He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him and leaves behind the gift of his remarkable music and profound humanity. Terry often left the stage at the end of The Specials’ life-affirming shows with three words… ‘Love Love Love’. In 2019, they released a new album, Encore, which featured Khan performing on a new song, 10 Commandments. It charted at No 1 in the UK albums chart – their highest-ever album placing. “Achieving a first No 1 album in our 60s restored our faith in humanity,” Hall told the Quietus. a b "The Official Charts Company – Terry Blair And Anouchka". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 10 March 2009.

Squeeze’s Chris Difford called Hall “a man of few words verbally but so many great words in song. I always admired and envied his sweep of the pen”, while Rowetta remembered him as “one of the greatest frontmen from one of the greatest bands. And a gorgeous, kind, down to earth man.” Badly Drawn Boy called him “a musical hero”, while Sleaford Mods said Hall was “King of the Suedeheads. A big man. Hope you find peace now mate.” Boy George tweeted that he was “very sad”, adding: “Absolutely loved him as an artist. Sad day!” Among The Specials’ many accolades was the 2010 NME Award for Outstanding Contribution To Music. In accepting the trophy, Hall quipped: “This is the most urban award we’ve ever received, I can’t believe how gross it it! Thank you very much.” Hall struggled to write lyrics for a follow-up, he said. “The arrival of the pandemic affected me enormously. I spent around three months trying to figure out what was going on. I couldn’t write a single word. I spent the time trying to figure out how not to die.” Instead, they covered historic protest songs and released Protest Songs 1924-2012 in 2021, which peaked at No 2. Terry Hall’s catalogue is a series of immaculate burning bridges, reflecting the listeners fear and longing, appearing different at sunrise than sunset. “Come here,” I’d say to the stone-faced man from the Midlands, as I kissed to them. Co-wrote "Sense", "Where Flowers Fade" and "A Small Slice of Heaven" with The Lightning Seeds from Sense.He dropped out of education at the age of 14 and felt pushed towards non-conformism. “I can laugh about it now but it sort of switched something in my head, and it’s like I don’t have to do that, and that’s when I started not listening to anyone.” They released their debut single, Gangsters (a reworking of Prince Buster’s Al Capone) in 1979, which reached No 6 in the UK singles chart. They would dominate the Top 10 over the next two years, peaking with their second No 1 single, and calling card, Ghost Town, in 1981. The lyrics, written by the band’s main songwriter, Dammers, dealt with Britain’s urban decay, unemployment and disfranchised youth.

Filename G:\EAC What\Terry Hall - Laugh... Plus (1997)\04. Terry Hall - Laugh... plus - Take It Forever.wav Three compilation albums have been released that chronicle Hall's career through the different groups and solo work he has produced. Co-wrote "Imaginary Friends", "What If..." and "Like You Do" with The Lightning Seeds from Dizzy Heights. This first-time-on-(clear)-vinyl reissue of his 1997 second solo album confirms that it contains much hidden treasure.

Reviews

Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go’s and Hall’s former partner wrote that she was “gutted”. “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,” she tweeted.

Neville Staple, Hall’s bandmate in the Specials and Fun Boy Three, said he was “deeply saddened” by the news. Terry Hall with Lynval Golding and Neville Staple of the Fun Boy Three in 1982. Photograph: Steve Rapport/Getty Images) Hall was born in Coventry on 19 March 1959 to a family who predominantly worked in the car industry. He was an academically gifted child and also a noted footballer who was invited to try out for West Bromwich Albion – an opportunity his parents declined based on the inconvenience of travelling across the Midlands. After he sailed through the 11-plus exam, his parents also declined his place at a nearby grammar school. Just reaching out, are you OK?” the song goes. It continues with what sounds like a mental health manifesto that Hall would wholeheartedly endorse. “Time is tight, life’s a fight/ Now’s the time, get it right/ People laughing, people crying/ Can’t you see we’re really trying?/ So goodbye to sorrow… Say hello to tomorrow.” Filename G:\EAC What\Terry Hall - Laugh... Plus (1997)\13. Terry Hall - Laugh... plus - Close to You.wava b c "The Official Charts Company – The Specials". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 10 March 2009. But Hall, he says, helped to spearhead a change in attitudes. “People are more aware now of their own health, and people are starting to realise that their wellness is really important being on tour,” says Ficek. In recent months artists including Arlo Parks and Sam Fender have cancelled shows to focus on their mental health.