REPRISEM A G A Z I N E

“Birminghams Best Kept Secret”

featuringPage 05

“It’s Not Always What

It Seems”Page 23

Page 11

where are they now?

From cultural revolut ions to musical evolut ions. Homegrown sounds to the underground. This city has seen them al l . Reprise magazine wi l l l i f t the l id on

the lost bands, pay tr ibute to the unique music, and the vibrant scenes that

or iginated here in the streets and pubs of Birmingham.

R

M

ContentsReprise Magazine Birmingham

03 Malkit Singh-The King of Bangrah

05 PST Club- Introducing Scepta

11 Life of Grime-Graff i t i

13 Musical Youth-Where Are They Now

17 Music venues-Sett ing the Stage

19 Q Club-Teracotta Techno

23 Ska Tissue-And the Beat goes on

27 Black Sabath-Not always what i t seems

29 Rum Runner-Flash Back

31 Roy Wood-Got Wood?

33 Jeff Lynne-Making Records

35 UB40-Unemployment Benef i t Form

Malkit Singh

03Malkit Singh

The only ever Punjabi singer to be honored with an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) award by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace

in 2008 is in fact from Birmingham, and his name is Malkit Singh even though he was born in Hussainpur (India) and raised in Nakodar, moving to the United Kingdom in 1984 at the age of 22, Birmingham city are proud to say he lives there and honored him with his own star on the Broad Street Walk of Stars in May 2012 due to his outstanding and highly successive 20 year career in the musical Industry without causing any major headlines for the wrong reasons like many musicians these days.

In 2001 he was also listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest selling Bhangra solo artist of all time, with sales of over 4.9 million records which is over 3.5 million records than the next top selling Bangrah artist. Singh has also appeared on many Indian talk shows which are linked to Sikhism and Punjab on Akal Channel, Sikh Channel, and Sangat TV

Ever since moving to Birmingham He gained so much of a fan base world wide after being signed to the record label Oriental Star Agencies and being able to get all of his songs spread world wide like “Gur Nalo Ishq Mita”, “Tootak Tootak Tootiyan”, “Kurri Garam Jayee”, “Dekh li vilyait”, “Chal Hun”, and “Jind Mahi”, the latter two were

even used from the soundtrack to the popular film Bend It Like Beckham. His song “Tutak

Tutak Toothiyan” is the fastest-selling and most successful bhangra song of all time. His most recent release, 21st Chapter, featured the hugely popular track “Jago Aaya”. Singh and his backup band, Golden Star, have now toured in 27 countries world wide.

King of Bangrah

“Birmingham’sBiggest Bangrah

Artist”

L`Malkit Singh D

TS

FKG

QJP

05PST Club Digbeth

PST Club - DigbethGo back to a time when the night-life of Birmingham was dominated by reggae, blasting beats throughout the night. Fast forward to the twenty first century, and here it is again. PST, People Stand Together, is the home to Birmingham’s Reggae scene, making it the place to be to enjoy good vibes, and great music.

PST has been established for four years, since the 30th October 2010, once it opened in its new permanent venue in Lombard Street, in the back

streets of Digbeth. PST was the vision of Pecker Don, and Specta, who we had the pleasure to talk to, and find out all

about this unique venue, hiding away in the streets of Birmingham.

It opened with a bang, with a great launch party, and still carries on those great nights now, with live music, and occasional street parties that start during the day outside the club and end in the early hours of the morning on the roof terrace. PST is the only club of its kind in Birmingham, and being tucked away, not many people know of this little gem, which parties until the early hours of morning.

PST is a fairly unknown place, often filled with its regular clientele, but there is always a new face discovering this gem. PST isn’t big on huge advertising, and sticks to the old school style of word of mouth, which is in the style of the early blue parties and sound systems that were big back in the eighties, with the home to original music, MC’s and gatherings of people that are there to enjoy the music. This, in the words of Specta, make’s PST “Birmingham’s best kept secret,” and really embodies the true vibe of the Reggae scene.

