THEIRS was the music which shaped the attitude of a generation. Together

with their bands they did as much as anyone in the record industry to break down political and racial divides in Britain in the early 1980s.

Now the ska divas have got together and are heading for Darwen on Sunday.

Pauline Black, Rhoda Dakar and Jennie Bellestar have between them occupied over 300 weeks in the UK charts. Their unique blend of ska, reggae and 2 Tone produced some of the most memorable singles of the day.

As Skadiva and backed by The Selecter, they will headline day one of the free Darwen Music Live festival.

Pauline, lead singer of The Selecter, one of the bands which lead the 2 Tone movement and responsible for hits such as Three Minute Hero, On My Radio and Missing Words, said: "We are all really looking forwad to it."

For those too young to remember, a quick history lesson.

Rhoda Dakar was the lead singer of the all girl-group The Bodysnatchers, who had a hit with Let's Do Rock Steady, before she joined the Special AKA. Rhoda sang on the single The Boiler and also on the now-legendary Free Nelson Mandela.

The final member of the trio, Jenny Bellestar, was vocalist in the Bellestars, known for hits such as Sign of the Times and Iko Iko.

"There are so few women around the 2 Tone and ska scene that it was only natural that we got together," said Pauline. "Skadiva is a new venture and we have only done about five shows so far, but the reception we have got has been fantastic."

Pauline promises a real party atmosphere for the Music Live event which will take place outside Darwen lesiure centre.

"All three of us on stage together and we will be singing all the hits," she said. "There is something special about doing an open air event, although you do have to contend with the great British weather."

To many people who were growing up in the early '80s, the chance to see this illustrious trio performing live together -- and in Darwen -- will be a temptation too hard to resist.

"What you have to remember is that a lot of people have never heard our stuff," said Pauline. "The 2 Tone thing was only really around for a couple of years between the end of punk and the start of the New Romantic movement.

"What we have found is that when people hear the songs today for the first time, they can still relate to them. They can still enjoy them.

"Perhaps the message which we were trying to get across then is even stronger now when you look at what is going on around Europe.

"When we first started we were a beacon of light when society needed it. There were riots in the streets in Brixton, Toxteth and Bristol but the whole 2 Tone thing was about opposites getting together and visibly getting on. Our music went across any racial barriers."

The 2 Tone movement always carried a strong political message.

"That was the way I grew up," said Pauline. "Being interested in politics. These days young people do seem more interested in the cult of celebrity and I'm not putting them down for that but I just hope that the balance will be redressed at some point and that they will develop an awareness and interest in what is going on around them."

As well as touring with The Selecter all over Europe and to the States, Pauline has forged a successful career as a presenter and actress, appearing in TV shows such as The Bill and 2000 Acres of Sky as well as doing theatre work. But it is music which remains the driving force in her life.

The day after the Darwen Live event, Skadiva will be playing a festival in Coventry.

Then Pauline is off on tour -- this time with Jean Jacques Burnel of The Stranglers and Jake Burns of Stiff Little Fingers.

"People see us advertised as appearing together and think 'that's not going to work' but it really does," she said.

However, before that mini-tour can start, there is Darwen Music Live to look forward to.

"For us it will be party time," she said.