Music legend Frank Ifield appeared at Coventry Music Museum to show his support for a new Belgrade Theatre musical, Godiva Rocks.
Born in Coundon, Coventry before moving to Australia, the singer returned to the UK to celebrate the announcement of the world première which will feature some of his most successful songs.
Ifield achieved 15 UK top 40 singles throughout the 1960s, including "I Remember You", "Lovesick Blues", "Wayward Wind" and "Confessin’ (That I Love You)".
He is one of 20 artists with a Coventry connection to have their music featured in Godiva Rocks alongside Vince Hill, Hazel O’Connor, The Specials, Terry Hall, King, The Primitives and The Enemy.
Written by Alan Pollock and directed by Hamish Glen, Godiva Rocks aims to capture a sense of pride for Coventry’s vibrant but often overlooked musical history, from the 1960s to the present day.
Pollock said, “on one level this is a warm, funny, human story that keeps you guessing right to the end. On another, it’s a story about an enormous pride: Coventry has produced this music and we sent it out into the world.”
Director Hamish Glen added, “Godiva Rocks continues a Belgrade tradition of producing shows that bear witness to local history, local stories and local experiences. Although Alan has created a fictional story, it’s absolutely embedded in what happened to Coventry—its redevelopment, its regeneration, the loss of its venues, its decline and its re-emergence.”
Godiva Rocks runs on the main stage at the Belgrade from 7 until 21 October.