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| Mandela death: The Specials' Jerry Dammers calls for action | Mandela death: The Specials' Jerry Dammers calls for action |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The writer of the 1984 hit protest song Free Nelson Mandela has called for action in memory of the former South African president. | The writer of the 1984 hit protest song Free Nelson Mandela has called for action in memory of the former South African president. |
| Jerry Dammers said people should "actually listen to what he said and act on it". | Jerry Dammers said people should "actually listen to what he said and act on it". |
| The Specials keyboard player, who met Mr Mandela twice, repeated the statesman's description of people "trapped in the prison of poverty" and said it was "time to set them free". | The Specials keyboard player, who met Mr Mandela twice, repeated the statesman's description of people "trapped in the prison of poverty" and said it was "time to set them free". |
| Mr Mandela died aged 95 on Thursday. | Mr Mandela died aged 95 on Thursday. |
| 'Couldn't be supported' | 'Couldn't be supported' |
| When Dammers wrote Free Nelson Mandela with Coventry band The Special AKA, the anti-apartheid campaigner had been in prison for more than two decades and it would be another six years before he was released. | When Dammers wrote Free Nelson Mandela with Coventry band The Special AKA, the anti-apartheid campaigner had been in prison for more than two decades and it would be another six years before he was released. |
| The single originally reached number nine in the UK charts and number one in New Zealand but was played around the world. | The single originally reached number nine in the UK charts and number one in New Zealand but was played around the world. |
| Dammers said he was inspired by Mr Mandela's statement that "any attempt to get rid of apartheid was welcome" and believed "every little bit helps". | Dammers said he was inspired by Mr Mandela's statement that "any attempt to get rid of apartheid was welcome" and believed "every little bit helps". |
| In a growing wave of worldwide awareness about apartheid, a Free Nelson Mandela concert was held at Wembley Stadium in 1988, two years before Mr Mandela's release from prison in South Africa. | In a growing wave of worldwide awareness about apartheid, a Free Nelson Mandela concert was held at Wembley Stadium in 1988, two years before Mr Mandela's release from prison in South Africa. |
| Alan Yentob, the BBC's Creative Director, said: "The catalyst for the '88 concert was Jerry's song... the Thatcher government was still in power and there was a sense that South Africa, the ANC and the anti-apartheid movement couldn't be supported in quite that way." | Alan Yentob, the BBC's Creative Director, said: "The catalyst for the '88 concert was Jerry's song... the Thatcher government was still in power and there was a sense that South Africa, the ANC and the anti-apartheid movement couldn't be supported in quite that way." |
| 'Inspired us' | 'Inspired us' |
| After his release, Mr Mandela met Dammers twice on his visits to the UK and the musician said he was "incredibly good natured". | After his release, Mr Mandela met Dammers twice on his visits to the UK and the musician said he was "incredibly good natured". |
| Speaking at a birthday concert in 2008, Mr Mandela said: "Many years ago there was a historic concert which called for our freedom. Your voices carried across the water and inspired us in our prison cells far away." | Speaking at a birthday concert in 2008, Mr Mandela said: "Many years ago there was a historic concert which called for our freedom. Your voices carried across the water and inspired us in our prison cells far away." |
| The Special AKA song was used at the climax for the 2008 gig, performed by Dammers, Amy Winehouse and others. | The Special AKA song was used at the climax for the 2008 gig, performed by Dammers, Amy Winehouse and others. |
| After Mr Mandela's death, Dammers said he wanted to see politicians reconsider his call to address poverty through trade justice, the third world debt crisis and international aid. | After Mr Mandela's death, Dammers said he wanted to see politicians reconsider his call to address poverty through trade justice, the third world debt crisis and international aid. |
| He said it was time to remember Mr Mandela's work and "try and make sure racism of any kind never comes to power again". | He said it was time to remember Mr Mandela's work and "try and make sure racism of any kind never comes to power again". |
| On Twitter fans have thanked Dammers for his musical contribution to Mr Mandela's life. | |
| Cath Aubergine said through Free Nelson Mandela she "learnt about apartheid and the struggle for human rights". | |
| Lloyd David wrote that it was "a great piece of political art" and William Regal said: "A lot of British people of my age would not have know of the terrible treatment of Nelson Mandela if not for Jerry Dammers and The Specials." | |
| Some tweets have called for Free Nelson Mandela to be re-released in an attempt to make it Christmas number one in the UK charts. |