The Specials Gig Guide

1977-78

Gig #Gig # by yearDayDateVenueTownCountryTourEventNoteLineup
00011977-1Friday14 October 77Heath HotelCoventryUKSquad
Automatics
00021977-2Monday5 December 77Club Zhivago’sCoventryUKAutomatics
00031978-1Tuesday3 January 78Tiffany’sCoventryUKAutomatics
00041978-2Friday20 January 78Lanchester PolytechnicCoventryUKScreens
The Automatics
School Meals
Penetration
00051978-3Tuesday31 January 78Tiffany’sCoventryUKUltravox!
Coventry Automatics
00061978-4Thursday23 February 78The Hand And HeartCoventryUKCoventry Automatics
00071978-5Mondayto June 78Mr GeorgeCoventryUKMonday residencyCoventry Automatics
00081978-6Friday?? ??? 78Golden EagleBirminghamUKFriday ResidencyCoventry Automatics
00091978-7Friday17 March 78King’s HallDerbyUKGeneration X
The Killjoys
Coventry Automatics
00101978-8Saturday18 March 78Huddersfield PolytechnicHuddersfieldUKGeneration X
Coventry Automatics
00111978-9Sunday26 March 78Marquee ClubLondonUKEaster Sunday SpecialThe Saints
Coventry Automatics
Nick Leigh
00121978-10Saturday22 April 78Green DragonStratford-Upon-AvonUKSchool Meals
Coventry Automatics
00131978-11????? April 78Barbarella’sBirminghamUKThe Clash pulled outThe Clash
Coventry Automatics
00141978-12Monday1 May 78Barbarella’sBirminghamUKThe Clash
Coventry Automatics
00151978-13Tuesday9 May 78Top Rank SuiteBirminghamUKSteel Pulse
Coventry Automatics
00161978-14Thursday1 June 78Tiffany’sCoventryUKSham 69
Menace
Coventry Automatics
00171978-15Wednesday7 June 78Lanchester PolytechnicCoventryUKAutomatics
00181978-16Wednesday28 June 78Friars ClubAylesburyUKThe Clash Out On ParoleThe Clash
Coventry Automatics
00191978-17Thursday29 June 78Queens HallLeedsUKThe Clash Out On ParoleThe Clash
Coventry Automatics
00201978-18Friday30 June 78Top Rank SuiteSheffieldUKThe Clash Out On ParoleThe Clash
Coventry Automatics
00211978-19Saturday1 July 78Granby HallsLeicesterUKThe Clash Out On ParoleThe Clash
Suicide
Coventry Automatics
00221978-20Sunday2 July 78ApolloManchesterUKThe Clash Out On ParoleThe Clash
Suicide
Coventry Automatics
00231978-21Tuesday4 July 78ApolloGlasgowUKThe Clash Out On ParoleThe Clash
Suicide
Coventry Automatics
00241978-22Wednesday5 July 78Music HallAberdeenUKThe Clash Out On ParoleThe Clash
Suicide
Coventry Automatics
00251978-23Thursday6 July 78Kinema BallroomDumfermlineUKThe Clash Out On ParoleThe Clash
Suicide
Coventry Automatics
– – –– – – –Friday7 July 78Deeside Leisure CentreQueensferryUKThe Clash Out On Parolecancelled
00261978-24Saturday8 July 78Leisure CentreCrawleyUKThe Clash Out On ParoleThe Clash
Suicide
Coventry Automatics
00271978-25Sunday9 July 78LocarnoBristolUKThe Clash Out On ParoleThe Clash
Suicide
Coventry Automatics
00281978-26Monday10 July 78Town HallTorquayUKThe Clash Out On ParoleThe Clash
Suicide
Coventry Automatics
00291978-27Tuesday11 July 78Top Rank SuiteCardiffUKThe Clash Out On ParoleThe Clash
Suicide
Coventry Automatics
Spizz 77
00301978-28Wednesday12 July 78Top Rank SuiteBirminghamUKThe Clash Out On ParoleThe Clash
Suicide
Coventry Automatics
Spizz 77
00311978-29Thursday13 July 78King George’s HallBlackburnUKThe Clash Out On ParoleEmpire Theatre, Liverpool cancelledThe Clash
Suicide
Coventry Automatics
00321978-30Friday14 July 78Corn ExchangeBury St EdmundsUKThe Clash Out On ParoleThe Clash
Suicide
Coventry Automatics
00331978-31Saturday22 July 78Eric’sLiverpoolUKThe Clash Out On ParolematineeThe Clash
The Specials
00341978-32Saturday22 July 78Eric’sLiverpoolUKThe Clash Out On ParoleeveningThe Clash
The Specials
00351978-33Monday24 July 78Music MachineCamden, LondonUKThe Clash Out On ParoleThe Clash
Suicide
The Specials
Burning Cane ?
00361978-34Tuesday25 July 78Music MachineCamden, LondonUKThe Clash Out On ParoleThe Clash
Suicide
The Specials
???
00371978-35Wednesday26 July 78Music MachineCamden, LondonUKThe Clash Out On ParoleThe Clash
Suicide
The Specials
The Barracudas
00381978-36Thursday27 July 78Music MachineCamden, LondonUKThe Clash Out On ParoleThe Clash
Suicide
The Specials
The Innocents
00391978-37Friday11 August 78The Hand And HeartCoventryUKThe Specials
00401978-38Friday8 September 78Eric’sLiverpoolUKThe Specials
– – –– – – –Tuesday14 November 78Gibus ClubParisFrancecancelled
– – –– – – –Wednesday15 November 78Gibus ClubParisFrancecancelled
00411978-39Thursday16 November 78Gibus ClubParisFranceThe Specials
00421978-40Friday17 November 78Gibus ClubParisFranceThe Specials
00431978-41Saturday18 November 78Gibus ClubParisFranceThe Specials
00441978-42Friday1 December 78The Hand And HeartCoventryUKThe Specials

