Reinstatement Band Inaugural Gig

The gig by Ska heroes Pauline Black and The Selecter last Friday night at ‘The Jailhouse’ was a roaring success, with hundreds of fans watching the Coventry group joined by Rhoda Dakur, of the Bodysnatchers. Text Box:

At their first appearance in Coventry since the band reformed, the audience got an added treat by watching a tremendous performance by the support act, The Dr Mattu Reinstatement Band and Dr Mattu himself. Having not sung for 20 years, the suspended heart specialist joined local Coventry musicians and performed 9 songs that got the crowd on their feet and calling for more, prompting Pauline Black to state “I hope that he gets his day job back because quite frankly we don’t need the competition”. High praise indeed from a founder of 2-Tone music.

Through their music, Pauline Black, and other 2-Tone bands have campaigned passionately against racism, and for a fair and just multicultural society.

Appearing earlier that day on BBC Radio, Pauline Black, a former NHS radiographer in Coventry, warned against unwitting acceptance of racism under the guise of “institutional racism”. Having read of Dr Mattu’s victimisation and discriminatory treatment by Hospital Managers on the reinstatement committee website ( www.drmrc.co.uk ), Pauline Black supported the call for an independent enquiry into the allegations against Dr Mattu stating “I support Dr Mattu’s right to have a full independent enquiry into the allegations against him”.

It was fitting that Pauline Black’s first concert in Coventry, having reformed The Selecter, should be supported by the Reinstatement Band, with an appearance by Dr Mattu, a victim of this so-called “institutional racism”.

Owner of The Jailhouse, Jim Brady, said “it is a disgrace that such an internationally recognised cardiologist should return to his home town, only to be targeted by Hospital Managers for speaking out about the welfare and health of the people of Coventry and Warwickshire." He strongly supported the call for the reinstatement of Dr Mattu and for an independent enquiry into, not only the allegations against Dr Mattu, but also the actions of the Hospital Managers.

It is significant that the 2-Tone movement, which arose from the struggle against racism in Coventry and the West Midlands, has needed to support the call for justice for Dr Mattu, almost 25 years after it was founded. It is highly relevant that only last month the British Medical Association concluded that the NHS is racist in its first ever study of this problem. There is a worrying trend for the label “institutional racism” to be used to excuse and protect individuals who conduct themselves poorly and manifest racist behaviour.

THE REINSTATEMENT BAND

Dave

Guitar & Vocals

Mick

Bass & Vocals

Rick

Keyboards & Vocals

Nick

Drums

The FEDS, a group of talented local musicians, got a rousing reception at the Stag & Pheasant, Foleshill, Coventry. They were performing a charity gig to support the pub football team. The local Coventry group, were helping to raise funds for a football kit for the team. The evening raised £250, leaving the team still short of the required £350. The FEDS welcomed a guest singing appearance by suspended heart specialist, Dr Raj Mattu. Dr Mattu has had a longstanding passion for football and was an accomplished player, attracting offers to join a number of top flight professional clubs in the former first division, when he was a local schoolboy, before he settled on medicine as his vocation. He has long been an avid supporter of Coventry City Football Club. Well...........somebody has to be!

Raj Mattu had no hesitation in supporting young footballers in the community where he was raised, and replied "it is a shame that a sponsor has not been found to help these young players in their plight". He called on the local people to help in any small way , as he lent his own support by making a guest appearance at the concert and making a donation.

The FEDS excelled with a varied set of 60’s, 70’s and 80's hits, many of which were popular before the band members were even born. These aspiring players were joined by a somewhat older Dr Mattu, and he precipitated calls from the audience for more.

Following their successful inaugural gig, The Reinstatement Band played to huge applause at 'The Wallace' in Keresley, Coventry. Dave, Mick and Rick were joined on the

drums by Nick, before a packed house of over 500 guests that sang along with the band's tremendous renditions of popular songs and past hits. After a lively 50 minute set, the band returned and called upon their special guest vocalist, Dr Mattu.

The crowd's enthusiastic response to Dr Mattu's performance, reflected their appreciation of his great singing voice. The crowd danced along and sang even louder, in response to Dr Mattu's arrival on stage and his songs. The audience were left calling for more when the concert ended at exactly 11 pm, due to license regulations. They subsequently voiced their support for the suspended heart specialist and called for an urgent end to the injustice that he is being subjected to. There were loud cries for the immediate Reinstatement of Dr Raj Mattu. It was a great night of entertainment.

A group of Spanish musicians having learnt of the plight of Dr Mattu from the website, and having had the opportunity to meet and jam with the doctor (picture above), formed an off shoot of the Dr Mattu Reinstatement Band and played a reinstatement gig at the Crocodile Club in Barcelona on Saturday 17th April 2004.

Unfortunately Dr Mattu was unable to join them for the gig because he was wowing audiences at three separate gigs on the same day, starting with the end of era celebrations at Coventry Rugby club, Coundon Road, moving to Harbury Rugby Club before ending up at Stoneleigh Village Hall. Reports on these gigs will follow shortly.