2-Tone is 35 years old this weekend? What is its legacy?

2-Tone 35 Year Anniversary

This weekend sees the 35 year anniversary of when Jerry Dammers of The Specials created 2-Tone. Is this relevant in any way to us today?

Some people think of 2-Tone as a record label. Others think of it as a music genre. And more still think of it as a culture. In reality it is all of those.

It was important to Jerry that his record label meant something to people. He engaged John Sims (Teflon) to create the iconic images that we associate with 2-Tone, like the black and white check and the dancing man (nicknamed Walt Jabsco).

Jerry didn’t really have the money required to push the record label as he would have liked so he came to an arrangement with Chrysalis Records that 2-Tone would be a division of Chrysalis but would be completely autonomous. This enabled Jerry to control who was signed and the future direction of 2-Tone.

Even the name itself – 2-Tone – has meaning. Many people do not realise that 2-Tone and the black and white imagery represents the movement’s anti-racist and inclusive stance. The late 70s saw a huge amount of racism on the streets of Britain, and the 2-Tone guys wanted to make a stand against this. Many of the 2-Tone bands had a mix of black and white members and their music attracted people from both communities. The music even took strong influences from the ska bands from Jamaica in the 1960s.

That said, nearly all the 2-Tone bands suffered from having fans who were fundamentally racist. These people could not see the irony of following a movement that was anti-racist, had black band members, and was based in Jamaican music.

So, what has 2-Tone left us with now? Did it leave any mark on British culture?

Apart from the fact that the 2-Tone rude boys and girls (the name given to its followers) still to this day hanker for the buzz of dancing (or skanking, to give it its proper term) to the infectious ska-based beats that typifies 2-Tone music, and still dress in the ‘uniform’ of the movement (pork pie hats, Harrington jackets, Fred Perry polos, tonic suits, and loafers, DMs or brogues), I believe the main legacy of 2-Tone is the enduring abhorrence of racism, homophobia, and any other form of hatred towards a group of people.

As Special Kinda Madness are a tribute to two of the original 2-Tone bands – Specials and Madness – we are all heavily involved in the 2-Tone and ska scene. It is refreshing how these beliefs of inclusivity are still alive and thriving amongst this group of lovely people.

I say, “Long Live 2-Tone!” Here’s to the next 35 years!

So, tell me. In the famous words from Life of Brian, “What has 2-Tone ever done for you?”

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