1979

Gig #Gig # by yearDayDateVenueTownCountryTourEventNoteLineup
00451979-1????? ??? 79University Of BirminghamBirminghamUKThe Specials
Au Pairs
00461979-2????? ??? 79University Of WarwickCoventryUKThe Specials
00471979-3Wednesday14 March 79Moonlight ClubWest Hampstead, LondonUKThe Specials
KHz
00481979-4Friday16 March 79University CollegeBloomsbury, LondonUKRock Against Racismlisted as North East London PolytechnicPhantom
The Specials
00491979-5Sunday18 March 79The Hope And AnchorIslington, LondonUKThe Specials
00501979-6Monday19 March 79The Hope And AnchorIslington, LondonUKThe Specials
00511979-7Wednesday21 March 79Lanchester PolytechnicCoventryUKRock Against RacismBarry Forde Band
Leyton Buzzards
The Piranhas
The Specials
00521979-8Saturday7 April 79Good Mood ClubHalifaxUKThe Special AKA
00531979-9Sunday8 April 79LyceumLondonUKThe Damned
UK Subs
The Specials
00541979-10Tuesday24 April 79Music MachineCamden, LondonUKThe Specials
Red Lights
00551979-11Friday27 April 79Aston UniversityBirminghamUKThe Specials
00561979-12Saturday28 April 79Eric’sLiverpoolUKmatineeThe Specials
Swell Maps
00571979-13Saturday28 April 79Eric’sLiverpoolUKeveningThe Specials
Swell Maps
00581979-14Monday30 April 79Craufurd ArmsMilton KeynesUKThe Specials
00591979-15Wednesday2 May 79Moonlight ClubWest Hampstead, LondonUKThe Specials
Red Lights ??
Passions
00601979-16Thursday3 May 79DingwallsCamden, LondonUKThe Specials