The venue is an artist’s heaven covered in graffiti from head to toe. The walls really express what the club is all about, with various icons standing tall, from Bob Marley to Obama to Malcom X, sharing quotes, ideals, along with the various views of the artists that created them. The bold Caribbean colours making it young and fresh, and in my opinion really gives PST an edge above the rest. Everybody has a place in PST, and therefore living up to its name and motto, of people standing together.

The former factory site is now home to three levels of music, with tastes to suit everyone, ranging from Techno,

Drum n’ Bass, to numerous live DJs. In the basement, with

“Birminghams Best Kept Secret”

PST Club - Digbethits ceiling low and arched, walls dark but covered in mural’s that set the scene, and the main bar. This is the place to be for you Techno lovers. The main room on the ground floor houses a stage and a full sound system set up, and another smaller bar, with a dance floor that is begging to be filled, flags drape over the darkened walls, showing everyone the home to reggae music.

Finally the roof terrace, which is by far the most stand out part of the venue, once again the walls are filled with graffiti art, the dance floor large, and the best part is that the roof can come off. Meaning come rain or shine, the party continues, and everyone can enjoy the music regardless, and you smokers don’t have to leave your place to enjoy the music. Also the most ingenious part of the terrace is that they have a small kitchen area where Caribbean style food is cooked, and served throughout the night.

Standing bold, and colourful on the street you can’t miss PST. Covered in graffiti which infuses the reggae vibe along with elements of Drum n Bass, Jungle, and a two tone feel, standing proud, and showing Birmingham what it is made of, and what it is all about. This was created by local graffiti artist HOAKSER and French artist RCF1, in 2014, which was commissioned by the arts council, bringing PST to life, amongst the brick factories it is surrounded by.

PST is known for its “Roots”, which are in reggae, but just about any classic tune or style will be played, to make the night one to remember. This is something that has never been done before, making it the most unique and coolest venue I and you will have ever set foot in - it’s got character unlike any other that Birmingham has to offer.

PST is Birmingham’s defining Reggae club, it is the place to be, holding reggae beats throughout the week, mainly Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday which welcomes

you into a world of positive vibes, and great music.

09PST Club Digbeth

Thanks to PST There’s no need to endure a ten hour flight to Montego Bay anymore, because “Birmingham’s best kept secret,” has it all here for you!

Ok, so there’s no clear blue skies, white sandy beaches, or thirty degree weather, but believe it or not the atmosphere Jamaica has to offer is right here in the centre of Digbeth, Birmingham.

PST brings a little bit of Jamaica to a rowdy city. A city usually more interested in the latest gadgets and the shiniest new things. This club is like nothing you’ve ever seen before, a slice of the good life. The mellow beat, and the reggae vibe, is being kept alive here.

Specta, one the coolest people you will ever meet, has been part of this establishment for years, helping to make PST the gem we see it as today. Music to Specta is a form of expression, his love of all kinds of music, and anything vibrant is evident throughout the club.

It is obvious that he wants people to express themselves, and PST is the perfect place for that, from the art, the music, and to the dance. The man that is loving life, his passion for reggae, music, and expression oozes from him, bringing the laid back life, to a not so laid back city.

People stand together, works. Its statement, its name, its motto is brought to life by the people that have been placed together because of this establishment, to enjoy just one simple thing: the music!

One Love! One Heart! Let’s get together and feel all right. -PST Birmingham

Introducing “SPECTA”

11Life of Grime

Since the dawn of mankind we as a species have enjoyed scribbling on walls. Early Neanderthal cave paintings intricately depict the excitement of the hunt and the pride of working together, leaving an exciting legacy that would last thousands of years. It was also a good way of brightening up the cave. Now let’s fast forward thirty thousand years...Digbeth sure ain’t no cave. Known now as the Shoreditch of Birmingham. This bustling thriving once extremely industrial part of town is now a Mecca for creativity, be it the live music venues spitting out everything from grime to the best new indie bands, skate shops and alternative cafés, Digbeth is now the in place to

be. Here people are also leaving their mark.Graffiti lines the back streets, covering its

walls and buildings. The red brick railway arches and back alleys the perfect place to get creative. Once thought of as criminal damage, in Digbeth it is now a recognised expressive language which has been celebrated with the City of Colour Show. Graffiti crews were invited to come and produce amazing artwork covering building many stories high. It’s good to see people celebrating this ancient form of expression and once again demonstrating their pride in working together.

