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Interviewee: Neville Staples. (This recording does contain some bad language)

Grew up in Rugby, born in Jamaica, next to Manchester. Used to follow cousin around. Cousin had a sound system. Family in sound system. Also involved in Church Music. Rugby Messenger (cousin's sound system). From the age of 17 years involved with 'The Specials'. Playing reggae, but not Black people reggae. Two black guys in the Coventry Automatics at the time. Jerry Terry (white guy) used to play Punk. Worked on Bhangra. You don't know what it was like to be a Black kid in white music at the time. People used to shout obscene things to him. Was part of life. J Walker. Rehearsed by the Jail House. Young white student kids were part of the audience. People spitting at them because they were Black. Good looks, talent (his contributions to the group). Brought the black side of the music in the group. The black reggae. Ska rock and reggae blended together. People got into proper reggae after listening to us. Was enjoying myself. U Roy, I-Roy, Toots, Gregory Isaacs, Jimmy Cliff, Dennis Brown all were of major influence. Politics- racism, Black Race, niggers etc. Anti-Margaret Thatcher really. 'Specials' contributed to Black and White coming together. Used to go to house parties in Wood End, town by now Brittania Hotel. Everything just went down hill. Been all over the place, Mexico, Japan, all over America, Europe and Australia. Enjoyed America and Japan. Europe did not take to Black people. Racism. Most difficult time was going solo in America. Speaks Cockney. Act like the crowd when on stage. Sold records in Leamington Spa. Doesn't remember many things. Lived in London, Birmingham, Manchester, California, allover with baby mothers. Has six children. Coming back to United Kingdom was crap. Don't care if people hate him. Staying in America was different. In America you have to work. Too smart, wear jeans. You had a suit made, pay deposit, leave the suit there until you finish paying. Most of urban music direct influence from Jamaican music. Everything comes from reggae. Jamaica language picked up by many people, Indians, Bosnians and white guys. Went to America for nine years. Has a record label 'Rude Boy Music' and clothes label 'Rude Wear'. 'Rudewear.co.uk'. Singing in between. Put Coventry on the map. Japanese people coming from Japan just to see where they used to live. Daughter into music as well. Daughter in America. Touring and has a DVD coming out shortly. People talking about how much they think I am great. Rude Boy Returns (back from America). Twelve music songs coming out. Name of band Neville Staple.

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