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The Neville Staple Band

Neville Staple, legendary front man of The Specials, Fun Boy Three and Special Beat, also known as The Original Rude Boy, is credited with changing the face of pop music not only once but twice. He celebrates a super 40-year career in the music business which is well documented and started out from the early days with Ray King, Pete Waterman, The Coventry Automatics and his Jah Baddis Sound System, before taking to the stage with The Specials during the famous ‘Clash’ tour.

Neville’s 2-Tone legacy is huge. Neville states, The way we brought ska to the mainstream was by mixing Jamaican music with the English style, which at the time was punk. The movement helped to transcend and defuse racial tensions in Thatcher-era Britain. The actual black and white chequered imagery of 2 Tone has become almost as famous as the music itself.  I remember the massive reactions to the hit songs like Ghost Town, Too Much Too Young and Gangsters and fans still write to me about my rugged, energetic and fun stage presence”.

Neville Staple continues to write and produce music and along with his wife and manager, Christine Sugary Staple, he works with schools, charities, university and youth groups providing talks, performance tips, music lesson guest-tuition and fund-raising activities. In his hometown of Coventry (where 2Tone music was born), he is celebrated as a Living Legend. He worked with the Lord Mayor to help Coventry win the ‘City of Culture 2021’ and was recently presented with a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award,’ during a special performance with the children of Foxford School. Now as patrons of the historic Albany Theatre, Neville and his wife continue to work with inner-city children on various creative projects.

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Following on from the 2009 Specials reunion and his departure from the band in late 2012, Neville Staple continues to be a forerunner of the ska movement and continues to thrill audiences with his own excellent band.  His recent Worldwide shows include Hong Kong, Europe and Australia, with the US and others planned for 2018 onwards.

Catch The Neville Staple Band at the Epic Studios, Norwich on Saturday 13th October, 7.30pm.

Tickets: £15. For more information or to book call the Box Office on 01603 727727 or visit www.originalrudeboy.co.uk/live-dates.

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