Neville Staple: Original Rude Boy
Tony McMahon co-wrote Original Rude Boy – the authorised biography of Neville Staple, vocalist in the legendary group, The Specials
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Queen’s Speech for a nuclear war
In 2003, it was revealed that in the event of a nuclear war the Queen would deliver a special speech before being bundled to safety as Tony McMahon discovers
The Specials in Northern Ireland
In early 1981 The Specials and The Beat were set to play gigs in Northern Ireland to raise money for deprived children in Ulster
When Thatcher caved in to the miners
In 1981, Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher caved into the miners but was simply biding her time for a future showdown
Labour PM Callaghan loses to Thatcher
1979 saw Tory leader Margaret Thatcher defeat Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan in a stormy general election as Tony McMahon remembers
1980s Skinhead Gays – a complicated story
The 1980s gay skinhead scene involved both an element of cosplay but also some individuals who were neo-Nazis and LGBT
Bigoted judges in the 1970s and 1980s
The 1970s and 1980s saw some bigoted judges make outrageous comments on homosexuality, race and trades unions as Tony McMahon reports
The day the 1970s died
The 1970s were a stormy decade in politics and music and Tony McMahon sets out to find how the 1970s died