The Specials frontman Terry Hall has died aged 63

The frontman of iconic ska group The Specials, Terry Hall has died aged 63 following a “brief illness”, the band has announced.

In a statement shared on social media, they wrote: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing, following a brief illness, of Terry, our beautiful friend, brother and one of the most brilliant singers, songwriters and lyricists this country has ever produced.

“Terry was a wonderful husband and father and one of the most genuine of souls,” they continued. “His music and his performances encapsulated the very essence of life… the joy, the pain, the humour, the fight for justice, but mostly the love.

“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’

“We would ask that everyone respect the family’s privacy at this very sad time.”

Neville Staple, Hall’s bandmate and fellow singer in The Specials and Fun Boy Three – formed after The Specials initially split up – paid tribute to Hall on Twitter.

He wrote: “I was deeply saddened to hear about Terry Hall’s passing on Sunday.

“We knew Terry had been unwell but didn’t realise how serious until recently,” he continued. “We had only just confirmed some 2023 joint music agreements together. This has hit me.”

As the lead singer of ska outfit The Specials, Hall found fame in the late 1970s and 1980s, as the band scored a number of hit songs in the UK with the likes of ‘Ghost Town’, ‘Gangsters’ and ‘Too Much Too Young’.

The band was known for their witty, politically and socially incisive lyrics. In 1981, Hall, Staple and fellow bandmate Lynval Golding split to form Fun Boy Three, with the new group finding success – notably with their 1982 collaborative hit with Bananarama, ‘It Ain’t What You Do, It's The Way That You Do It’.

Isaac Muk is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow him on Twitter