Mojo - The Music Magazine

ASK THE REST OF The Specials about Neville Staple, and the eyes are wont to roll. "Neville's Neville," they'll say, but what's that supposed to mean? The all-energy MC constituent of The Specials' inimitable front-line certainly lives an unconventional life, and even now, as a fiftysomething gentleman-about-Coventry, is something of a trouble magnet, whether that's a recent Heathrow drug search or dismissed paternity suit. And yet, ever since he stepped out front when The Specials supported The Clash at Camden's Music Machine in 1978, it is Staple's unpredictable quality that has fuelled the edgy vibe of what remains one of the greatest live bands in existence. Here he catches up with MOJO's Danny Eccleston, perhaps typically too late to feature significantly in the Specials feature in the current issue of MOJO, but with plenty to add...

The Specials reunion: what do you think of it so far?
It was good to get back with the lads - I thought would never happen.

All the other guys seem to have been rejuvenated by the experience...
Well you'll be thinking that I'm a f___ng big head now, but I've never been off the road. It's what I do with my Neville Staple Band. But this is something different for me. Something that I used to do. I was wondering, "Is it going to be the same?" Well it's not the same; it's better than it was when we first started and I'm just enjoying it at the minute. I'm putting 100 per cent in, even though I've had two knee operations.

The trick knee doesn't seem to stop you jumping around...
No, course it don't. Look here, I'm an idiot. I had a seven-hour operation. Four minutes later I'm only on stage again. But it's because I'm so into the music. I can't bear sitting around at home twiddling my thumbs. If I wasn't talking to you now, I'd of nipped out and gone to the studio. I have to do something all the time.

Did you ever think that The Specials would get back together?
No. One point I did but then it started getting to be a bit of a hassle. I just thought, "I tell you what, you lot get on with it. I'll still do my Neville Staple Band, and when it's all sorted out I'll come." Didn't want to get into any crap, you know what I mean?

Was that around the 25th Anniversary? Were you involved in the reunion negotiations around that time?
Yeah, I think we all were. But I'd started enjoying myself when I wasn't into any discussions or arguments with anybody about music. Because, honest to God, I just want to do the music. When I'm on the road, that's the only time I keep myself out of trouble. If I'm at home I'm getting in trouble with God knows who - the law, every bloody body - so I'd rather be on the road, mate.

What kind of trouble are we talking about here?
Oh Christ. I went to Jamaica, came back and only got arrested at the bloody airport! They took me to hospital - this is about a month ago - and they X-rayed me.

What, to see if you'd smuggled anything through?
Yeah. Come on, that's daft isn't it? The customs gotta knows. They see me enough times going to and fro to Jamaica. I said, "Come on! I'm about to do a bloody tour with The Specials! What the hell do I want to be smuggling drugs for?" I never smuggled drugs in my life! Well, apparently a runner from England was caught smuggling bloody drugs in cans of fruit [it was actually ex-England cricketer Chris Lewis - Crime Ed.]. They said, "If he can do it, Neville, then you can." And if it's not that I've got paternity suits and all that crap still. But I'm alright because the DNA just come back and I'm clear.

Congratulations...
Yeah, thank you. That came back about two weeks ago. Girl's bloody still got a gob on. That's why I've gotta move, 'cos women knock on my door and everything. You might hear a knock on the door. "Er is bla bla here?" I says "No why?" "Her mum says or her boyfriend says she was seen with you..." or some crap. You know, stupid stuff like that.

Trouble comes looking for you, eh?
Yes it does. But I'm telling you I'm doing my best to keep out of trouble because I'm so busy.

You were pretty optimistic at the end of 2003 about The Specials reforming. You did an interview with MOJO around that time, where you said as much. You must have felt quite positive at that stage.
That's what I'm saying to you. I'd of loved it. Everyone was looking forward to it. But then I thought, Oh God, I can't be doing with this crap again - arguing, arguing.

So in your view what stopped the reunion happening in 2004?
In my view? I keep telling you: trouble keeps coming to me and you're there prodding me to tell you something that might get me in bloody trouble.

I don't want to get you into any trouble.
I don't mind getting into trouble, but you know what I mean? It's a headache. I'm just learning to let sleeping dogs lie. Right now there's no arguments, we just get on with it. I mean, there's a lot of people enjoying it at the minute so why just stuff it up?

One question about what happened previously - how did the track with Lynval and Jerry Dammers come about? The one Jerry wanted as a basis for the new sound of the band?
I did it because I want to get on with everybody. I was doing a show in Southampton and the same day I stopped at Jerry's place to have a listen to it and do some vocals on it. Basically that was it and I went down to do my own Neville Staple Band show in Southampton the same day.

What did the track sound like?
Not my cup of tea.

Not Specials-type music?
Not to me it wasn't.

What's different about The Specials this time? Everyone's agreed that you're giving each other much more space...
That's the way I prefer it. That's why I don't live with anyone - bloody hell, do me a favour! No-one can put up with me for 24 hours. No women can anyway. I need my space - I want to go and do something, come back and lock myself away. I don't really go nightclubbing because I've done all that before. I get tired more gigging now. We're not getting any younger are we?

Read Part 2