In 1979 Musical Youth, the teen-age pop-reggaeband, were formed at Duddeston Manor School, Birmingham (now Heartlands Academy), created by the former member of the Jamaican vocal harmony group The Techniques, Freddie Waite, who for a time was also lead singer.

The group featured two sets of brothers, Freddie “Junior” and Patrick Waite, plus Micheal and Kelvin Grant. After signing with a record label in 1982, Freddie Waite, the group’s founder, and Junior’s and Patricks’ father, left the group resulting in Dennis Seaton becoming the lead singer, after being the only person to show up for the audition.

The boys always sported a singular colour top while having their photo-shoots, most likely to help the viewing public distinguish them. Dennis was always seen in green, Junior in white or black, Patrick in red, Michael in yellow, and Dennis in blue. This gave them all a signature look, to go with their colourful and lively music

Their debut-single, Pass the Dutchie, became a worldwide hit. The single was a remake of the Mighty Diamonds’ single ‘Pass the Kutchie’, and U Brown’s “Gimmie the music”. Pass the Dutchie shot the boys fame, and at such young ages, with both Dennis and Junior being fifteen, Patrick being fourteen, Michael at thirteen, and Kelvin at a young eleven, these school boy’s lives would never be normal.

Musical Youth became the first black artists to ever be played on MTV, and were nominated for numerous music awards, most notably a Grammy. Numerous hits and performances around the world were to follow, notably collaboration with Donna Summer, on her single Unconditional Love, and their catchy song “Youth of Today,” written by the boys themselves.

The fame didn’t last and in 1985 the group split. Dennis Seaton left, and forged a solo career, releasing a solo album titled “Imagine That,” with singles produced by

13Musical Youth

Stevie Wonder, but it made no impact on the charts. He also formed the group XMY which toured throughout the country. Since then he has been a delivery driver, and has also had a successful career in the car rental industry becoming a co-owner in 2002. Along with this he has also studied for a Music degree, at University of Wolverhampton. Seaton now lives in Bearwood Smethwick, with his wife and three kids.

Musical Youth were to reform in 1993, but after the split, Patrick Waite had turned to a life of juvenile crime and drugs, and had many run-ins with the law. While waiting for a court appearance for drug charges, he died of a hereditary heart condition on 18th February 1993.

Patrick’s older brother, Junior couldn’t take the toll of the bands split, as all he ever wanted to do was to play the drums, and his childhood dream was gone. This unfortunately took the toll on him, and he was diagnosed with Schizophrenia.

For a time Kelvin Grant turned his back on the music industry, after the years of managers milking it, and a long court case over song royalties, and entitlements. After thirty years, he has returned. This year he has released a couple of singles, and is making his way back into the music industry.

Michael Grant is now the owner of his own company were he produces and remix’s songs for the stars, and is also a teacher in a SEN school in Walsall, sharing his passion, with the ‘youth of today.’

In 2001, Musical Youth reformed. They were set to perform at the English ‘Here & Now’ tour, which features performances by many great artists from the 1980s. Due to the 9/11 attacks, the tour was cancelled. However, by 2002 Musical youth were finally able to reform, after a ten year break, but sadly reduced to just a duo of Dennis Seaton, and Michael Grant, as the quintet was always going to be unattainable, due to the death of Patrick, the breakdown of Junior, and Kelvin just wanted nothing to do with it, which was a shame.

Despite all this, Musical Youth are back. Dennis Seaton and Michael Grant are back and are doing what they love and do best, Dennis Singing, and Michael playing the keyboard, with a new entourage of musicians, playing their classic hits, covers of great songs, and some new singles to keep the crowds buzzing. They are bringing reggae back to Birmingham.

