Who Was Terry Hall? How Did The Specials Lead Singer Die?

The lead singer of the ska-punk band The Specials, Terry Hall passed away at 63. He helped create one of the prominent voices of post-punk in Britain. The band announced the death on Monday. The Specials mentioned Hall as “one of the most brilliant singers, songwriters, and lyricists this country has ever produced.”

Fans, band members, and fellow musicians have all shared their sorrow at the loss of one of the best musicians of their time. Terry Hall’s performances were more filled with love, joy, humor, and pain than notes and words. Music became a part of Hall’s life from a very young age and has been a part of him all these years. Here’s more about the artist.

Terry Hall: Lead Singer Of The Specials

Hall had a very tumultuous childhood from being kidnapped at the age of 12 and being sexually abused for four days. This incident left the artist in life long depression. Later Terry became addicted to valium and at the age of 14, he dropped out of school. The artist shared these events with The Spectator in 2019.

The 1981 track Ghost Town became one of the most celebrated songs in British pop songs. At 22, with Ghost Town, too Much Too Young, and Gangsters, Terry Hall had become a global icon. But the artist had felt “very uncomfortable” at the success of the song as the lyrics and music were trying to bring out the alienation and underlying tension that prevailed in the post-industrial towns and cities of England. The Specials became famous for their blend of British punk with Jamaican dance music and American R&B.

Terry formed Fun Boy Three with The Specials bandmates, Lynval Golding and Neville Staple after they disbanded in 1981. He was also a part of another band Colourfield and also collaborated with many other bands and artists. The Specials were reformed in 2009. And also performed at the 2012 London Olympics closing concert. Terry Hall is survived by his wife Lindy Heymann and their son. He also has two other sons with his ex-wife Jeanette Hall.

Fellow Band Members Mourn At The Death Of Their Lead Singer

Terry Hall with his The Specials bandmate

Terry Hall’s death was announced by his bandmates through social media. They wrote a heartfelt message along with the statement. “His music and his performances encapsulated the very essence of life … the joy, the pain, the humor, the fight for justice, but mostly the love. Terry often left the stage at the end of The Specials’ life-affirming shows with three words … ‘Love Love Love’,” the message read.

The artist was struggling with mental health issues throughout his life. He passed away due to natural causes after a brief illness. “This news has hit hard and must be extremely difficult for Terry’s wife and family. In the music world, people have many ups and downs, but I will hang onto the great memories of Terry and I, making history,” Neville Staple said in a message shared by his manager.