The Selecter
2 Tone originals — Pauline Black fronting ska's sharpest political dance party since 1979.
The Selecter emerged from Coventry in 1979 as part of the 2 Tone movement, sharing a label and a scene with The Specials — an early instrumental of theirs appeared on the B-side of 'Gangsters'. Fronted by Pauline Black alongside Arthur 'Gaps' Hendrickson, the band combined Jamaican ska and rocksteady rhythms with punk speed and pointedly political lyrics about racism, unemployment and life in Britain's industrial cities.
Singles including 'On My Radio', 'Three Minute Hero' and 'Missing Words' came in quick succession, followed by the album Too Much Pressure. Black, who has also worked as an actor and writer, has led various incarnations of the group over the decades, and the current line-up continues to record new material as well as playing the 2 Tone catalogue.
The Selecter at a glance
Where is The Selecter from?
The Selecter is from Coventry, UK.
What kind of music does The Selecter play?
The Selecter is tagged ska.
What festivals has The Selecter played before?
The Selecter has played Glastonbury 2025.
Also on these bills
The 1975Neil YoungOlivia RodrigoRod StewartBiffy ClyroAlanis MorissetteLewis CapaldiCMATSupergrassRAYEPulpJohn Fogerty
More ska acts
More artists from Coventry, UK
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