15Musical Youth

17Modern Venues

The Institute, The 02 Academy, The NIA and The Hare and Hound are some of the most popular music venues situat-

ed in Birmingham. Many worldwide famous artists have performed at these venues pro-

The National Indoor Arena (The NIA) is one of the busiest large-scale indoor venues in Europe. It provides entertainment includ-ing music and sport. Since first opening in

Conversely, The Hare and Hound, which is situated in South Birmingham, Kings Heath is one of the finest small music venues in the UK. It has been around since 1820 and is the first official venue where UB40 performed in 1979. However, it is only in the past 7 years that it has become the most important and influential music venue in the country. Other performers who have played here include Wild Beasts, Manchester Orchestra and Alt-J.

1991, it has housed an extremely wide variety of entertainment and music. The multipurpose venue can stage concerts, sport events, business conferences and exhibitions. This venue has also hosted other forms of entertainment including Disney shows on ice, and the lord of the Dance. Sir Cliff Richard has played at this venue over 50 times. Other major artists who have also performed at the NIA include Oasis, Coldplay and Destiny’s Child. The venue that we know today as the 02 Academy was formally known as the Hum-mingbird, and previously the Rank Ballroom. The venue underwent refurbishment and reopened in 2000 as the Birmingham Academy. 02 then purchased

the naming rights in November 2008, where it became officially The 02 Academy. It is a multipurpose venue in the heart of Birmingham City Centre, located on Bristol Street, Birmingham and has a capac-ity of 250-3000 people. Artists including Example, Ben Howard and the Fall have all performed there.

viding great entertain-ment for the audience of Birmingham.

The Institute was originally opened in 1908 as a congrega-tional chapel. Over the last 30 years it has been an essential part of the Birmingham live music and club scene. The legendary venue has hosted bands like Pink Floyd, The Cure and Arctic Monkeys. The MAMA and Company pur-chased the venue and it reopened as the In-stitute in late September 2010 (after a multi million pound refurbishment). Other artists who have played here include Ed Sheeran, Basement Jaxx, The Beat and La Roux. The venue is located on Digbeth High Street and can hold a capacity of 300-1500 people. Tickets to concerts and performances can be booked online or over the phone.

MODERN VENUESSETTING THE

STAGE

MODERN VENUES

Terracotta Techno

he tower of the Methodist Central Hall pierces the skyline like a great antenna reaching toward heaven. Its red bricks and fine terracotta detailing are a vibrant contrast against the blue sky hanging

above Birmingham’s bustling Corporation Street.Below commuters and shoppers go about their daily business in the shadow of this immense and now silent grade II listed building. Hundreds of feet above, seagulls and pigeons dart and settle on the crumbling decor. Plants and ivy thrive, all safely out of reach from the conservationists. Though the Methodist Central Hall may slowly succumbing to the elements it still stands out clearly as an Edwardian architectural masterpiece. It also throbs with a secret recent history.Built in 1903 by local architect brothers Ewan Harper and James A. Harper to replace an existing Methodist Church needing to accommodate its expanding congregation, this grade II listed building is one of the grandest examples of Edwardian architecture to grace the city of Birmingham.

The Harpers’ design was on a grand scale, its main hall built to seat 2,000 worshippers. With over thirty adjoining rooms and three school hall’s the buildings interior is immense and in more recent times was referred to affectionally as ‘The Labyrinth’.The Harpers had enjoyed great success in their day and had recently designed The Quaker Friends’ Institute on Moseley Road for Richard Cadbury the son of the chocolate pioneer.The outside features such as the great window arches have been press moulded to produce the finest examples of decorative terracotta. These elaborate terracotta features that adorn the majority of the building were produced by the prestigious Gibbs and Canning Limited, a local manufacturer from Tamworth founded in 1847 who specialised in architectural terracotta. They worked on many impressive commissions, in particular the interior and exterior cladding and decor for the Natural History Museum in London.

