2 Tone
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
2 Tone (or Two Tone) is a style of music created by fusing elements of punk rock and ska. The sound was pioneered in the late 1970s by UK bands such as The Specials, The Selecter, The Beat and early Madness. Many of these bands were signed to 2 Tone Records, Stiff Records and Go Feet Records and were based around the West Midlands area in the UK.
The term 2 Tone was coined by Jerry Dammers of the Specials from Coventry and summed up the West Midlands scene at that time.
The name that Dammers chose for his label had two meanings: It referred both to the black-and-white suits favored by ska-loving "rude boys", and it symbolized solidarity between blacks and whites at a time when racial tensions among the British working class were at an all-time high.
Dammers had long had a dream of starting his own label, similar to Motown, that The Specials could release their own records on. He composed some artwork, with Horace's (Panter - Specials bass player) help, that was soon to become central to the 2 Tone world, and in fact feature as the label on all their releases. The logo was based on an early album cover picture of Peter Tosh (which itself was inspired by a photograph of The Impressions), and with the signature black and white checks dropped in for good measure, Walt Jabsco was born.
The label also released two albums by legendary Jamaican trombonist Rico Rodriguez (who had appeared on first two albums by The Specials).
Complete list of 2 Tone acts
- The Apollinaires
- The Beat (aka The English Beat in the US)
- The Bodysnatchers
- The Coventy Automatics
- Elvis Costello & The Attractions (for one unreleased single (CHS TT7) only)
- The Friday Club
- The Higsons
- JB's Allstars
- Lightning War
- Madness
- Rhoda
- Rico
- The Selecter
- The Special AKA
- The Specials
- The Swinging Cats
- Bad Manners
See also
- Anarcho-skinheads
- Red and Anarchist Skinheads
- The Spirit of 69
- Trojan Records
- Trojan Skinheads
- 2 Tone Records
External links
- 2 Tone info Comprehensive History, discography, etc
- www.thespecials.com The Specials
| Punk rock | Punk genres |
|---|
| Anarcho-punk - Anti-folk - Crust punk - Death rock - Garage punk - Gothic rock - Hardcore & Post-hardcore - Horror punk - New Wave - No Wave - Noise rock - Oi! - Pop punk - Post-punk - Post-punk revival - Psychobilly - Riot grrrl - Ska punk - Two Tone |
| Other topics |
| DIY - Punk pioneers - First wave - Second wave - Punk cities - Punk movies - Skinhead - Skinhead films - Ska |
| Reggae | Reggae genres |
|---|
| Mento - Rocksteady - Ska |
| Dub - Dub poetry - Dee jaying or Toasting - Dancehall - Ragga or Raggamuffin - Reggaeton - Roots reggae - Two Tone |
| Other topics |
| Haile Selassie - Jamaica - Marcus Garvey - Rastafari movement - Skinheads |
