying?/So goodbye to sorrow… Say hello to tomorrow.”
Who was Terry Hall’s wife Lindy Heymann?
Terry Hall was married twice during his life time, with his second wife being Lindy Heymann.
She is known for being an award-winning British director.
Lindy studied at Central St Martins, and after graduating with a BA in Fine Art Film, she went on to pursue a career directing music videos.
In 2002 she won a British Independent Film Award (BIFA) for Best Directorial Debut for her feature film debut Showboy, and is also known for The Laughing King (2016), and Kicks (2009).
How Terry Hall and The Specials came to be
Terry Hall revealed the creation of The Specials was seemingly accidental.
: “When I saw the Pistols and The Clash I realised it didn’t seem that difficult.
“They didn’t seem like they could play very well either, so the thing was to form a band then work it out.
“We didn’t even know who was going to play what – we passed around all the instruments until we found what we were comfortable with. I wasn’t comfortable with any of them so I became the singer.”
Manchester United pay tribute to Terry Hall
Manchester United have paid tribute to Terry Hall during their game against Burnley yesterday evening.
A round of applause dedicated to Terry was given by fans and Fun Boy Three’s We’re Having All the Fun, which features the lyric ‘I live in a flat, I like Manchester United’ was played.
Terry was reported to be a devoted fan of Manchester United.
Tributes continue to flood social media as fans remember The Specials Star
Since the news of Terry Halls passing on Sunday evening, fans have flooded social media with heartfelt tributes.
This evening, one wrote: ”R.I.P. Terry Hall. A complete talent who translated a unique delivery into vocal gold.”
A second said: ”rest in peace Terry Hall The Specials has and always will have a place in my heart. no one does it like them.”
A third added: ”Amid the grief for Terry Hall, I’m reminded how endlessly proud I am that Cov’s biggest musical export is one of diversity, equality, racial harmony and protest.
”What a legacy, what a voice. Thanks for everything Terry.”
Terry Hall: 'If you're suffering... tell people'
Terry Hall was a patron of mental health charity Tonic Music For Mental Health.
Hall shared his advice on what you should do if you are experiencing mental health problems on the charity's website: “If you’re suffering, then it is incredibly important to tell people… family, friends, doctors, [mental health charity] Tonic!
"Tell them to check on you always. Share your health issues, they aren’t problems. Most of all, stay safe [and] stay secure. We’ll get there!”
Terry Hall opens up about mental illness
In 2019 Terry Hall spoke with Mary Anne Hobbs on BBC Radio 6 Music about his mental health struggles.
Hall said: “I didn’t realise I was spending the first 50 years of my life in this bubble called depression, and people told me about it but I had no idea what I was doing.
“And then 10 years ago I had to get attention because of an incident and I found a doctor and she’s got me out of this bubble and said, ‘You know, you’ve got an illness but we can deal with it.’
“And so the last at least five years have been unbelievably brilliant and [I’ve been] appreciating things on a different level which I never thought I would.
“Like, really simple things. On the way here, I saw a folding bike and that has made my day – that you can fold a bike to that size. It’s like origami. If I get one thing like that every day then I’m so happy. So happy.”
Credit: PA Terry Hall: Musical & mental health trailblazer
As well as being lead singer of The Specials, Terry Hall was also a campaigner for mental health issues, having suffered from bipolar disorder.
Over the last few years Specials performances would have stalls set up in the foyer so audience members could go and talk about any issues they were experiencing.
Hall was a patron of the charity that ran the stalls: Tonic Music For Mental Health (Tonic).
Founder and chief executive of Tonic, Steph Langan, said: “At Specials gigs we would have older skinhead men crying and opening up, and that was quite incredible because we were able to reach people that we wouldn’t otherwise have been able to reach.
“A lot of fans of The Specials are men of a certain age who probably have never really opened up about their mental health before.”
She added: “Terry was incredibly brave to be so open and honest about these things.
“He never shied away from talking to anyone about it.”
What is The Special’s latest release?
The Special’s most recent album came in 2021.
Named Protest Songs 1924-2012, it was described as “a typically unpredictable collection of unique takes from folk to post-punk, righteous uplift to biting satire, and from Kingston to Alabama”.
The project was originally set to release in 2020, but was put on hold due to Covid-19.
Watch Barmy Army trumpeter play haunting rendition of Ghost Town
While England were making short work of their second innings run chase against Pakistan in the National Stadium, up high in the stands the Barmy Army trumpeter played a haunting rendition of The Specials’ Ghost Town in memory of Terry Hall.
Hall sadly passed away on Sunday aged 63.
England’s Barmy Army tweeted: “RIP Terry Hall [heart emoji]”
Madness pays tribute to Terry Hall
Ska pioneers Madness have paid tribute to Terry Hall, calling his passing ‘a terrible loss’.
Hall passed away on Sunday aged 63 following a battle with Pancreatic cancer.
The band tweeted: "A terrible loss to all of us, way too young, RIP Terry Hall"
There wouldn’t be a Coventry Music Museum without The Specials
The Specials are so ingrained in Coventry’s musical heritage that there wouldn’t be a Coventry Music Museum without them, an expert has claimed.
Pete Chambers from Coventry Music Museum said: "There wouldn't be a Coventry Music Museum if we didn't have The Specials and the Two Tone movement in the city.
"The Two Tone movement really resonated and still does to this day and Terry was a huge part of that."
Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart remembers ‘great friend’ Terry Hall
Dave Stewart, who along with Annie Lennox made up the synth pop duo Eurythmics, paid tribute to his ‘great friend and collaborator’ Terry Hall.
Following a battle with Pancreatic cancer, Hall passed away on Sunday aged 63.
