COVENTRY Music Museum Curator Pete Chambers BEM writes for the Observer.
Too Much Too Young – the Story of 2-Tone Records
Celebrated music author Daniel Rachel is back with a new book and this one has been long anticipated.
While Ska fans still yearn for biographies from Jerry Dammers, Lynval Golding and Roddy Byers, this new publication will no doubt keep the black and white masses happy for now.
Sadly, I’m not privy to what lays inside his new book, but if his 2016 tome ‘Wall’s Come Tumbling Down’ (a superb and insightful look at the politicised pop scene of the 1976 to 1992) is anything to go by then this looks to be a must for the bookshelf.
Feedback so far includes some familiar faces.
“We lived in Britain, a country that had hugely benefited from immigration, but curiously had an innate antipathy to the ideas of multiculturalism and diversity has managed to capture the essence of that contradiction in those Margaret Thatcher governed years, with this comprehensive, cautionary but nonetheless celebratory saga of the 2-Tone label.” – Pauline Black, OBE
“Daniel Rachel has managed to talk to all the significant players and the story he tells is one that shines a light on the challenges of mixing pop with politics. This feels like the definitive story of 2-Tone. Masterful.” – Billy Bragg
“In Daniel Rachel, the great untold story of the post-punk era finally gets the storyteller it deserves. Too Much Too Young is every bit as thrilling and just as achingly evocative as the music it was written to celebrate… a scintillating read.” – Pete Paphides
“Daniel Rachel has bagged the whirlwind of 2-Tone with joy, honesty and compassion to create the definitive account of one of Britain’s finest youth movements” – Suggs.
To celebrate the publication of Too Much Too Young: the Story of 2-Tone Records you are invited to an afternoon of events including special guest speakers (tbc) and a rare screening of the BBC film ‘Rudie’s Come Back’ on Sunday, October 22, at the The 2-Tone Village Coventry.
This is a free event followed by a live set by Los Fastidious.
4pm – Film introduction by Daniel Rachel
4.45pm – Guest speakers, including Paul Heskett (Swinging Cats / The Specials)
5.30pm – Book signing
6pm – Los Fastidious live set
Book your ticket now at wegottickets.com/event/591762 or from the 2-Tone Village
‘Up The Rollocks’
Standby for action because as Coventry band The Rollocks say, “they are in possession of a weapon of mass seduction” in the shape of their fab new debut EP.
‘Up The Rollocks’ will be released to the world on Friday, October 21.
To mark the occasion, there will be a launch night at The Tin at the Coalvaults on October 21, beginning at 7.30pm with The Big Sugars and Downdraft in support.
This band knows how to make a big sound, not just a big sound but a rollicking good sound and that’s just the sneak preview.
This night is going to be immense, so visit tinyurl.com/The-Rollocks-EP-Launch to get your tickets.
