The original Rude Boy normally drives past Milton Keynes heading to shows elsewhere, but come Friday, (June 5), the motor parks up at The Craufurd Arms – and Neville Staple checks in.
Neville has been credited with changing the face of pop music not once, but twice. From his ace work with The Specials and Fun Boy Three to his many collaborations and his solo band, this ska-ace isn't ready to slow the pace yet.
Which is great news for his legions of fans.
The Craufurd date will see Neville air new material alongside old classics, with a sprinkling of some of his favourite old ska numbers.
Don't go stir crazy at home, go Ska crazy with the master!
Neville went On Track with Total MK...
The song that first awakened your musical senses
Songs by the Skatalites were probably the first, way back as a kid in Jamaica.
Physical or digital - how do you take your music?
A bit of both. But still love vinyl. Glad it's making a massive comeback.
The first time you thought 'Music - this is the job for me'
Aged 15, toasting and deejaying on a sound system. The crowd warmed to me straight away and I loved it.
Your best on stage memory...
Performing with Amy Winehouse at V-Festival 2009. A great soul and fantastic performer.
And the worst gig you've ever done
A Hatfield gig way back in 1979/80 where I jumped off stage into the crowd, with Lynval and had a massive punch up with a bunch of National Front Skinheads
What made you take up singing?
My older cousin Alvin had a sound system and I used to hang out with him. Then one day I just got on the decks, started toasting (rapping) and partying up the crowd and I loved it.
Which one song by another artist do you wish you had written
Original version of 'Rudy, A Message To You' by Dandy Livingstone
And one - by yourself - which holds special significance
Roadblock (from my Ska Crazy album). Its about youths on the street, in gangs, in trouble, guns, knives - sad.
That's how it is but that could easily have been me, if I hadn't gone on to better things.
If you could step into the shoes of another musician, living or dead, who would it be and what would you do?
I'd be Terry Hall and I'd learn to smile a bit and 'enjoy myself first'.
Are there any current musical influences that you might look to
I'm still stuck in the ska and reggae genre and I'm also going way back into Bluebeat stuff too. My band are flaming hot on that old stuff too. It's great dancing music. I'm also enjoying the productions I'm working on with my wife, Christine Sugary Staple.
And any genre of music that you simply can't stand?
I've never been a lover of the repetitive house-style music. The varied ones are okay but 8 minutes of boff baff, boff baff is too much for me.
Finally, plug your Craufurd Arms date - what can we expect?
I pass by Milton Keynes all the time on route to Southbound gigs, so it will be nice to stop off for a change and have a party.
Yes - Milton Keynes be ready for a fun party, original rudeboy style!!
Tickets for the date are £17.50. Doors open at 7.30pm.