04 May 1979 – TT1 ‘Gangsters’ 7″ released

Gig #Gig # by yearDayDateVenueTownCountryTourEventNoteLineup
00611979-17Saturday5 May 79The Hope And AnchorIslington, LondonUKattended by MadnessThe Specials
00621979-18Monday7 May 79Noise FactoryKingston-Upon ThamesUKThe Specials
Ack Ack
00631979-19Tuesday8 May 79GreyhoundFulham, LondonUKThe Specials
00641979-20Thursday17 May 79Town HouseTelfordUKThe Special AKA
Strange Pleasure
00651979-21Monday21 May 79Barbarella’sBirminghamUKThe Special AKA
00661979-22Friday25 May 79Lanchester PolytechnicCoventryUKThe Special AKA
God’s Toys
00671979-23Saturday26 May 79Boogie HouseNorwichUKThe Specials
00681979-24Sunday27 May 79LyceumLondonUKGang Of Four
The Mekons
The Specials
The Delta Five
00691979-25Saturday2 June 79Cross Hands InnMartletwyUKThe Special AKA
00701979-26Sunday3 June 79Memorial HallNewbridgeUKThe Special AKA
00711979-27Thursday7 June 79College Of ArtCanterburyUKGangsters Tour(pre-tour)The Specials
00721979-28Friday8 June 79The Nashville RoomWest Kensington, LondonUKGangsters Tour(pre-tour)The Specials
Madness
00731979-29Saturday9 June 79PolytechnicWolverhamptonUKGangsters Tour(pre-tour)The Specials
00741979-30Friday15 June 79The FactoryManchesterUKGangsters Tour(pre-tour)The Specials
00751979-31Saturday16 June 79Polytechnic Student UnionHuddersfieldUKGangsters TourNorthern Mod Night(pre-tour)Secret Affair
Killermeters
The Specials
Teen Beats
The Scene
00761979-32Monday18 June 79Hideaway Night ClubWorcesterUKGangsters Tour(pre-tour)The Specials
00771979-33Friday22 June 79A.J.’s ClubLincolnUKGangsters TourThe Special AKA
00781979-34Saturday23 June 79The Grey TopperJacksdaleUKGangsters TourThe Specials
00791979-35Tuesday26 June 79PalaisHammersmith, LondonUKGangsters TourRockpile
The Specials
Lew Lewis Reformer
00801979-36Wednesday27 June 79Town HallBournemouthUKGangsters TourThe Specials
The Late Show
00811979-37Thursday28 June 79The Nashville RoomWest Kensington, LondonUKGangsters TourThe Specials
Madness
00821979-38Friday29 June 79The VillageNewportUKGangsters TourThe Specials
00831979-39Saturday30 June 79Whitcombe LodgeBrockworthUKGangsters TourThe Specials
Medium Medium
King Of Dub
00841979-40Monday2 July 79Tiffany’sEdinburghUKGangsters Tourlisted as 9/7 in NMEThe Specials
T.P.I.
00851979-41Tuesday3 July 79RufflesAberdeenUKGangsters Tourdate addedThe Specials
00861979-42Friday6 July 79Capones SuiteBournemouthUKGangsters TourThe Specials
00871979-43Saturday7 July 79College Of ArtCheltenhamUKGangsters Tournot on posterThe Specials
00881979-44Tuesday10 July 79The Fan ClubLeedsUKGangsters TourThe Specials
The Selector
The Mess
00891979-45Wednesday11 July 79CascadesShrewsburyUKGangsters TourThe Specials
00901979-46Friday13 July 79Club LafayetteWolverhamptonUKGangsters TourThe Specials
00911979-47Saturday14 July 79Eric’sLiverpoolUKGangsters TourmatineeThe Specials
Madness
00921979-48Saturday14 July 79Eric’sLiverpoolUKGangsters ToureveningMadness
The Specials
00931979-49Monday16 July 79SmartyzChesterUKGangsters TourThe Specials
00941979-50Thursday19 July 79FusionChesterfieldUKGangsters Tourdate addedThe Specials
00951979-51Friday20 July 79Civic HallBarnsleyUKGangsters Tourdate addedThe Specials
00961979-52Saturday21 July 79Electric BallroomCamden, LondonUKGangsters Tour2 Tone Eveningoriginally listed as Nottingham SandpiperThe Specials
Madness
Dexy’s Midnight Runners
Mo-Dettes
The Selector
00971979-53Tuesday24 July 79Boogie HouseNorwichUKGangsters TourThe Specials
– – –– – – –Wednesday25 July 79Pop ClubYorkUKGangsters TourAdam & The Ants played instead
00981979-54Thursday26 July 79The Three TunsBishop’s CastleUKGangsters TourThe Specials
00991979-55Friday27 July 79Barbarella’sBirminghamUKGangsters TourThe Specials
The Selector
01001979-56Saturday28 July 79J.B.’s ClubDudleyUKGangsters TourThe Specials

