In the late 1970's, punk rock became a popular type of music in England. By 1979, it ws losing the popularity that it had acquired some years before. Musicians began to experiment once again and ended up "combining the off beat rhythms, driving rhythms, and catchy horn parts of ska with the energy and speed of punk," (A Brief History 1) therefore starting the "second wave" of ska.
Bands such as Madness, the Selecter, The (English) Beat, and The Specials began the second wave with The Specials leading the way. Ska, again, was a type of music promoting unity among races. Jerry Dammers, a member of the Specials, formed 2Tone Records after this idea. The era became known as the 2Tone era. "Most of the 2Tone symbols were black and white, symbolizing friendship between the races, [w]hich is how black and white checkers came to mean 'ska' " (Ska: The Second Wave 1).
Also during the 2Tone era, the rudeboy and non-racist skinhead ideas were resurrected. However, "this time, [the rudeboy] was not an angry youth, but a fun loving, well dressed person" (Ska: The Second Wave 1). They were also characterized as wearing "a black suit, white shirt, black tie, sunglasses, pork pie hat, white socks, and black loafers" (Rosenthal 3) similar to the outfit the Blues Brothers wore. The skinhead had not changed greatly. They still held the name based on their shaved heads, but they also developed a clothing style which consisted of "big boots and braces, with jeans, and white t-shirts" (VanHoof: One Step Beyond 1). The rudeboys "had money to burn, and weren't afraid to show it off" (VanHoof: One Step 1). Once again, the rudeboys and the skinheads clashed despite ska's message of unity. Often, the two groups would pack into dancehalls to listen to their favorite ska bands, but the concerts would be cut short because violent riots would break out between the two groups. "Dancehalls were wrecked, and therefore dancehalls did not want to book ska bands anymore" (VanHoof: One Step 1). Ska started to die down.
By 1981, ska was at an all time low. A lot of bands split up to form other popular bands. The Specials split into two separate bands: Hall Staples and Golding formed Fun Boy Three, and Jerry Dammers continued The Specials but renamed the band The Special AKA, which eventually evolved to be named the Specials again. The Specials are currently still around but with different members. The (English) Beat also split up into two bands: General Public and Fine Young Cannibals.
The second wave of ska came to an end, but ska was revived once more in the late 80s. |