19The Q Club

T

The End of an EraDuring the 80s the Methodist Hall had fallen into disarray. Its congregations dwindled and eventually ceased and for a long period the building stood empty with no one quite sure how to develop the site with its limiting planning restrictions. It’s here that this story takes an unexpected turn. In 1991 the hall was converted into a ginormous and infamous music venue! It became The Q Club, and so began its second life as a renowned landmark in British clubbing history. Hosting nights for classic promotors such as Sundisential, Flashback, Atomic Jam and many other now legendary scenes. Blur and Daft Punk played legendary gigs there. The following actual accounts paint a vivid picture of the truly unique atmosphere of the Q Club...

I

We had been going to Techno nights for some months by then, including (also legendary) House of God at Subway City. This was an awesome night one of my favourites. However Subway couldn’t match the Massive size of the Que Club

I had huge expectations the first time I went to the Q club. Waiting outside, the window frames rattled I’d heard from the hard house heads that the building was extremely run down, but I had no idea of the extent. Walking in through the huge arched entrance into gothic corridors that twisted up a stair case to the main central hall. The lights were so bright you couldn’t help but notice the decay. Pigeon shit covered everything, the window sills, hand rails. Rubbish and grime

covered the floor. It didn’t feel like a typical club venue, you could see it for exactly what it was, a derelict church.

Thanks to the que clubs rather high stage I know what glow stick flud tastes like - Having put my glow sticks in my mouth, for safekeeping, while I Climbed the stage (wich is about 4 ft high) I started dancing but was soon being pointed and gestured at by a few people - looking down I saw a David Lo Pan style glowing coming from my mouth - Turns out t dosent taste much worse than your mouth does anyway after about 5 hours of dry mouth - So I carried on dancing like a UV techno vampire!

I used to dj on Hard house and techno nights. You could get lost in that place. The main hall was on the first floor, it felt like you were climbing up and up into the building. Small rooms led off from a u shaped corridor, each with a different scene, a different vibe, maybe 50 people to each room. All having their own secret parties.

The central hall/main room was huge with a seated and standing capacity for thousands of ravers. The ceiling of this room reached right up into the roof, tears of seats tower up to the ceiling, if you climbed up to the top you would be at eye level with the ceiling equipment and lighting rigs, it felt unbelievable high. Looking down onto the party scene below you were above the smoke machines and lasers, it was a truly apocalyptic vision.

I remember one night A mate of mine (the original juggler) almost hadn’t come out because he was too skint but we twisted his arm (not very hard). I was on good and transformed myself into a busking/ringmaster type character - While my friend juggled I worked the room asking for donations for ‘The poor performer’ The spiel was flowing - as time went on it got more and more ridiculous but such was the nature of

the crowd and club everyone was fairly into it - We got donations for most people - some would join in the banter others would happily smile and watch - one guy and I invented an ingenious system of pulleys which could be used to help winch up overly clubbed out ravers and get them back on their feet and partying again - this idea of course would require sponsorship.

I’d bitten

my tongue while dancing

and bouncers led me off to one of the staff

rooms up a narrow staircase. They sat me a in big room full of

tv monitors and CCTV screens while they fetched the First Aider. A member of

staff sat in front of the screens, watching them feverishly. I cautiously leaned in and asked him what

he was looking for? He turned round instantly, with a stern look on his face, and bluntly said “Drugs”. By this

time the First Aider had arrived, a trainee doctor, and he started attending to my bleeding tongue. He seemed incredible bored.“Yes

we get a lot of this sort of thing up here” he said “with you guys all chewing your fucking faces off”. I didn’t know what to say. He knew exactly

what the score was.

21The Que Club

A N D T H E BEAT GOES O N

23Ska Tissue

Ska TissueBirmingham 1978. High unemployment. Thatcher era Britain. The troubles of North-ern Ireland spilling onto the streets. Cul-tures and communi-ties colliding. Musical influences mixing. Influences of reggae and dub music and post punk. There was energy in the air.

The Ska Revival liter-ally exploded across Britain. Cemented in Coventry, Birming-ham and the West Midlands it spread

like a virus, consum-ing the entire country. The Ska Revival and 2 Tone Movement were here and were going to leave a permanent mark on Britain and the world.

