Were you there? Ska Storms the Pier — 45 years on from The Specials in Hastings

Were you there? Ska Storms the Pier — 45 years on from The Specials in Hastings

Were you skanking at the Pier Pavilion in the summer of 1980, when The Specials came to Hastings as part of their now-legendary seaside tour? That summer, the town’s iconic pier shook under the weight of stomping boots, bouncing braces, and the full force of 2-Tone energy. Crowds packed into the Pavilion, drawn by the explosion of danceable sounds that bands like The Specials and Madness were spreading across the country.