John Bradbury (1953-2015)

December 29, 2015 1:43 PM

John Bradbury, the drummer for The Specials, has passed away at the age of 62.
posted by tallmiddleagedgeek (31 comments total)

.
posted by Requiax at 1:49 PM on December 29, 2015

.
posted by Going To Maine at 1:50 PM on December 29, 2015

.
posted by drezdn at 1:57 PM on December 29, 2015

.
posted by defenestration at 2:13 PM on December 29, 2015

.

Now let's stand for the Irish National Anthem.
posted by billiebee at 2:18 PM on December 29, 2015

.
posted by kimota at 2:24 PM on December 29, 2015

The BBC's short radio documentary "This Are 2 Tone" is a good primer on why The Specials were important, and why they're worth remembering.
posted by ryanshepard at 2:27 PM on December 29, 2015 [6 favorites]

Too Much Too Young. First Lemmy and now JB. Fuck.

.
posted by marienbad at 2:28 PM on December 29, 2015 [2 favorites]

.
posted by spinifex23 at 2:30 PM on December 29, 2015

.
posted by mikelieman at 2:35 PM on December 29, 2015

Man, my partner's going to be sad. We and some fiends had an impromptu wake for Lemmy last night.
There was bourbon.

Not even in the same firmament, but Guru Josh, rave star, dies aged 51.

Been a bad week for music... and whatever Guru Josh did.
posted by Mezentian at 2:51 PM on December 29, 2015 [1 favorite]

Oh man. More Specials is one of my favorite albums - it's crazy and brilliant.
posted by parki at 3:04 PM on December 29, 2015

♪
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:13 PM on December 29, 2015 [1 favorite]

oh man i was thinking about the specials a bit lately, gangsters came out right at the moment that i was old enough to leave indiscriminate acceptance of top 40 nonsense behind (not to derail but how fantastic did that nonsense actually turn out to be in hindsight? let's not go there) but anyway what a gloriously rude awakening that was, not least because of those tight, insistent snare drum grooves that drilled into you like 'get your arse in gear, dance, move!'

thanks brad

.
posted by disso at 3:27 PM on December 29, 2015 [1 favorite]

.
posted by djseafood at 3:37 PM on December 29, 2015

He and Big Rico in the same year. This is a goddamn tragedy for British ska.
posted by Pallas Athena at 3:41 PM on December 29, 2015 [1 favorite]

.
posted by drnick at 4:16 PM on December 29, 2015

.
posted by stanf at 4:44 PM on December 29, 2015

.
posted by mumimor at 5:00 PM on December 29, 2015

.
posted by Kinbote at 6:08 PM on December 29, 2015

.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:10 PM on December 29, 2015

▚▚▚▚▚▚▚▚▚▚▚▚▚▚▚▚
▚▚▚ 2 Tone 4 Life ▚▚▚
▚▚▚▚▚▚▚▚▚▚▚▚▚▚▚▚
posted by loquacious at 6:32 PM on December 29, 2015 [12 favorites]

.
posted by amelliferae at 7:40 PM on December 29, 2015

The Specials were my gateway into ska. Thanks JB.

.
posted by arzakh at 8:37 PM on December 29, 2015

Metafilter: I won't dance, in a club like this. All the girls are sluts AND THE BEER TASTES JUST LIKE PISS!
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:21 PM on December 29, 2015

.
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:29 PM on December 29, 2015

Call me immature
Call me a poser
I'd love to spread manure in your bed of roses

Thanks for the soundtrack to my youth-- RIP.
posted by frumiousb at 11:04 PM on December 29, 2015

.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 7:20 AM on December 30, 2015

.
posted by Cash4Lead at 8:17 AM on December 30, 2015

Metafilter: I won't dance, in a club like this. All the girls are sluts AND THE BEER TASTES JUST LIKE PISS!

Slags, the girls are slags.
posted by Requiax at 4:22 PM on December 30, 2015 [1 favorite]

♪ !
posted by wenestvedt at 11:38 AM on December 31, 2015