Dammers unhappy with Specials reunion

Jerry Dammers has claimed that he was kicked out of the Specials reunion tour.

The keyboard player issued a statement about the reformed '80s ska band's forthcoming live shows, claiming that he had been "driven out" out of the project.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Dammers said: "Jerry has a duty to inform anybody who may be interested of the true situation, which is that he was not invited to take part in this proposed tour, or even told about it.

"He also has to say that claims that 'the door is still open' to him fail to mention that Jerry has been driven out every time he has attempted to get involved over the last year.

"He also wonders why this appears in the newspaper when former bandmates have his phone number?"

It continued: "The prodigal sons came home, kicked me out, and have left the door open, great.

"Attempts to imply that any proposed tour has Jerry's 'blessing', at this stage, are also highly misleading. These seem to be part of a wider attempt to rewrite the whole history of the band, in order to try and justify what is currently going on."

The Specials will play a series of reunion shows in April and May next year.