Let’s bang the drum for Brum

AS a proud Brummie and a lifelong music lover, I agree with Jimmy Brown from UB40 that Birmingham is the home of the best music, but rarely gets a mention (Mirror, June 20).

Your article didn’t mention The Moody Blues, The Move (with Wizzard’s Roy Wood, as well as ELO’S Jeff Lynne), Steve Winwood from Traffic, Fleetwood Mac’s Christine Mcvie, The Beat, the Fine Young Cannibals, Jaki Graham, Ruby Turner, Laura Mvula... the list of talent is huge.

Unfortunately Birmingham City Council does not preserve or properly promote the landmarks or venues where many of these artists lived or performed, therefore their connection with the city goes under the radar.

Angie Jackson, Birmingham

Starting back in the 1960s, Birmingham led the way alongside Liverpool with our creative music sound. Known as Brumbeat, there was so many bands in the Birmingham area you wouldn’t believe it.

The first song played on Radio 1 was Flowers in the Rain by The Move in 1967, featuring Roy Wood. The Moody Blues and Go Now was another favourite. We went to see them live in 1965.

The Fortunes had some terrific songs, Storm In A Teacup being one. We also had The Idle Race, Wizzard and Raymond Froggatt whose Big Ship was a hit for Cliff Richard in 1969. I could go on... Colin Parry

Aston, Birmingham

Your article Brum on Feel the Noise listing all the great bands to come from Birmingham – and other UK cities – was interesting. As a Brummie, I agree that the musical heritage of my home city too often gets overlooked.

So much great music has come from the area, including one half of the greatest rock band of all time, Led Zeppelin, not mentioned in the article. Singer Robert Plant and drummer, the late John Bonham, both hail from the West Midlands.

They formed the Band of Joy in the 1960s and their roadie was none other than Slade’s Noddy Holder.

Mick Foster, Walsall, West Mids

I was disappointed that Tom Bryant’s feature on British bands and their roots failed to mention The Moody Blues, who I consider to be one of the greatest bands in the world.

They hailed from Birmingham too and produced such classic hits as Nights In White Satin, Isn’t Life Strange, and Question. Their music touched me in ways that was matched only by the Beatles.

M Smith, Chatham, Kent

I enjoyed the article on groups to come from Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield and London – but what about Newcastle?

The North East has given us The Animals, Dire Straits, The Pet Shop Boys and Brian Johnson from AC/ DC among others.

Alan Kelly, Whitley Bay

Tyne and Wear

It was an interesting article in Monday’s Mirror about bands originating from Birmingham. However, I don’t understand how you could omit the influential Moody Blues from the list.

David Bradley, Saltburn North Yorks

Your head of showbiz Tom Bryant missed the greatest band ever to come out of the West Midlands – Led Zeppelin. They still globally outsell most of the acts mentioned in the article. A glaring omission, Tom!

Jem Matthews, Oxford

New album On Record, described as a “sonic love letter to Birmingham”, features 11 tracks by local acts to celebrate the city hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games