The birth of Ska can be traced back to the 1960s when there was a collision of two sepa-rate social factions. The Hard Mods and The Rude Boys mutated into what was later to be known as the Skin Head movement. De-scending from hippies

The Hard Mods were young, liberal minded and leftwing. The Rude Boys emerged from the Jamaican immigrants of the 1950s, who had brought with them a distinctively rich cul-ture of reggae music that fused the styles of Caribbean mento and calypso, mixing it up with American jazz and rhythm and blues.

By the 1970s this continuing vibrant mixing of like minded working class social groups spawned a new movement that em-braced elements from both cultures. An anti racist and pro working class ideal became a life style.The Ska Look includ-ed Doc Martin boots, braces and pork pie hats and a unique musical identity to back it up. Post rock, punk and reggae mutated into something new, something completely distinctive.

A N D T H E BEAT GOES O N

Bands like The Spe-cials from Coventry and The Beat from Birming-ham were spear head-ed by 2 Tone Records. This movement took the country by storm.

2 Tone Records was founded in 1979 by Jerry Dammers of Cov-entry based Ska band The Specials. The label cemented 2 Tone music as a distinct cultural movement of the time, tying in with the fashion and musical tastes of the Skin Heads and Rude Boys who skanked joyously in the pubs and clubs of Birmingham and the Midlands.

2 Tones album covers and logos created by Jerry Dammers and graphic designer John Simms are instantly recognisable with their consistent themes using black and white cheque patterns and Walt Jabsco’s logo, inspired by Peter Tosh depicts a dark suited rude boy.

AND THE BEAT GOES ON. . .The Beat formed in 1978 in Handsworth, Birmingham. High unemployment and a universal feeling of social unrest were channelled into a powerful musical force, fusing musical influences of Punk, Pop, Soul, Ska and Reggae. This was music for the people and the people were angry.With Ranking Roger and Dave Wakeling taking lead vocals, Andy Cox and David Steele on guitar and bass, Everett Morton provided his distinctively unique drumming style and Saxa, a renowned

saxophonist driving the whole act on into the stratosphere with his wild yet tight hooks. The Beat became an infectious and important band in Birmingham’s history and formed a powerful back bone for the Ska Revivial and 2 Tone scene. Their first single went straight to number 6 in the UK charts, a Ska cover of Smokey Robinson’s Tears of a Clown. To this day the band’s biggest hit is the timeless ‘Mirror in the Bathroom’, a meditation on how narcissism can lead to isolation.

With 3 Gold and Platinum albums to their name and countless hit singles the band had success all over the world and played along side acts including REM, The Police and The Pretenders. With songs like ‘Stand Down Margaret’ and their support for nuclear disarmament around the world the critics and fans united in admiration. The band’s political and social ideals reinforced the music and elevated it to more than just a simple pop band from Birmingham.

S K AT I S S U E

OZ ZY OSBO UR NE“IT’S NOT ALWAYS WHAT

IT SEEMS”

27Black Sabbath

OZ ZY O SB O URNE“IT’S NOT ALWAYS WHAT

IT SEEMS” Looking at all the previous musical legends and bands that have come from the city of Birmingham on all the previous articles you would not think that the legendary Black sabbath were formed in Birmingham in 1968, by guitarist and main songwriter Tony Iommi, whose dark and heavy sound has often been cited as key to the development of the heavy metal genre

But being the front man of one of the biggest heavy metal bands in history Ozzy Osborne’s life has not all been about touring the world with his band mates and closest of friends (Tony Iommi, and Geezer Butler) having the time of his life but it has actually been an eventful half a decade which is what this article is going to highlight.

Osbourne was born in Aston, Birmingham in December 1948 and before joining black sabbath in the early 70’s he had left school at the age of 15 with no qualifications and was employed

as a construction site labourer, trainee plumber, apprentice toolmaker, car factory horn-tuner, and slaughterhouse

worker all before the age of 22, when he was sent to Winson Green Prison spending

six weeks after he was unable to pay a fine when being found guilty of

robbing a clothes shop and his father refused to pay it as he

wanted to teach his son a lesson.

