The Selecter

The Selecter are a British ska revival band from Coventry, formed in 1979 as part of the 2 Tone movement alongside The Specials and Madness. Led by Pauline Black, whose powerfully charismatic stage presence and vocal control made her one of the defining figures of the scene, the band produced sharp, danceable ska-punk with politically engaged lyrics addressing racism, unemployment, and Thatcherite Britain. Their debut single On My Radio and the album Too Much Pressure (1980) on 2 Tone Records are foundational documents of the British ska revival. The band dissolved and reformed several times; Black has remained the consistent centre of gravity.