A Gentleman and a Ska-ler with Horace Panter (The Specials, General Public, The Dirt Road Band)

Four Strings and the Truth

(Do I really need to write any show notes after coming up with that title?)

It’s time to pick it up with Horace Panter (nickname: Sir Horace Gentleman), the man whose elastic lines launched generations of skanking acolytes. From their shambolic/iconic “Saturday Night Live” performance in 1980 all the way through waves of reunion tours that ended after the untimely death of singer Terry Hall in 2022, the Specials created a sound and energy that continue to inspire Coachella headliners and rudeboys alike. Horace regales us with his life in music and offers up pearls of wisdom for aspiring players, too.

The Specials (https://open.spotify.com/artist/6xnvNmSzmeOE1bLKnYXKW3?si=RoeShhSMTFmTnmo6BhZRYw)

General Public (https://open.spotify.com/artist/6BZbe6PDrJgxiXZ3cIXA8o?si=AgmG7MDjTnCbnVkWKevWug)

The Dirt Road Band (https://dirtroadband.com/) - his latest combo

Horace’s auto-bio, Ska’d For Life (https://www.amazon.com/Skad-Life-Personal-Journey-Specials/dp/033044073X) - a great, quick read

Horace’s art (https://www.horacepanterart.com/) - check out the cassette series!

This episode was brought to you by "The Bastard Instrument: A Cultural History of the Electric Bass," the essential new book that illuminates the origins and impact of our beloved instrument in all its glory. An amazing read. Buy it at Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Bastard-Instrument-Cultural-Electric-Tracking/dp/0472056816/) or your favorite book slinger. And check out author Brian F. Wright's website (https://www.brianfwright.com/) for unreleased content from the book and more of his writing.