Terry Hall, lead singer of British band The Specials, has died aged 63, the ska band, which formed in the late 1970s and released a covers album last year, announced on Monday.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Terry, our wonderful friend, brother and one of the finest singer, songwriter and lyricist this country has ever produced, after a short illness,” the group said on multiple social networks. including Twitter and Facebook.
“His music and performances encapsulated the true essence of life…joy, pain, humor, the fight for justice, but most of all love,” the band wrote, praising their “remarkable music and deep humanity.”
Born in 1959 and originally from Coventry, Warwickshire (West England), Terry Hall was introduced to the Specials in the late 1970s.
Depressed, Hall revealed in a song that he had been the victim of pedophilia during a school trip to France.
He had had other musical experiences outside of the specials before the group lately reformed and performed on stage in a variety of formats. Last year these veterans of the British scene released an album of covers of their protest songs.
During his career, Terry Hall has also collaborated with other artists such as rapper Tricky, Gorillaz or Lily Allen