The Specials Drummer John Bradbury Has Died

Photo via the Specials’ Twitter

John Bradbury, the drummer in pioneering 2 Tone group The Specials, has died. He was 62. The band made the announcement this morning via Twitter. 

Bradbury joined the group in 1979, when he replaced original drummer Silverton Hutchinson. For the next two years, the Specials took their blend of reggae and ska to the UK charts, with singles including “Too Much Too Young” and Dandy Livingstone cover “A Message to You, Rudy”, and a pair of albums on 2 Tone, the label of chief songwriter Jerry Dammers. 

After the success of seminal hit “Ghost Town”, three core members left to form Fun Boy Three, while Bradbury and Dammers resumed operations as the Special AKA. In 1984, they released their final album, In the Studio, which featured another Top 10 UK single, “(Free) Nelson Mandela”. Throughout that period, he also played in his own soul group, JB’s Allstars.

Bradbury joined the reformed Specials in 2008, in a role he held until his death. In a statement quoted by The Guardian, a band spokesperson said, “Brad’s drumming was the powerhouse behind the Specials, and it was seen as a key part to the 2 Tone sound. … His contribution to the world of music can not be understated and he will much missed by family, friends and fans alike.”

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