Tough city Coventry back in the early 70s especially but you didn’t really notice just got on with your teenage life, not sure why but in the late 50s/60s there was a big influx from all corners of Britain to Cov for the big factories, when you think in its hey day the Standard alone employed 15000 then there was Rootes/Chrysler, the Morris, Masseys, Rolls Royce, GEC plus loads of other subsidiaries all with thousands of workers and many of those from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Geordie land, lots of youths, lots of different cultures, lots of fighting. Each area had its skin-head gang flexing their muscles.
The Specials typified those days, were part of it and the group itself made up from different creeds and cultures, not saying they were anywhere near as big or good as the Beatles but they did did create a big & different influence.
So yes RIP Terry Hall ex Woodway Park school boy, and thanks for the memory and helping to put little unfashionable Coventry on the music map.