And then there were four.

Jerry Dammers never joined the original Specials’ reunion, Neville Staple had to retire through ill-health last year, and in February guitarist Roddy Radiation left to concentrate on his Skabilly Rebels project.

Although Ocean Colour Scene and Paul Weller guitarist Steve Cradock filled Radiation’s place admirably, Staple’s absence was more keenly felt as the band made their Dome debut.

Previously, Staple always played a counterpoint to fellow frontman Terry Hall’s anti-pop star sardonic attitude and was essential to whipping up a crowd.

And with The Specials’ set starting in a very low key way, focusing on final single Ghost Town and their more downbeat second album, there seemed to be an obvious gap on stage.

To counter his absence the band relied on 35 years’ experience to create a stunning slow-build set, which gradually wound the crowd up into a frenzy.

Guitarist Lynval Golding provided the missing vocals on Monkey Man and Man At C&A, and the sound was filled out with a two-piece brass section and string trio.

By the time the focus turned to the band’s calling card debut the whole of the dancefloor was bouncing along, to the point a smile even broke out across Hall’s face.