Cheers you all !

Hi everyone is good to have this site for our class, I heard it was a free space to post whatever we would like so I guess I´ll be writing about the music I like the most frequently, because it is kind of my hobby to listen to Jamaican music and its derivates.

I did this mini-interview last December when the rumor of a possible reunion tour from a band I really like was on air, they are called The Specials, They are from Coventry, England and they play mostly ska music and have been very important in the world ska scene since their formation around 1979 and they have been actually separated since the early 80`s . The interview was for a ska radio show. The radio show, called Skandalo had been broadcasted for more than 10 years in many radio stations to the México city´s listening audience in stations such as radio IPN, W Radical, Orbita and so for some time in the past it was transmitted to almost all the country and even some other Central American countries. Nowadays and just recently because of a change in the administration of the last radio station where it was transmitted the program is not on air anymore (at least on radio) but it is still going strong by the internet and even listened in Europe. The host of the show is a friend of mine, and I sometimes contribute news and reviews to its website which is www.radioskandalo.com where you can find more information about authentic ska music events and news around, and you can have a listen to some tracks too.

Cheers I´ll see you at school. Domingo

The guy I talked to is Roddy Byers also known as Roddy “radiation” who was the original guitar player of The Specials he has written some of the greatest hits from the specials as well, nowadays he is the lead singer and front man of the `Skabilly Rebels`. Here is the transcription in case you`d like to see it.

Dom: Hi Roddy hope everything is going well to you, we`d like to know what`s coming up with your projects, how are the Skabilly Rebels going? And what else is coming up for you?

Roddy: Been recording with the Skabilly Rebels, should have new C.D. READY TO RELEASE IN THE NEW YEAR* 6 SONGS COMPLETED.

Dom: Last September the crowd of more than 30,000 non ska fans were surprised at the Bestival 2008 edition for 7 guys whom quickly put to jump and move their feet . There were six from the seven original members of the Specials on stage and it was the first time for more than 25 years you guys jumped on the stage to play live for all that excited people. What did that experience mean to you?

Roddy: Well there were times when it seemed like it would never happen. We had rehearsals with Jerry Dammers but his idears were pretty crazy-he wanted to slow down all the old songs and play them in a modern jazz way? He also said he wouldnt do the re-union unless we all obeyed him completely! So the 6 of us decided to do it without him as we felt his new plan would not work and our fans on our Specials web site forum said they wanted our old songs to sound like they used too.

Dom: We have heard plenty of rumors about a Specials reunion the recent months, next year you´ll be celebrating the 30 anniversary of the band`s formation and so a reunion tour rumor is going strong, What can you tell us about that?

Roddy: answered in previous question.

Dom: finally, there has been speculating about the participation of all the original members of The Specials on that tour, and also there is a question in the air, if the tour goes ahead, what would be the name that the band would be presenting as?

Roddy: We are going out as The Specials.

Thank you for taking the time to do this We appreciate it.

Our best wishes for what is to come from your projects.

Domingo Muñoz. December 3 - 2008