When Ozzy was released from jail he set out to knuckle down and get a career on the go but

shortly after leaving prison he came

into contact with Tony

Iommi an old school friend and he

asked Ozzy to join his band as they were looking for a singer in the band now known as “Black Sabbath” but then it was called “Earth Blues Company”. this was not the career that Ozzy was thinking of getting into but said yes.

From then The band’s first show as Black Sabbath took place on 30 August 1969, in Workington. They were signed to Philips Records in November 1969,and released their first single, “Evil Woman” (a cover of a song by the band Crow) through Philips subsidiary Fontana Records in January 1970 at Trident Studios. After that Black Sabbath began touring the United Kingdom until there name was spread world wide, then in In November 1973, Black Sabbath began to receive positive reviews in the mainstream press after the release of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, with Gordon Fletcher of Rolling Stone calling the album “an extraordinarily gripping affair,” and “nothing less than a complete success. The album marked the band’s first platinum selling album in the US

The band began a world tour in January 1974, which culminated at the California Jam festival in Ontario, California on 6 April 1974. Attracting over 200,000 fans, Black Sabbath

Since then Osbourne’s total album sales from his years in Black Sabbath, combined with his solo work, is over 100 million. And due to this extremely high number as a member of Black Sabbath, he was inducted into the U.S. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame as a solo artist and as a member of the band. And even with these great accomplishments he still feels like his biggest and most favorite award was when he was given his own star on the Birmingham Walk of Stars as he is grateful that his home town is proud to say he grew up there.

29Rum Runner

Stand-ing in Broad Street

today, there is no visible sign of the once renowned venue. Like

ancient civilisations turning to dust, The Rum Runner now only

exists as an iconic memory in Birmingham’s cultural history.

Originally a glass factory it was

converted in 1964 by Peter Berrow and it went through

many different phases during its illustrious life time

run by the Berrow Family for three generations. Fine din-

ing restaurant, lounge bar and live music venue. Many famous faces went through its doors from George Best to Ozzy Osbourne. During

the 80s the Rum Runner was at the forefront of the

New Romantic scene. Thanks to Birmingham

based fashion designers Kahn and Bell and the res-ident band Duran Duran a

sci fi fusion of Synthpop and the avant garde blossomed within it’s walls. This unique

sound and aesthetic took hold of the Rum Runner and then the

entire country. The rest is history.

ROY WOOD

From Kitts Green, Birmingham comes the legend that is Roy Wood. You may know him from bands such as ‘The Move’, ‘Electric Lights Orchestra’ and ‘Wizard,’

In the early 1960s Roy Wood jumped around several Birmingham based bands, before forming his first successful band ‘The Move.’ 1967 was the year their single ‘Night of Fear’ went to Number 2 in the UK Singles Chart. The success continued with their third single ‘Flowers in the Rain’ was played during the launch of BBC Radio 1, which was also in 1967.

During this year the Moves lead singer Carl Wayne left the band, as a result of this Woods talent became more noticeable. Wood went onto make backing vocals for the song ‘You got me Floatin’ on one of Jimi Hendrix’s album.

While Wood was still part of The Move, he had an idea to form a band involving orchestral instruments such as violins, woodwinds and horns etc. The aim of this was to create a classical sound. This was an example of how Wood loved to experiment and learn new things. His ambition to take rock in a new direction later became the ‘Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).’

Wood teamed up with fellow Birmingham born musician Jeff Lynne, lead singer of the band The Idle Race. Lynne agreed to join the new band on condition that Wood focused entirely on the project. Also joining them as a founding member was Bev Bevan from ‘The Move.’ In 1970 they began to form the new band, recruiting keyboard player Bill Hunt and violinist Steve Woolam. By 1971 ELO’s debut album was released. The single ‘10538 Overture’ from the album became a top 10 hit in the UK.

After a year of commercial, and worldwide success, Wood left the band in 1972 as a lot of ELO’s performances were crazy and manic.