31 July 1979 – ‘Gangsters’ 7″ enters UK charts

Gig #Gig # by yearDayDateVenueTownCountryTourEventNoteLineup
01011979-57Tuesday31 July 79Zero 6Southend-On-SeaUKGangsters Tourdate addedThe Specials
– – –– – – –Wednesday1 August 79StowawaysNewportUKGangsters TourPretenders played instead
01021979-58Thursday2 August 79Wellington ClubKingston-Upon-HullUKGangsters Tourdate addedThe Specials
01031979-59Friday3 August 79The Limit ClubSheffieldUKGangsters TourThe Specials
01041979-60Saturday4 August 79Norbreck Castle HotelBlackpoolUKGangsters TourThe Specials
01051979-61Friday10 August 79The Fun HouseGorton, ManchesterUKThe Specials
Private Sector
01061979-62Friday17 August 79Park HaffmansBilzenBelgiumJazz-BilzenThe Police
AC/DC
The Pretenders
The Specials
Bram Tchaikovsky
The Cure
01071979-63Tuesday21 August 79PalaisHammersmith, LondonUKBenefit For One Parent FamiliesThe Specials
Linton Kwesi Johnson
The Selector
Mo-Dettes
John Cooper Clarke
01081979-64Saturday25 August 79Cannon Hill ArenaEdgbastonUKLark In The Park ’79Steel Pulse
The Specials
Ricky Cool and the Icebergs
Denizens
01091979-65Sunday9 September 79ZuiderparkRotterdamNetherlandsNew PopThe Cure
The Specials
Fischer-Z
The Meteors

