The Specials, also known as The Special AKA, are an English 2 tone & ska revival group formed during 1977 in Coventry, England, UK. Following some early changes, their 1st stable lineup was Terry Hall and Neville Staple on vocals, Lynval Golding & Roddy Radiation on guitars, Horace Panter on bass, Jerry Dammers on keyboards, John Bradbury on drums, and Dick Cuthell & Rico Rodriguez on horn. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy & attitude". Lyrically, they have a "focused and informed political & social stance".

The Specials' members wore mod-style "'60s rude boy outfits of pork pie hats, tonic and mohair suits & loafers". Too Much Too Young, the lead track on their The Special AKA Live! EP, topped the UK Singles Chart in 1980, as did Ghost Town, about the recession in Britain the following year. After 7 UK top 10 singles in a row from 1979 - 1981, main lead vocalists Terry and Neville, along with guitarist Lynval, left to form Fun Boy Three.

Continuing as The Special AKA, a name that they'd often used on earlier Specials records, a much changed line-up released new material until 1984, including the top 10 UK single Free Nelson Mandela. Founder & songwriter Dammers then folded the band, becoming a political activist. The Specials re-formed during 1993, having continued to perform and record with varying line-ups, none of them involving Jerry.