Editing The Specials (section)

===Founding and early years (1977–1978)===
The group was formed in 1977 by songwriter/keyboardist Dammers, vocalist Tim Strickland, guitarist/vocalist [[Lynval Golding]], drummer Silverton Hutchinson and bassist [[Horace Panter]] (Sir Horace Gentleman). Strickland was replaced by [[Terry Hall (singer)|Terry Hall]] shortly after the band's formation. The band was first called the Automatics, then the Coventry Automatics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thespecials.com/history.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070527022107/http://www.thespecials.com/history.php|url-status=dead|title=The Specials.com|archive-date=27 May 2007|access-date=1 February 2019}}</ref> Guitarist Roddy Byers (usually known as [[Roddy Radiation]]) agreed to join the band in March 1978 ahead of a recording session of demos.<ref name=":1">{{cite book |last=Marshall |first=George |title=The Two Tone Story |publisher=S.T. Publishing |year=1990 |isbn=9780951849736 |location=Scotland}}</ref>  

The new line-up changed their name to the Special A.K.A. The Automatics after another band called the [[Automatics]] signed a record deal with [[Island Records]]. The new name was a bit of a mouthful and was shortened to the Special AKA. The name Special AKA soon evolved into the Specials – the moniker that would be used for most of the band's career.<ref name=":1" /> 

[[Joe Strummer]] of [[the Clash]] had attended one of their concerts, and invited the Special AKA to open for his band in their "On Parole" UK tour. This performance gave the Special AKA a new level of national exposure, and they briefly shared the Clash's management. During the tour [[Neville Staple]], who was initially one of the roadies, became a full member of the Specials when his version of "[[Monkey Man (Toots & the Maytals song)|Monkey Man]]" was incorporated into the group's set.<ref name=":1" /> 

The Specials began at the same time as [[Rock Against Racism]], which was first organised in 1978. According to Dammers, anti-racism was intrinsic to the formation of the Specials, in that the band was formed with the goal of integrating black and white people. Many years later Dammers stated that "Music gets political when there are new ideas in music... punk was innovative, so was ska, and that was why bands such as the Specials and the Clash could be political".<ref>Sarfraz Manzoor [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/apr/20/popandrock.race The year rock found the power to unite] ''The Guardian'' (London), 20 April 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2009.</ref>