Filmed at a time when there was widespread rioting happening in not just London but all across Europe, the video for Ghost Town features the Specials driving around London and looking at a once bustling city that appears to now be a deserted ghost town. Much as with The Clash’s London Calling, the overall theme here seems to be that London is drowning and everyone lives by the river. According the band’s bassist, the car was borrowed and the original owner was not happy when he discovered that the camera used to shoot the scenes of London had also scratched up the side of the car.
Barney Bubbles was a graphic artist who also branched out into shooting music videos. Before his tragically early death at the age of 41 in 1983, Bubbles did videos for not only The Specials but also for Elvis Costello and Fun Boy Three.
Enjoy!
Through the Shattered Lens 