Coventry Music Historian Pete Chambers released his fifth book entitled 2-Tone-2, dispatches from the 2-Tone city-30 years on, last night in front of a specially invited audience at Club 54 in Cox Street,Coventry.
With members of the local music scene,Coventrians and those no longer resident in our City present,all in attendance, there were big queues to buy the book before the musical entertainment hit the stage, on a night made possible by the assistance of Coventry Market.
Coventry's own Special Brew took to the stage before being joined by local Soul Legend Ray King,Specials members Horace Panter and Roddy Radiaton and Antony Harty.
Ray King,Neol Davies and Horace Panter in action
All the hits were danced to with great enthusiasm and the late Gus Chambers,who was a friend to many of those present remembered, before four members of The Selector - Noel Davies, Gaps, Aitch along with Paul Heskett from the Swinging Cats,who played the flute on Ghost Town, took to the stage to play a number of Selector hits including "On My Radio","Missing Words" and "Three Minute Hero"
As for the book itself, it is an absolute mind of information for anyone who was either skanking at Specials gigs, those who love the music but were too young, or those interested in this unique part of Coventry's rich vein of history and culture.
An updated version of The Two Tone Trail - Pete's 2005 book is also included in this book which retails at £6.99.
There are plenty of pictures with many never seen before including Specials rehearsals and at the Bestival Gig back in September
If you were not at what was a truly memorable occasion, Pete will be in Coventry Market signing his new book on Sat 25th October and on Tues 4th November, at his very own 'special' 2-Tone market Stall. He will also be at Borders at the Arena on 1st November and Waterstones Cathedral Lanes on 15th November.
2-Tone-2-Dispatches from the 2-Tone City 30 years on, is available from Coventry Market, The Herbert, Borders Books, Waterstones, Coventry Transport Museum, Hunts in Rugby and on e-Bay at
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=300266084207
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