2 Tone Scene in Coventry

This link Spon End Estate may help. I suspect the photo was taken in the centre of the open area slightly to the left from the "Cancer Research Binley" building. looking towards the NE and the "Meadow St" tower block.

I think you've pinpointed it. The park is still there but with new equipment.

Hi Helen and Earlsdon Kid, Thank you very much for confirming my initial hunch. Very grateful! Now, I only need to get in touch with The Specials for permission to republish the photo for a book on Spon End. It will be open access, so I'll drop a link to the PDF once it's finished later this year. Thanks again!

marenqo presume you have seen this one in the Warwick Road Goods yard?

And these off 'The Coventry Automatics' debut release (pre Specials) were taken from the car park by today's Ramada Hotel (former BT) in Butts/Queens Road - just up from Jerry's flat.

Hi NeilsYard, These are all great photos! Thanks for sharing. I think I have found the original photographer and the source. I think (75 percent certain) the image comes from a 7 April 1979 issue of Sounds magazine (no longer in circulation). The article is worth reading as it depicts a visitor's (ie. London) perspective on Coventry at that time. I think it is also one of the first national coverage pieces on The Specials. Thanks again for the great pics. Keep them coming!

I have mentioned Mark Osborne and his terrific thisisthen website before about the Coventry Music scene - you might enjoy these - http://thisthen.co.uk/bands/specials/# If you contact Mark via the site he may allow use of some of the images. There's some crackers on there of other bands too including a very pre-goth Robert Smith playing Warwick Uni in '79. You also probably know Terry Hall was originally in a great Cov Punk band called 'Squad' and co-wrote 'Red Alert' before leaving to join 'The Automatics'. Squad 'Red Alert'

These are great photographs, thanks! I managed to track down the original photographer and journalist of the image. The latter was the same person that 'discovered' Joy Division and others. There are some amazing photographs in the issue of the band at Coventry train station. The interview itself is also worth reading: Sounds magazine, 7 April 1979, special interview with The Specials. From the twitter account of the Terry Hall Fanpage.

Thats another cracker - cheers!

And another Marenqo. '79 again with The Specials first LP about to be released, photographer 'Chalkie Davies' was asked to organise a photo shoot - and they somehow got up on the Odeon Roof in Jordan Well. A mate of mine Alan Denyer who is involved with the CET and PVC buildings as well as the Visit Coventry website managed to get up the the loft section under there not long ago -

The Boys Are Back In Town Anyone who knows The Specials will know their tumultuous history. After bursting onto the Coventry music scene in 1979 their perceptive lyrics about current social and political issues melded with their energetic music created a phenomenon which struck a chord with the populace and shot to prominence both here and in America. This is immortalized in a headline from the Coventry Telegraph saying "Specials rock to the top on tour of US" but they did not forget where they came from as drummer John Bradbury remembered to ring his Mum from Los Angeles to let her know that "things were going very well - they were playing in clubs around the city and enjoying it all very much.' They were also one of the few bands at the time to have multi-racial members. However, this exultant phase was not to last as in 1981 a hiatus in the band turned into a 30 year rift. During the last 10 years of that there were several talks between various members of the band, at one point even six out of the original seven were together again. Nevertheless it never quite came together until in the summer of 2008 they were the secret band at the Bestival festival. This was the acid test, did they still have the magic? They certainly did as 20,000 music fans were inspired by their sound. On the wave of this success the reunion for the 30th anniversary was well on its way and a string of dates across the country were confirmed. These culminated in the homecoming gig at the Jaguar Exhibition Hall, Ricoh Arena on the 15th May 2009. Another sell out success uniting older life-long fans with new generations being introduced. It is now not long until the 40th Anniversary gigs at the Coventry Cathedral ruins which promises to be one big party as the music will be able to be heard all around the area. The Boys are most definitely back in town. Coventry Telegraph 14/2/1980

The Specials at Coventry Cathedral Ruins - details

Looked a great night - shame there is only three of the original line-up still going.

Exactly!

Terrific insight into the Cov/2-Tone scene on the BBC Steve Lamacq show with Terry and Jerry - listen here!