COVENTRY MUSIC EXHIBITION 2009 - update Oct 2007

THE COVENTRY MUSIC EXHIBITION 2009
Please contribute your thoughts and ideas on this.
Pete's original post on Backbeat (Cov Telegraph) can be traced via Pete's Site Pete Chambers
Trev's orginal thoughts on the museum - Coventry Music Museum
Earlier this month I went down to Cov for a meeting with the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum. Through the Hobo site connections Pete Chambers and I shared our thoughts on the possibility of a Coventry Music Museum and Pete appraoched Roger Vaughan from the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum with a proposal. The Museum is currently undergoing a major redevelopment that includes a History dept, Cafe, Recording Studio and more. As result of Pete's initial meeting Roger Vaughan called a meeting between members of his staff and people who represent the Coventry Music Scene or media, including Roger Lomus, Radio Mercia and the BBC Coventry, Pete Cahmbers, Mysoefl and the Recording Studio. After quite a heated and enthusiastic discussion, Roger's staff took away the ideas and are formulating them into a working plan. There will be further discussions as we go along as well as progress reports but meanwhile Roger and his staff would appreaciate any feedback or ideas. If you have any thoughts on this - please leave them in the Comment box or message me and I will gladly pass your thoughts on. Meanwhile here is a summary of the proposals so far.

Pete Chambers

Present: Pete Chambers, Peter Walters, Trevor TeasdeL, Roger Lomas, Dave Fisher, Roger Vaughan, Jo Whitford, Richard Elms, Martin Roberts

The current proposal is to hold a temporary exhibition at The Herbert towards the end of 2009. This would be used to test the feasibility of a permanent gallery on the subject.

The exhibition aims are:

• To record the history of the music scene in Coventry
• To inspire the musicians of the future
• To celebrate the creativity of the city and instill civic pride

Key themes
• Main acts/heroes/chart successes
• Behind the scenes (e.g. producers, studios, venues, instrument makers)
• Social history context (e.g. fashions, politics)

The current proposal is to hold a temporary exhibition at The Herbert towards the end of 2009. This would be used to test the feasibility of a permanent gallery on the subject.

The exhibition would focus on events in Coventry, but the scope should be widened to include the rest of Warwickshire, especially Leamington, Warwick, Stratford, Rugby. The chronological range of the exhibition would be from the 1950s (birth of rock & roll) to the present day.

A timeline could be used to give a chronological framework to the exhibition, within which these themes could be explored in some depth.

THE EXHIBITION

The exhibition should be rich in content, including objects, stories and the music itself. Objects would need to be borrowed from people involved in the music scene. A number of people have been approached already and most were willing to loan items. Potential objects include instruments, gold discs, clothing worn by band members, fan memorabilia, etc. The Herbert can guarantee the security of any items loaned, which would be displayed in secure showcases.

It is important that the right atmosphere is created, through the use of sound, etc.

An important aspect of the exhibition would be to look to the future and to encourage people to make music.

Content could include film of Top of the Pops performances by Coventry bands, karaoke, juke boxes, oral history, etc.

The exhibition should be wide ranging and have layers of interpretation so that it appeals to all age groups, including families and schools.

AV and multimedia exhibits could be used to provide access to more information, including access to relevant websites.

EXHIBITION VENUE

The exhibition will be held in the Herbert's gallery 4 and will run for a period of 2-3 months. Other spaces within the Herbert could also be used for linked activities, e.g. café, studio space, media studios, etc.

EVENTS PROGRAMME

The programme of events linked to the exhibition could include:-
Launch party
Live performances by bands in café or Studio space
Film screenings
Talks programme
Possible commission of a theatre company to create and perform a piece of musical theatre which could then tour other venues

Local bands could be asked to cover songs from other bands from the city. These could be made into a CD which could be sold.

It will be important to promote the work of new young artists.

PETE CHAMBERS IDEA

One idea I had that I didn't mention at the meeting. Was the idea of a mock-up of Jerry Dammers flat (actually just a one wall diorama). This was effectively Two Tone HQ 1979-1980. I think it would work as a centre-piece to any Specials/Two Tone exhibit. The museum already has hand written lyrics and other items that could be included in this diorama. I have photographs of the whole room to base designs on.

Other bi-product stars of the Cov music scene include Chuck Berry, who famously recorded My Ding-A-ling at Coventry's Locarno. As a point of trivia, when Chuck was hitting number one in The USA, Lieutenant Pigeon were number one in the UK. This meant both number one's either side of the pond, were recorded in Coventry, can't see that happening ever again.

As we also touched on; Reggae star Lee Sratch Perry recorded the Grammy award winning album at Roger Lomas's studio in Coventry. Roger Lomas remains the only Cov musician to win a Grammy.

The Clash and the Sex Pistols both played on the same bill at Coventry's Lanch (Cov Uni), 48 hours before the famous Filth & Fury headlines provoked by Bill Grundy infamous interview with the Pistols. It was effectively the last gig they would perform before the tabloid press went critical mass over punk rock and its "evil" followers.

Regards all
Pete Chambers
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HOBO ARCHIVES
The Broadgate Gnome were asking, I think, about the archiving of the source material. In discussion with Roger Vaughan of the Herbert Art Gallery and museum, I hope to donate the source material from the Hobo files to the Museum / Coventry Archives where they can be used for the new upcoming History research unit and the Coventry Music Exhibition. However there is stil a lot to do on this site as yet.

Trev.