Hand and The Heart
The Specials, also known as ‘The Special AKA’ formed in Coventry in 1977. They are one of the most famous bands of the 2- Tone genre, a typce of music combining ‘danceable ska with the energy of punk’.
Originally named the ‘Automatics’, and later the ‘Coventry Automatics’. The band originally began with 5 members, with vocalist Neville Staple and guitar ‘Roddy Radiation’ joining the following year. They began at the time of ‘Rock against Racism’, so the anti- racism stance in society was intrinsic to the formation of the Specials.
The Hand and The Heart Pub, played host to the emerging 2- tone genre of music in the late 1970s. Various bands performed there regularly to local crowds. On February 23rd 1978, the Coventry Automatics played the venue, they returned 10 months later as The Specials.