Los Angeles has declared Wednesday, May 29th ‘The Specials Day’ in honour of the lasting impact the British band has had on the Californian city.
The band first played in the city in 1979 and has enjoyed a loyal and dedicated following ever since. Los Angeles’ deep affection for The Specials is seen in the multiple ska revival nights that take place in clubs and bars around the city every week; where rude boys and girls come together to skank to the band’s recordings.
The Specials’ monochrome Walt Jabsco logo and their original Two Tone record label checkered flag has been a ubiquitous sight on the shirts and buttons of music fans at concerts around the city for decades, with LA councilwoman Monica Rodriguez saying their music is “emblematic of the strength derived from our diversity” in Los Angeles.
It’s extremely rewarding to see our music resonate so deeply with the people of Los Angeles.
The band are currently in California as part of a North American tour in support of their new album Encore – the first new music the band have released together since 1980, and the first album of theirs to go to the top spot in the UK charts.
The Specials said: “We’re delighted to have May 29th named ‘The Specials Day’ in Los Angeles. We love the city and have found Los Angelenos to be some of the warmest and most enthusiastic audiences in the world. We love spending time there and have made a great many friends over the years. It’s extremely rewarding to see our music resonate so deeply with the people of Los Angeles and we thank the LA City Council for this honor. We share it with the fans.”
Rodriguez, who presented Terry Hall, Lynval Golding and Horace Panter with a commemorative certificate this week, said: “Their music is an example that embracing our differences and uniqueness makes us more powerful.”
