Suggs, the lead singer of legendary band Madness, visited 2-Tone Village in Coventry today.
Suggs was in Coventry before his show - My Life In Words and Music at Warwick Arts Centre and was invited to see how the new home of 2-Tone and music on Walsgrave Road in Coventry is developing.
Picture of Suggs talking to Pete Chambers. Copyright and Courtesy of Carol Quinney.
Way back in 1979, Suggs the front-man of Madness was frequent visitor to Coventry, as the city was 2-Tone Records corporate base of course, he was amazed on his return to see a whole shopping street of Coventry dedicated to the genre he help to make popular. Suggs was in town performing his one man show at The University of Warwick Arts Centre, and this visit was organised by 2-Tone Central’s Multicultural Officer Suky Singh, one Suggs was happy to do.
Suggs arrived on a snowy afternoon, and looked impressed by the 2-Tone Cafe and the 2-Tone Central area of the Village, especially some of the old photos of himself taken on previous visits. One hilarious moment was when his guide Pete Chambers explained the Coventry Music Wall of Fame, Suggs mistook it for a Country Wall of Fame, he was somewhat confused on why such a genre of music would be present at a 2-Tone exhibition, he laughed when the mistake was explained. He was happy to sign photos for the few invited guests including members of Coventry’s All Or Nothing Scooter Club and the 2-Tone Central team.
The 2-Tone Village on Ball Hill, CV2 4ED, has been open for a few months with a Music Exhibition area to follow, but already, the stars are flocking there to be inducted to The Wall of Fame or often just to visit.
An important gig to help fit out the exhibition area is planned for 24th march at Coventry University, with more celebs on show, tickets available from The 2-Tone Village, The Vinyl Destination, Cov Market, and Skopes Menswear, West Orchard or online at www.2tonecentral.co.uk