Later that year Wood created the band ‘Wizard.’ Their first album was almost all done by Wood, as he used a wide variety of instruments. Wizards second album was a joint effort, and was less successful as its predecessor.

Arguably Wizards most famous and popular song is their 1973 Christmas single, ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday.’ Its the song me hear during the Christmas season every year. However at the time it was anything but a success as it was overshadowed by Slades ‘Merry Christmas Everybody.’ In 1981 it was rereleased with the children of Kempsey Primary School in Worcester. Since then the song has been used every year.

Today Wood is still occasionally preforming live around the UK and TV, with his most recent band ‘Roy Wood Rock and Roll.’ In addition they were also the supporting act for Status Quo on there tour in 2009 and 2011.

In 2008 Wood was awarded a honorary doctorate by the University of Derby, for his contribution to music. In 2010, he was given his very own star on Birmingham’s ‘Walk of Stars’ on Broad Street, as a Singer Musican.

GOT WOOD?“I’ve always been that way. I’m not very good at reading music but I’m pretty quick at picking things up”

31Roy Wood

Whats Happening Now?

ROY WOOD

Birmingham born co-founder of the ‘Electric Light Orchestra’ Jeff Lynne, says that he does not in fact like touring. However, to him making music isn’t work. From his early teenage years he always wanted to be a producer in the music business, as he felt it was the top of the music tree.

33Jeff Lynne

35UB40

One of the biggest selling, scandalous reggae bands of our time, and where were they from? Birmingham City. In 1978, eight close friends joined together to make a change. Little did they know how much of a change was upon the horizon. From writing the first ever 'reggae dub' album to ever enter the UK Top 40 Charts, to being the soundtrack behind the British Protest Movement, UB40 were smashing the music industry and wasn't going to stop anytime soon.

UB40 were a band that had come from the ground, they were working class people -struggling to rub two pennies together; some of the members only living off £8 a week and being victims of the unemployment and political struggles of England. This was the foundation and identity of the band, what themed their hit songs and albums, but what also made them stand out from the many two tone and punk artists of that time. Enough to reach no.1 in America and achieve a worldwide record.

1980 was the start of the continuos growth of the young reggae producers' career; seeing them tour with Chrissie Hyde, releasing the hits 'King' and 'Food For Thought', also releasing their first album with Graduate Records, Signing Off. This album along with its artwork was to be the mark that officially stamped the band into the Protest Movement, with records such as 'Madame Medusa' featuring the lyrics 'run for your life before she eat you alive, move out the way 'cause you're blocking out the day', written about Margret Thatcher. The breakout of this album set them cruising through the UK Charts for 72 weeks.

In the December of 1980, UB40's contract had ended, leaving them with the only choice but to create their own record label giving them creative control and expressive freedom for their musical talents, DEP International. This record label was the make and break of UB40. It saw them

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through the break from CBS (an association offering them high distribution), negotiation of a new deal with Richard Branson's Virgin Records, their first UK no.1 album 'Labour Of Love' which sailed through the charts for an astonishing 18 months, featuring the immediate no.1 hit single 'Red Red Wine', remaining in the UK charts for 2 years! DEP International saw 10 different members leave and rejoin UB40, disagreements over the bands subject future saw lead singer, Ali Campbell walk out, to be soon followed by Mickey Virtue. The bands dept troubles was the final straw

for Astro, who was the bands percussionist. This left the remaining members a huge pair of shoes to fill, replacing member after member the bands friendship soon split. However in 2013 'UB40' released the dates for their last spring tour. This took the music industry by storm and filled the media for months. UB40 Reunited. Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue will tour the UK one last time. Ladies and Gentlemen, are you ready?

H u s h D e s i g nFrom cultural revolut ions

to musical evolut ions. Homegrown sounds to

the underground. This city has seen them al l . Reprise magazine wi l l l i f t the l id on the lost bands, pay tr ibute

to the unique music, and the vibrant scenes that or iginated here in the streets and pubs

of Birmingham.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiRU7YrznPc&feature=youtu.be

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