THE original rude boy and one of the undisputed forerunners of the ska movement arrives at Mr Kyps in Poole tonight as part of a major UK tour.

Best known for being the lead singer of The Specials and as one of the founding members of Fun Boy 3, Neville Staple is credited with changing the face of pop music.

His biography reads like a who’s who of rock. Not only has he worked with such legends as Elvis Costello, David Byrne and Ali Campbell but he also performed at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony at Hyde Park with The Specials.

Originally, Staple was the band’s “toaster” – the ska equivalent of a rapper – though these days, he sings, too.

Neville, now 58, recently suffered a stroke and told 24SEVEN that he won’t be leaping about on stage tonight.

“I’ll be concentrating on the music though you won’t see me jumping off speakers like I used to.

“I’m getting better all the time but I’ll be taking it easy,” says Neville Staple. Expect a back catalogue of ska classics with a splash of quality new solo material.

If there’s one man who knows about ska it’s Neville Staple.

“I’m currently working on a covers album of my favourite ska records, which will be out hopefully next year.”