IF there’s one man who knows about ska, it’s Neville Staple. As a member of the Specials, he helped propel rocksteady beats with a vicious political edge into the charts.

After leaving the band, he set up Fun Boy Three with fellow Specials members Terry Hall and Lynval Golding.

Now he’s back on the road with a new show, Ska’s Greatest Hits tour – 4 Tone, which also features the Beat, the Dualers and the Selectors.

“To be a part of any music show is fantastic,” says Neville. “I love being on stage and watching the people enjoying themselves, I love that.”

The Specials launched their politics-inspired music in the late Seventies and later scored a hit with Ghost Town, where Neville sang about unemployment and tough economic times, and Too Much Too Young, which topped the charts despite its controversial reference to teenage pregnancy.

Speaking out against racism was one of the band’s key themes and after Neville’s departure, they continued in their political vein, releasing their hit Free Nelson Mandela as The Special AKA.

These days Neville says what he enjoys most is sharing his experience and working with young, up and coming bands.

He explains: “To be honest, I like playing with young bands.

“If young bands ask me to come and do some stuff with them, I kind of like that – being involved.”

Neville says the relationship with his audience is key to his performances, and adds: “It’s like we’re together, like we’re friends, it’s a good feeling. I’ll do stuff from the Specials and my new stuff.

“I’m doing stuff with my band; we’re working on a new album.”

It’s a busy time for Neville. Not only does he have the Ska’s Greatest Hits Tour, but as well as playing regular dates with his own band he’ll be touring with the Specials again later this year.

“Until the Specials start touring, I’m doing my own shows,” he says. “I love being on stage, I enjoy entertaining people.”

Ska’s Greatest Hits Tour – 4 Tone!

Ipswich Corn Exchange, St Helen’s Street, Ipswich April 12, 7.30pm, £27.50 Tel: 01473 433100