In 1977 The Coventry Automatics formed as a punk-reggae band, they originally consisted of Jerry Dammers (keyboards), Lynval Golding (guitar) and 'Sir' Horace 'Gentleman' Panter (bass). About a year later after the mix wasn't working, so they turned to ska simply because "It's easier to play". Soon they added the voice talents of Terry Hall and their roadie Neville Staples along with lead guitarist Roddy 'Radiation' Byers and John 'J.B.' Bradbury (drums), thus completing the seven-man lineup that would become the Specials... for a while at least.The band soon learned that another group called the Automatics had just signed to Island records, so the band needed a name change, opening for The Clash in 78' moments before going onto stage the band shortened their name to The Specials.

The Specials completed two ground breaking albums ('The Specials' and 'More Specials'), before Terry Hall, Neville Staples and Lynval Golding broke away to form the Fun Boy 3 due to musical differences. The remainder of the band broke up and went their seperate ways. John Bradbury formed J.B.'s Allstars and Jerry Dammers continued to use the name The Special A.K.A. for his loose band of musicians who recorded the "In The Studio" album.

In 1996 the Specials began to regroup as a product of Neville Staples' solo album, and a reunion with 'King of Ska' Desmond Dekker. They soon produced a new abum "Today's Specials". Keeping with their new line up, in 1998, the Specials have completed their newest album "Guilty 'Til Proved Innocent".