Stewart Tweeted: "R.I.P. Terry Hall a brilliant mind who shined his light on so many , a great friend and collaborator #thespecials"
Lord Mayor of Coventry hails ‘true Coventrian’ Terry Hall
Coventry's Lord Mayor Councillor Kevin Maton paid tribute to Terry Hall, calling him a “true Coventrian”.
Maton said: "Not only was he a talented songwriter and inspiring performer who undertook a number of musical projects, he was a leading light for many in the fight for equality and justice."
Hall passed away on Sunday aged 63 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
The Proclaimers honour ‘brilliant’ Terry Hall
Scottish rock duo twins The Proclaimers have posted a message honouring the "profound humanity" of Terry Hall, who died on Sunday aged 63.
They tweeted: "Terry Hall RIP"
"A quite brilliant, singer, songwriter and lyricist with profound humanity."
Coventry’s special tributes to Terry Hall
A number of tributes have been paid to ska legend Terry Hall in Coventry, where he was born and raised.
There have also been calls for a permanent memorial to Hall in his hometown.
On the city’s ring road, overhead gantries were altered to read: “Too much, too young, RIP Terry Hall".
Lit-up signage outside the HMV Empire music venue was adorned with the message: “Thank you for the memories. Terry Hall. Love love love.”
HMV Empire manager Phil Rooney said: "Terry was a very important part of Coventry's music history, world music history possibly.
"I think we genuinely need to have a Specials day in Coventry; they have one in LA."
Damon Albarn remembers late friend Terry Hall with musical tribute
Blur and Gorillaz legend Damon Albarn posted a video of himself playing piano to the Specials’ Friday Night, Saturday Morning.
Hall passed away on Sunday aged 63 following a battle with Pancreatic cancer.
Albarn tweeted: “Terry, you meant the world to me.
“I love you.”
Read Horace Panter’s full statement on Terry Hall’s illness and passing
The Specials’ bassist Horace Panter released a statement on social media explaining the circumstances surrounding Terry Hall’s illness and death.
Read the full statement below:
“The Specials. Terry. This is what happened.
“We had it all planned out. Make the album we were going to do in 2020 – a reggae album.
“Record in Los Angeles in November. We had the studio booked, flights paid for, accommodation sorted. Roger Rivas from The Agrolites was going to co-produce.
";Shepard Fairey was going to do the cover. Lynval, still recovering from his spinal surgery earlier in the year, was over in the UK and raring to go.
"Terry had the framework for 8 tunes. Confidence was high. We were set to meet up with Nikolaj and make magic. This was in September.
"Terry e-mails everyone and says he’s in bed with a stomach bug and can’t do the first week of pre-production sessions. No big deal, we can knock everything back a week.
"We’re not due to fly out until November 4th. The next week, Terry is no better and is in hospital.
"There’s not much we can do except wait for him to get better. Sunday October 2nd and I get a phone call from Manager Steve.
"And everything turns to s***.
"Terry’s illness is a lot worse than we thought.
"He has been diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas which has spread to his liver.
"This is serious. Like life-threatening serious.
"He has developed diabetes due to his pancreas being attacked. This has to be treated first, then it’s a regime of chemotherapy.
"There is nothing anyone can do. Everything is put on hold.
"Terry is emphatic that no-one be told about this. If anyone asks, he’s managing his diabetes.
The chemo treatment starts favourably but it seems that it would be March 2023 at the earliest before we’d be in any position to work.
"He is in and out of hospital to stabilise the diabetes issue and also to manage pain.
"It then goes quiet.
"Beginning of December and reports are not good. Terry has lost a lot of weight and is very frail. His friend Ian Broudie visits and phones Manager Steve. He fears that Terry is slipping away.
"15th December and Manager Steve drives up to London to visit. He calls me on his return journey and says things are not looking promising. Terry is dying. The next day he is put on morphine and is more-or-less unconscious for most of the time.
"I thought it would be best for me to go and visit but Lindy, his wife, advises against it. She has held her phone to Terry’s ear so that his sisters and Lynval can say their goodbyes. She suggests I do the same. So, I did. It was tough.
"Terry died around half past 5 the next evening, Sunday 18th December.
"The world has lost a unique voice and I have lost a good friend.
"Horace.”
Timmy Mallett shares 1985 Terry Hall tape
TV presenter, broadcaster, artist and musician Timmy Mallett shared a recording from 1985 of Terry Hall on Piccadilly Radio talking about his favourite hits and inspirations.
Mallett Tweeted: "Hidden in loft is tape from 1985 of Terry Hall presenting his personal favourite hits & sharing inspirations on Piccadilly Radio.
"I'm taken back to the two of us together in my studio & his revelations Listen to nearly 2 hours of Terry unheard since... //mixcloud.com/TimmyMallett/terry-hall-easter-special-piccadilly-radio-tx-8th-april-1985-tx-2100-2300/"
Twitter flooded with images of Terry Hall as fans remember The Specials star
In the wake of Terry Hall’s passing, fans of the musical legend have flooded Twitter with snaps and videos as they remember his life.
Alongside a picture of the late star, one fan wrote: ”Terry Hall, a man of few words verbally but so many great words in song. I always admired and envied his sweep of the pen. Take care on the steps above young man.”
A second said: ”Terry Hall was the voice of a musical revolution. Such an important person in music. I own so many records featuring him. I am really upset to hear he’s left us. Going to listen to Man at C&A now. RIP Sir. Thank you for the music.”
Celtic pays tribute to Terry Hall
Glasgow's FC paid a subtle tribute to the late singer Terry Hall last night.
One fan took to Twitter to share a clip of The Specials' iconic song "A message to you, Rudy" playing at halftime.
Other football teams, including Manchester United, honoured the ska icon last night too.