COVENTRY Music Museum Curator Pete Chambers BEM writes for the Observer.
A45 to 45RPM
As all eyes are to be on Birmingham in a sporting sense very soon, I thought it was time to look at what we share with Birmingham musically.
There is but a few miles between the West Midlands’ cities of Coventry and Birmingham yet we both remain loyal to our accents, our culture and our differences.
Football rivalry has not helped but away from the Blue, Sky Blue and Claret and Blue, music has always been something that unites these two proud cities rather than separates them. We hope people will visit and get a better understanding of West Midlands music.
A45 to 45RPM is the latest exhibition to launch at The Coventry Music Museum.
This mini exhibition looks at the musical connections between Coventry and Birmingham that will include artists that are associated with Coventry but were actually born in Birmingham like Phantom of The Opera star Dave Willetts and front man of the Enemy Tom Clarke who was born in Castle Bromwich.
The exhibition also looks at three musical genres that all have a Cov/Brum mash up to thank for their inception, like the Prog Rock of the Moody Blues and their Coventry producer Tony Clarke, The 2-Tone Ska hybrid of The Specials and The Beat and also Grindcore from Napalm Death. Also in the mix are General Public, UB40 and The Fortunes.
A45 to 45RPM begins on July 1 and runs until August 28.
At midday on July 16, we officially open the exhibition with a special Sounding Off Session where our guest of honour is Brum’s Micky Billingham of Dexys Midnight Runners and General Public fame.
This exhibition is in the memory of Dennis Patel.
The Del-Chronics
This Leamington/Warwick/Coventry five-piece does not do anything by halves.
Their new CD ‘Urban Playground’ comes not just in its custom Digipak but it is accompanied by a 19-page fanzine and button badge to boot.
So, a great start, now onto the music.
The Del-Chronics have a background of mental health issues – something which has bonded the band in an extraordinary way.
No surprise that many of the songs on this album are introspective, often personal and beyond all – very powerful.
The Del-Chronics are never subtle – their punk rock stylee is pretty much rooted in the sound of the emerging punk scene of 1976.
If you like your music fast and loud with in-your-face lyrics then this CD will be right up your street.
Adam, Meff, Dom, Mike and John combine to create something a bit special – I understand they are in their element playing live and I can totally see how exciting this unit would be in a live environment.
Song after song, track after track, this is a great album.
You get 24 tracks on here (including eight bonus tracks), loads of energy on each offering and it is hard to pick favourites but ‘Crazy Love’ is a cracker as is ‘Breakin’ ‘n’ Entry’.
I’m also suspecting that ‘Wreckin’ It Up’ is a real live favourite.
Please check this great album out – it deserves your support.