John Lennon was shot dead in New York, Alton Towers opened to the public and Margaret Thatcher announced to the nation that she was not for turning.

APRIL 2015: Specials drummer John 'Brad' Bradbury says door "always open" to former members returning to 2tone legends

1980 might seem like a lifetime away to most but there is one thing that has remained constant throughout those 35 years.

That is that The Selecter continue to produce politically relevant, foot-stomping tunes that pack out venues and clubs up and down the country.

Pauline Black is arguably a product of Thatcher’s Britain – the music, the lyrics and the sincerity of The Selecter are just as pertinent today as ever.

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Black and Hendrickson will perform at the Clapham Grand later this month

And fans of the 2tone legends will know the band’s live show still holds its own in today’s crowded live performances market.

Black says: “You keep it fresh by putting out new albums.

“A lot of bands of our vintage, shall we say, tend to be heritage bands and I’m not saying we haven’t done that but we’ve been back together for five years.

“Our latest album Subculture has been best received so it really is all about doing new songs – you don’t get the same old show from The Selecter.”

But while Black and frontman Arthur Hendrickson, better known as ‘Gaps’ to fans, put out frequent new material, many of their 2tone contemporaries seem content to play the tried and tested.

She continues: “Listen, a lot of them are friends and I can’t criticise what people decide to do – people are still going along so what’s not to like?

“But I do think it would be nice if all the bands on that label got together to do one huge show, maybe three, up and down the country.

“It could be a chance to say ‘that was then, this is now’.”

The Selecter are known for their energetic live performances, such as this at the Isle of Wight Festival

The ska band’s latest release, Subculture, is about – you guessed it – the different subcultures which were born on these shores.

Look around today and it might be hard to spot individuals who genuinely stand out from the crowd or make a statement – but wind the clock back several decades and it was very different.

Black says: “Subculture is trying to get across the fact that you can come together from a variety of different background – mods, punks, soulboys, etc.

“I believe in multiculturalism and that it is the way forward.

“I do think there are always subcultures at any particular time but it is not for me to comment on what young people are doing now.

“Young people always find something alternative, something different, in any decade.”

Black is hopeful 2tone bands can reunite for "one big show"

The Selecter are currently touring with Jools Holland, before embarking on their own UK tour, which brings them to the Clapham Grand, where they will be supported by The Tuts.

But Black admits she was disappointed not to make it to the Halloween album launch gig of fellow 2tone artist Rhoda Dakar, formally of The Bodysnatchers and Special AKA.

She says: “We are always bumping into each other and it would be great if she can DJ for us again the next time we play London – she is a great DJ.”

While Black is hopeful former 2tone bands – The Specials, The Beat, Madness and Dakar’s Bodysnatchers – can reunite, gigs have undoubtedly moved on since the original 2tone tour.

“I remember somebody skanking so hard at one show that they ended up throwing themselves off a balcony,” she says, “I think he was OK – there were no deaths reported anyway.

“In those days, there was sweat literally dripping off the walls, people would dance from beginning to end.

“I do miss that and the stage invasions – all those people on stage, all different ethnicities, which, to me, was amazing.”

The Selecter play the Clapham Grand on November 20. Tickets are available from claphamgrand.com.