12 October 1979 – TT5 ‘A Message To You Rudy’ 7″ released

19 October 1979 – TT5001 ‘Specials’ LP released

Gig #Gig # by yearDayDateVenueTownCountryTourEventNoteLineup
01101979-66Friday19 October 79Top Rank SuiteBrightonUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01111979-67Saturday20 October 79Oasis Leisure CentreSwindonUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01121979-68Sunday21 October 79Stateside CentreBournemouthUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01131979-69Monday22 October 79University Of ExeterExeterUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01141979-70Tuesday23 October 79Fiesta SuitePlymouthUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01151979-71Thursday25 October 79Kimberley Recreation HallKimberleyUK2 Tone Tourdate addedThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01161979-72Friday26 October 79The LCR, University Of East AngliaNorwichUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01171979-73Saturday27 October 79Hatfield PolytechnicHatfieldUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01181979-74Sunday28 October 79Civic HallWolverhamptonUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01191979-75Monday29 October 79Top Rank SuiteBirminghamUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01201979-76Tuesday30 October 79Golden PalmsBlackburnUK2 Tone Tourdate changed from 1 NovemberThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01211979-77Wednesday31 October 79Victoria HallHanleyUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01221979-78Thursday1 November 79Apollo TheatreManchesterUK2 Tone TourInitially listed as University Of Lancaster, changed to 2 NovThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01231979-79Friday2 November 79University Of LancasterLancasterUK2 Tone Tourinitially listed as Manchester Factory, 2 & 3 November (closed down)The Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01241979-80Sunday4 November 79Top Rank SuiteSheffieldUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01251979-81Monday5 November 79De Montfort HallLeicesterUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01261979-82Tuesday6 November 79GuildhallPortsmouthUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01271979-83Wednesday7 November 79Top Rank SuiteCardiffUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01281979-84Thursday8 November 79King’s HallDerbyUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01291979-85Friday9 November 79Mayfair BallroomNewcastle-Upon-TyneUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01301979-86Saturday10 November 79Stirling UniversityStirlingUK2 Tone Tourdate changed from 17 NovemberThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01311979-87Sunday11 November 79Tiffany’sGlasgowUK2 Tone Tourdate addedThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01321979-88Monday12 November 79Tiffany’sEdinburghUK2 Tone TourmatineeThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01331979-89Tuesday13 November 79RufflesAberdeenUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01341979-90Wednesday14 November 79Ayr PavilionAyrUK2 Tone Tourdate addedThe Specials
Madness
The Selecter
01351979-91Thursday15 November 79Market HallCarlisleUK2 Tone Tourdate addedThe Specials
The Selecter
Dexy’s Midnight Runners
01361979-92Friday16 November 79Unity HallWakefieldUK2 Tone Tourinitially listed as Leeds UniversityThe Specials
The Selecter
Dexy’s Midnight Runners
01371979-93Saturday17 November 79Loughborough UniversityLoughboroughUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
The Selecter
Dexy’s Midnight Runners
01381979-94Sunday18 November 79LocarnoBristolUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
The Selecter
Dexy’s Midnight Runners
01391979-95Monday19 November 79Music HallShrewsburyUK2 Tone Tourdate addedThe Specials
The Selecter
Dexy’s Midnight Runners
01401979-96Wednesday21 November 79Mountford Hall, Liverpool UniversityLiverpoolUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
The Selecter
Dexy’s Midnight Runners
01411979-97Thursday22 November 79Olympic BallroomDublinIreland2 Tone TourDr. Feelgood
The Specials
The Blades
01421979-98Friday23 November 79Queen’s UniversityBelfastUK2 Tone TourDr. Feelgood
The Specials
DC Nien
01431979-99Sunday25 November 79LyceumLondonUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
The Selecter
Dexy’s Midnight Runners
01441979-100Monday26 November 79PavilionHemel HempsteadUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
The Selecter
Dexy’s Midnight Runners
01451979-101Tuesday27 November 79Tiffany’sGreat YarmouthUK2 Tone Tourdate addedThe Specials
The Selecter
Dexy’s Midnight Runners
01461979-102Wednesday28 November 79The Winter GardensCleethorpesUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
The Selecter
Dexy’s Midnight Runners
01471979-103Thursday29 November 79Tiffany’sCoventryUK2 Tone TourThe Specials
The Selecter
Dexy’s Midnight Runners
01481979-104Friday30 November 79The Winter GardensMalvernUK2 Tone Tourdate addedThe Specials
The Selecter
Dexy’s Midnight Runners
01491979-105Saturday1 December 79OdeonLewisham, LondonUK2 Tone Tourdate addedThe Specials
The Selecter
Dexy’s Midnight Runners
01501979-106Sunday2 December 79LyceumLondonUK2 Tone Tourdate addedThe Specials
The Selecter
01511979-107Monday3 December 79Civic HallGuildfordUK2 Tone Tourdate addedThe Specials
The Selecter
Dexy’s Midnight Runners
01521979-108Saturday15 December 79Paris TheatreLondonUKBBC Live In ConcertThe Specials
The Selecter
01531979-109Thursday20 December 79Tiffany’sCoventryUKmatinee, under-16s onlyThe Specials
01541979-110Thursday20 December 79Tiffany’sCoventryUKApology TourCommunity Education Project fundraiserThe Specials
The Beat
01551979-111Friday21 December 79Odeon TheatreEdinburghUKThe Specials
01561979-112Sunday23 December 79Apollo TheatreGlasgowUKApology TourThe Specials
01571979-113Friday28 December 79OdeonHammersmith, LondonUKConcert For KampucheaThe Who
The Specials
The Pretenders

1980

Gig #Gig # by yearDayDateVenueTownCountryTourEventNoteLineup
01581980-1Friday11 January 80Théâtre Le PalaceParisFranceThe Specials
01591980-2Saturday12 January 80Ancienne BelgiqueBrusselsBelgiumThe Specials
01601980-3Monday14 January 80MetropolBerlinWest GermanyThe Specials
The Urge
01611980-4Tuesday ?15 January 80 ????HanoverWest GermanyThe Specials
The Urge
01621980-5Wednesday16 January 80MarkthalleHamburgWest GermanyThe Specials
The Urge
01631980-6Thursday17 January 80Stadthalle Köln MülheimCologneWest GermanyThe Specials
The Urge

18 January 1980 – TT7 ‘The Special A.K.A. Live!’ EP released