Original Rude Boy
Encyclopedia
Original Rude Boy is the autobiography
of Neville Staple, vocalist in ska
band The Specials
. The book was launched in May, 2009 to coincide with the reunion tour of The Specials. It sets out to chart the black British
influence on the second wave of ska which originated in Coventry
in the late 1970s. In particular, Staple's involvement in the rude boy
scene.
in the 1960s and 1970s. He became a DJ with a system called Jah Baddis alongside future Specials road crew
members Trevor Evans and Rex Griffiths. Staple candidly describes how he slipped in to a life of crime, eventually resulting in his conviction for burglary
and a period in borstal
. This part of the book has attracted criticism from some ska fans.
At the Holyhead Youth Club in Coventry, Staple first heard a band called The Coventry Automatics rehearsing and became their roadie. After a couple of years touring with them, he joined the band on vocals and they renamed themselves The Specials.
Staple details his involvement in the Third Wave or American wave of ska music. His production work including time in the studio with US ska bands like No Doubt
, Unwritten Law
and Rancid
. Original Rude Boy details how Staple spent several years in California
working on various production projects before returning to the UK in 2001.
The Specials announced a reunion tour in 2008 with sell-out UK dates in April and May, 2009. Specials founder member Jerry Dammers refused to join the tour and Staple gives his explanation why Dammers declined to tour with other band members.
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
of Neville Staple, vocalist in ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
band The Specials
The Specials
The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...
. The book was launched in May, 2009 to coincide with the reunion tour of The Specials. It sets out to chart the black British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
influence on the second wave of ska which originated in Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
in the late 1970s. In particular, Staple's involvement in the rude boy
Rude boy
Rude boy, rudeboy, rudie, rudi or rudy are common terms used in Jamaica. In the 1960s it was also used for juvenile delinquents and criminals in Jamaica, and has since been used in other contexts...
scene.
Major themes
In Original Rude Boy, Neville Staple describes the Sound system (Jamaican) scene that developed in BritainUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the 1960s and 1970s. He became a DJ with a system called Jah Baddis alongside future Specials road crew
Road crew
The road crew are the technicians or support personnel who travel with a band on tour, usually in sleeper buses, and handle every part of the concert productions except actually performing the music with the musicians...
members Trevor Evans and Rex Griffiths. Staple candidly describes how he slipped in to a life of crime, eventually resulting in his conviction for burglary
Burglary
Burglary is a crime, the essence of which is illicit entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offense. Usually that offense will be theft, but most jurisdictions specify others which fall within the ambit of burglary...
and a period in borstal
Borstal
A borstal was a type of youth prison in the United Kingdom, run by the Prison Service and intended to reform seriously delinquent young people. The word is sometimes used loosely to apply to other kinds of youth institution or reformatory, such as Approved Schools and Detention Centres. The court...
. This part of the book has attracted criticism from some ska fans.
At the Holyhead Youth Club in Coventry, Staple first heard a band called The Coventry Automatics rehearsing and became their roadie. After a couple of years touring with them, he joined the band on vocals and they renamed themselves The Specials.
Staple details his involvement in the Third Wave or American wave of ska music. His production work including time in the studio with US ska bands like No Doubt
No Doubt
No Doubt is an American rock band from Anaheim, California that formed in 1986. The ska-pop sound of their first album No Doubt , failed to make an impact...
, Unwritten Law
Unwritten Law
Unwritten Law is an American rock band formed in 1990 in Poway, California and currently recording for Suburban Noize Records. They have released seven full-length studio albums and have toured internationally, including performances on the Warped Tour...
and Rancid
Rancid (band)
Rancid is an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California in 1991. Founded by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, both of whom previously played in the ska punk band Operation Ivy, Rancid is credited—along with Green Day and The Offspring—for reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the...
. Original Rude Boy details how Staple spent several years in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
working on various production projects before returning to the UK in 2001.
The Specials announced a reunion tour in 2008 with sell-out UK dates in April and May, 2009. Specials founder member Jerry Dammers refused to join the tour and Staple gives his explanation why Dammers declined to tour with other band members.