But just because I didn't experience the Coventry 2-tone kings the first time round didn't mean I was going to be left out of this party in St George's Market on Monday night.
The enthusiasm of those veterans rejoicing in ska punk glee for the second time around was enough to get this 'newbie' getting his knees up like a vintage rude boy.
Missing only Jerry Dammers from the original line-up, The Specials were in total command of the venue. The band apologised profusely about their absence from these shores given that it had been 30 years since the last time they played Belfast and nobody appeared to be holding it against them.
Favourites like 'Rat Race', 'Too Much Too Young' and 'Ghost Town' (which will forever conjure memories of 'Spinmaster' Father Billy O'Dwyer's one record DJ set) were met with the adoration they deserved, but it was the impassioned delivery of less well-worn tunes like 'Concrete Jungle' and 'Nite Klub' that provided fans with plenty of reasons to party like it was 1979.