BIRTHPLACE OF 2-TONE S; IF YOU'RE not from Coventry (and even if you are), welcome to where it all began. This is indeed the birthplace of that musical phenomenon we call 2-Tone. By Pete Chambers. ) l.

Pic: Mark Radford 

Pic: Mark Radford

BACK in 2004 a friend of mine told the story of how two Japanese girls came up to him in Coventry City Centre and asked, "Where is the two tone?" He had to reply that there was none. It got me thinking, we must have something tangible in the city that lets tourists and residents know that this is where it began.

It was phase one, and it was followed with an Honorary DegreeS S for Jerry Dammers, and last year the Specials got a star in the Coventry Walk of Fame in Priory place.

On May 16 they are to be joined by The Selecter. Last October I published my second 2- tone book entitled 2- Tone- 2, DispS atches from the 2-Tone City-30 Years On. It plotted the return of the Specials right up to their return at Bestival, and included an update of the 2-Tone Trail. That too is selling all over the world, proving to me just how popular this music actually is.

2- Tone @ 30 was the natural next step to thS e 2-Tone Trail, and plaques are being put up on some of the more important sites.

My promotion of 2- Tone will continue into next year, where I hope to launch 2- Tone Central in Coventry MS S arket, a permanent exhibition of 2-Tone memorabilia.

So if you have something special to donate or loan us please get in touch.

I would like to showcase 2-Tone fans. Each month a different fan can share memories and memorabilia.

That way it never becomes stale, and the hope is that we may even get schools to visit and pass on our love of this very Coventry music..

Pic: Mark RadfordRoddy Byers and Horace Panter unveil The Specials' plaque on the Coventry Walk of Fame in Priory Place, May 2008.