August 23, 2009 18:34

The Specials lash out at Gordon Brown at V Festival

Plus the Coventry legends hail England's Ashes victory

Photo Gallery: The Specials
Photo: Andy Willsher

The Specials branded UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown "a cunt" at the V Festival in Staffordshire this evening (August 23).

As the Coventry legends launched into 'You're Wondering Now', singer Terry Hall, who was smoking during his band's set on the V Stage, launched into a tirade.

He said: "I was thinking what the differences were when we last played here 28 years ago. Well, there's the smoking ban, but fuck that.

"We're still bombing the shit out a country we shouldn't be and the Prime Minister is still a cunt. The only difference is Man United are the champions. Righteous."

Earlier, the singer heckled the crowd as he asked: "Are there any Liverpool fans here?" before he added, "Well, you can fuck off."

Fellow singer Neville Staple then chipped in to pay tribute to the England cricket team, who beat Australia to claim the Ashes earlier today.

"What happened today is history," he added. "I am sending this out to the England boys," he continued the band kicked off 'A Message To You Rudy.

The ska legends performed exactly the same set as they did in they did at the Chelmsford leg of the event last night (August 22), where they were joined onstage by Amy Winehouse.

The Specials played:

'Do The Dog'
'Too Much Too Young'
'It's Up To You'
'Gangsters'
'Rat Race'
'Monkey Man'
'Blank Expression'
'Doesn't Make It Alright'
'Concrete Jungle'
'Stereotypes'
'Man At C&A'
'A Message To You Rudy'
'Do Nothing'
'Little Bitch'
'Nite Club'
'You're Wondering Now'
'Ghost Town'

NME.COM will be coming live from both the V Festival sites this weekend (August 22-23). Stay tuned to NME.COM/festivals/v-festival for news reports, blogs, video interviews and photos from the event. Plus get next Wednesday's (August 26) issue of NME for the ultimate V Festival review.