COVENTRY Music Museum curator Pete Chambers BEM writes for the Observer.
AT 12pm this Saturday, July 16, the Coventry Music Museum continues its interview season entitled ‘Sounding Off’ with guest of honour Micky Billingham famed for his keyboard skills with Dexys Midnight runners and General Public and The Beat.
Micky will officially open the new Birmingham/Coventry crossover exhibition entitled ‘A45 to 45 RPM’.
Before that, we will find out why he had his sights on becoming a concert pianist, and his wanton to be the next Keith Emerson.
We will find out how he joined Dexys and contributed not just keyboards to some of their classic songs but co-writing them too. We will also find out about that picture of dart player Jocky Wilson on Top of The Pops – was it a joke or a real mistake?
It would be rude not to talk about the song ‘Come on Eileen’ and what it was like to play on a record that hit the top spot in the UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand and South Africa.
I will ask him why he left Dexys to join Midlands band General Public and their success in North America.
Finally we will go into his work with the Beat and The Beat GB. It promises to be a very entertaining afternoon.
Coventry Music Museum Wins 2022 TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Award
The Coventry Music Museum today announced it has been recognised by TripAdvisor as a 2022 Travellers’ Choice Award Worldwide winner.
The award celebrates businesses which have received great reviews from travellers around the globe on TripAdvisor over the last 12 months.
As challenging as the past year was, the museum on Ball Hill stood out by consistently delivering positive experiences to travellers.
The Museum remains number one on TripAdvisor’s ‘Things To Do in Coventry’.
Out of 1,136 reviews from visitors, 1,051 are excellent (the top mark), 72 are very good with just 14 negative comments.
Dirt Road Band for Godiva
Totally buzzing to see that Coventry super group The Dirt Road Band have announced they will be heading for the Godiva Festival main stage on Sunday, September 4.
This band has more pedigree than a Norwegian Lundehund, with Steve Walwyn on guitar and vocals (Dr Feelgood, The DTs, Chevy, The Mosquitos, Steve Marriott, Roger Chapman, Eddie and The Hot Rods, Red on Red).
Horace Panter is on bass (The Specials, General Public) and Ted Duggan is on drums (Badfinger, The Beat, The Selecter, Desmond Dekker, Chevy, The Drifters, Banco De Gaia).
Between them as you would suspect they make a truly amazing,authentic rockin’ blues sound.
After Godiva the band take on a tour of Spain, so catch em while you can.
