Too Much Too Young - The 2Tone Records Story

This great book written by Daniel Rachel is about the most comprehensive chronicle of all things 2 tone as you are likely to find. Starting with the roots of the 2 Tone movement in 1979, the author takes you through a very long and tumultuous journey between the paths and intersections of The Specials, The Beat, Madness, The Selector and the Bodysnatchers along with Britain of the early Eighties, and the politics of Margaret Thatcher, The Cold War, Apartheid in South Africa and Rock Against Racism. Daniel Rachel writes well and his style captures the energy and spirit of the times without the heavy “arent I special cos I know these people” prose of some rock journalists or worse musicians themselves who mistakenly thought they didn’t need a ghost writer and simply reproduce the diary of their early lives. Too Much Too Young, whilst meticulous in detail never loses the reader’s interest. It is peppered with the reflections, often conflicting reflections, of some of the key actors at the time. Of particular discussion are the efforts by all the 2Tone bands to overcome the violence and racism of some elements of the skinhead / rude boy movements with large numbers of National Front supporters attending concerts and the trouble that inevitably ensued. One of the story’s most interesting reveals in this period was The Beat changing their mascot to The Beat Girl shoring up the idea of them as a dance band the band crediting this change with a significant decline in trouble at their gigs. For anyone who loved the bands of this period you will love this book - highly reccommended.