2 TONE: THE SOUND OF COVENTRY

A message to you, students

Woke students complaining about racist Britain could learn much from the story of the 1970s 2 Tone label, which with its acts The Specials (with Terry Hall, right), The Selecter and Madness aimed for racial harmony through a blend of Jamaican reggae beats and the snarl of punk. Chief architect was Specials keyboardist Jerry Dammers and its beating heart was multicultural Coventry. Dammers makes a rare appearance in this film, which also features interviews with 2 Tone notables Neville Staple and Pauline Black. Later pop supremo Peter Waterman also assesses the label’s legacy. BBC iPlayer, available now