GTC
It’s official – our Ghost town car is the original one! Thanks to Steve Kearns, who through his detective work has proved that our amazing Ghost Town Car is the very same one as seen in the video of the song.
It’s had quite a journey, I must say.
It was left for dead, and broken in to various parts, but with loving care, it looks amazing besides its own certificate of authentication from DVLA.
The car has been at the museum now from mid-January and already it is attracting a great number of visitors in this special 40 years of 2-Tone anniversary.
Indeed already 2-Tone stars like Jerry Dammers, Neville Staple, Roddy Byers, Lynval Golding, Neol Davies, John Shipley and Paul Heskett have graced its plush red leather seat. Our visitors young and old have wowed at this black beauty we call GTC or The Skaburettor and we had a young fan in recent day who just wouldn’t leave it alone, and had to be carried from the car.
The institutes
The Institutes stand as one of those great bands from the city that cause much interest wherever they go. I talked to guitarist Andy Hall to see what’s new in their world.
Andy Hall said: “So we’ve recently changed singer and got Reid Currie in formerly of Spotlight Kid and the Shackletons. He’s a real talent and writes great melodies, so we’ve put together our wall of sound from this broadcast and it’s come together beautifully.
“We’ve opted to record it ourselves due to past experiences in studios and the time pressures they come with, meaning we always end up rushing.
“At least this way we can spend time not money getting it right.
“Anyway, off the back of it we have had numerous positive responses including one from a Liverpool label.
“We have a meeting once they return from the States , but they are keen. And so are we. We also had a Birmingham manager very keen who managed Bentley Rhythm Ace and other 90s acts. So we’re obviously doing something right. Watch this space.”
The band (that’s: Reid Currie – Vocals, Andy Hall – Guitar, Andy Lowe – Bass and Kirk Savage – Drums) have their own brand of indie, where the soundscape is taken care of wall to wall.
It’s full without being overcrowded, inventive without losing the point. The band were ticking a lot of boxes before local legend Reid Currie turned up on vocals. Now it’s a natural full steam ahead for this talented Coventry unit.
Steve and Heather
Massive congratulations to Coventry’s most successful writing partnership Steve and Heather Taylor.
Famed for the classic Sky Blues anthem “Go For It”, and writing some of Shakin’ Stevens’ biggest hits, the pair have also penned a plethora of hits for the Irish crooner Daniel O’Donnell (including “Footsteps”, “Give a Little Love” & “Timeless”).
The release of his greatest hits album “The Golden Collection” sees Steve and Heather’s songs back in the album charts at #23 (and more Coventry vibes from the Specials “Encore” still in there at #27).
