Neville Staple ‘didn’t realise how serious’ The Specials bandmate Terry Hall’s illness was before death as Boy George and Frank Turner join tributes-Alicia Adejobi-Entertainment – Metro

Terry Hall had battled a short illness before his death aged 63 (Picture: /Getty Images)

The Specials singer Terry Hall has been remembered by his bandmate Neville Staple, who has said he’s been ‘hit hard’ by the star’s death. 

It was announced on Monday that Hall, best known as a member of the reggae group, had died at the age of 63 following a short illness. 

In a statement, the band hailed their late bandmate as a ‘beautiful friend, brother and one of the most brilliant singers, songwriters and lyricists this country has ever produced’. 

Staple, the group’s former vocalist, has now shared his own tribute to Hall and began: ‘This has hit me hard. 

‘We knew Terry had been unwell but didn’t realise how serious until recently. We had only just confirmed some 2023 joint music agreements together.’ 

He added: ‘In the music World, people have many ups and downs, but I will hang onto the great memories of Terry and I, making history fronting The Specials and Fun Boy three together. Rest easy Terry Hall.’ 

Neville Staple said he didn’t realise how serious his former bandmate’s illness was (Picture: Redferns)

The Specials were best known for hits such as Rat Race and Too Much Too Young (Picture: Redferns)

Jane Wiedlin, guitarist and co-founder of The Go-Go’s, who co-wrote the band’s breakout hit Our Lips Are Sealed with Hall, also remembered her longtime friend. 

She wrote in a Twitter post: ‘Gutted to hear of the passing of #terryhall. He was a lovely, sensitive, talented and unique person.

‘Our extremely brief romance resulted in the song Our Lips Are Sealed, which will forever tie us together in music history. Terrible news to hear this.’ 

Punk and folk singer Frank Turner admitted that The Specials were one of the ‘most important’ figures of his childhood.

He wrote: ‘God damnit. Just heard the news about Terry Hall. What an absolute sadness. 

‘The Specials were one of the most important bands for me as a kid. Taught me many things I needed to know. Gutted. RIP.’ 

Culture Club frontman Boy George said it was a ‘sad day’, tweeting: ‘Very sad to hear about Terry Hall! Absolutely loved him as an artist.’ 

Singer-songwriter Elvis Costello offered his condolences, tweeting: “Sad to receive the news of Terry Hall’s passing last night from Lynval Golding.

Comedian David Baddiel kept it short but powerful and stated: ‘Terry Hall was great. That’s the tweet.’ 

Singer Elvis Costello joined in: ‘Terry’s voice was the perfect instrument for the true and necessary songs on The Specials. That honesty is heard in so many of his songs in joy and sorrow. My condolences to his family and friends.’ 

Folk singer Billy Bragg highlighted Hall’s cultural impact on Britain in the 1970s.

He tweeted: ‘The Specials were a celebration of how British culture was envigorated by Caribbean immigration but the onstage demenour [sic] of their lead singer was a reminder that they were in the serious business of challenging our perception of who we were in the late 1970s. RIP Terry Hall.’ 

The Specials were formed in Hall’s home city of Coventry in 1977 and enjoyed success with hits such as Rat Race, A Message to You, Rudy and Too Much Too Young.

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