Hall Denies Dammers' 'Driven Out' Claim

The Specials frontman TERRY HALL has dismissed accusations he banished fellow singer Jerry Dammers from their comeback tour.
The reformed British ska band has lined up a string of gigs across the U.K. in the spring (09) after their successful appearance at Britain's Bestival show in September (08) - the first time they played together since their 1981 split.
Founding member Dammers won't be joining the group on the forthcoming tour - alleging in a statement in December (08) that his bandmates had "driven him out" of plans for a reformation.
But Hall insists it was Dammers' decision to opt out of the reunion tour - and claims the keyboard player and songwriter will regret missing out on the experience.
He says, "I've read Jerry's statement and I just don't get it. 'They're trying to kick me out of the band' - not at all mate, not at all. I spoke to Jerry night after night all through 2008. He wanted to do one date, in (the band's native city) Coventry, in front of 30,000 people, at the football stadium. I thought that was a bit of a Take That thing. We wanted to play 2,000 to 3,000-sized venues.
"I don't think he likes the idea of touring, to be honest. I think he hid that a bit in his statement. But apart from that, I have no idea why Jerry isn't doing it.
"Hand on my heart, this is what I feel is a bit sad for Jerry. He's f**king missing out. He's missing out on being in this incredible band. We haven't changed that much, we still take the p**s out of each other, there's an understanding that hasn't gone away. And he's missing out on that, and it's sad for him, to be honest."