Spot the afro, but where?

23 June 2009
By Jon Bounds

This photo is on the back cover of a 2007 compilation of the work of the 60s psych-rock Brummie band ‘Breakthru’ (Adventures Highway).

From the liner notes they released one (not self penned) single “Ice Cream Tree” (produced by Mike Batt!) which didn’t fly.

Breakthru - Adventures Highway, Back Cover
Click through to Flickr to see it slightly bigger.

The photo is of them playing on a roof in the centre of Brum, as far as I can tell – the sign obscured by the afro points left to Digbeth, right towards (I guess) the Coventry Rd.

Main clue is the shop Hardy & Co in the background, the print is pretty low res and blowing up doesn’t help much.

So, where do you think it is?

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49 Responses to Spot the afro, but where?

  1. brendadada on 24 June 2009 at 2:06 am

    I think it's here: http://tinyurl.com/mzdq4j

  2. Jon Bounds on 24 June 2009 at 7:38 am

    From Twitter (read from bottom up):rnrn#rnmikelcu: @brendadada @bounder we need to be looking at the 1st floor as that is the same now (if building is still there)rnrnrn#rnGreen_8044_green_3352_twitter_normalGreen_0981_1984_normalrnmikelcu: @brendadada @bounder if we could read that other sign under “Hardy & Co” we would have a better idea.rnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder “for Coventry”.rnrnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder The sign probably sent people down high Street (towards where Rotunda is) of Coventry and Carrs Lane for Digbeth.rnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder Martineau Street & Union Passage are long gone, but roughly under Martineau Place (i.e. Argos, by WH Smith)rnrnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder My father (an old Brummie; not on Twitter) tells me Hardy & Co. were “On Matineau Street & Union Passage (off High Street)”rnrnbrendadada: @bounder, actually am thinking again.. angle of street looks wrong and there was always a clock on that junction not in photo. Hmm…rnrnbrendadada: @bounder opposite M&S, not sure what shops are there now, Hardy’s is on corner of High St & Bull St.rnrnbrendadada: @bounder Hardy & Co was a furniture and carpet shop. Also, bands used to play on the roof ledge thing of the Rainbow Suite. I think it’s…rnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder Guessing where Zavi was, next to Waterstones on High Street. See also http://bit.ly/Z39IQ rn

  3. Jon Bounds on 24 June 2009 at 7:38 am

    From Twitter (read from bottom up):rnrn#rnmikelcu: @brendadada @bounder we need to be looking at the 1st floor as that is the same now (if building is still there)rnrnrn#rnGreen_8044_green_3352_twitter_normalGreen_0981_1984_normalrnmikelcu: @brendadada @bounder if we could read that other sign under “Hardy & Co” we would have a better idea.rnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder “for Coventry”.rnrnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder The sign probably sent people down high Street (towards where Rotunda is) of Coventry and Carrs Lane for Digbeth.rnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder Martineau Street & Union Passage are long gone, but roughly under Martineau Place (i.e. Argos, by WH Smith)rnrnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder My father (an old Brummie; not on Twitter) tells me Hardy & Co. were “On Matineau Street & Union Passage (off High Street)”rnrnbrendadada: @bounder, actually am thinking again.. angle of street looks wrong and there was always a clock on that junction not in photo. Hmm…rnrnbrendadada: @bounder opposite M&S, not sure what shops are there now, Hardy’s is on corner of High St & Bull St.rnrnbrendadada: @bounder Hardy & Co was a furniture and carpet shop. Also, bands used to play on the roof ledge thing of the Rainbow Suite. I think it’s…rnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder Guessing where Zavi was, next to Waterstones on High Street. See also http://bit.ly/Z39IQ rn

  4. Jon Bounds on 24 June 2009 at 7:38 am

    From Twitter (read from bottom up):rnrn#rnmikelcu: @brendadada @bounder we need to be looking at the 1st floor as that is the same now (if building is still there)rnrnrn#rnGreen_8044_green_3352_twitter_normalGreen_0981_1984_normalrnmikelcu: @brendadada @bounder if we could read that other sign under “Hardy & Co” we would have a better idea.rnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder “for Coventry”.rnrnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder The sign probably sent people down high Street (towards where Rotunda is) of Coventry and Carrs Lane for Digbeth.rnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder Martineau Street & Union Passage are long gone, but roughly under Martineau Place (i.e. Argos, by WH Smith)rnrnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder My father (an old Brummie; not on Twitter) tells me Hardy & Co. were “On Matineau Street & Union Passage (off High Street)”rnrnbrendadada: @bounder, actually am thinking again.. angle of street looks wrong and there was always a clock on that junction not in photo. Hmm…rnrnbrendadada: @bounder opposite M&S, not sure what shops are there now, Hardy’s is on corner of High St & Bull St.rnrnbrendadada: @bounder Hardy & Co was a furniture and carpet shop. Also, bands used to play on the roof ledge thing of the Rainbow Suite. I think it’s…rnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder Guessing where Zavi was, next to Waterstones on High Street. See also http://bit.ly/Z39IQ rn

  5. Jon Bounds on 24 June 2009 at 7:38 am

    From Twitter (read from bottom up):rnrn#rnmikelcu: @brendadada @bounder we need to be looking at the 1st floor as that is the same now (if building is still there)rnrnrn#rnGreen_8044_green_3352_twitter_normalGreen_0981_1984_normalrnmikelcu: @brendadada @bounder if we could read that other sign under “Hardy & Co” we would have a better idea.rnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder “for Coventry”.rnrnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder The sign probably sent people down high Street (towards where Rotunda is) of Coventry and Carrs Lane for Digbeth.rnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder Martineau Street & Union Passage are long gone, but roughly under Martineau Place (i.e. Argos, by WH Smith)rnrnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder My father (an old Brummie; not on Twitter) tells me Hardy & Co. were “On Matineau Street & Union Passage (off High Street)”rnrnbrendadada: @bounder, actually am thinking again.. angle of street looks wrong and there was always a clock on that junction not in photo. Hmm…rnrnbrendadada: @bounder opposite M&S, not sure what shops are there now, Hardy’s is on corner of High St & Bull St.rnrnbrendadada: @bounder Hardy & Co was a furniture and carpet shop. Also, bands used to play on the roof ledge thing of the Rainbow Suite. I think it’s…rnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder Guessing where Zavi was, next to Waterstones on High Street. See also http://bit.ly/Z39IQ rn

  6. Jon Bounds on 24 June 2009 at 7:38 am

    From Twitter (read from bottom up):rnrn#rnmikelcu: @brendadada @bounder we need to be looking at the 1st floor as that is the same now (if building is still there)rnrnrn#rnGreen_8044_green_3352_twitter_normalGreen_0981_1984_normalrnmikelcu: @brendadada @bounder if we could read that other sign under “Hardy & Co” we would have a better idea.rnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder “for Coventry”.rnrnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder The sign probably sent people down high Street (towards where Rotunda is) of Coventry and Carrs Lane for Digbeth.rnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder Martineau Street & Union Passage are long gone, but roughly under Martineau Place (i.e. Argos, by WH Smith)rnrnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder My father (an old Brummie; not on Twitter) tells me Hardy & Co. were “On Matineau Street & Union Passage (off High Street)”rnrnbrendadada: @bounder, actually am thinking again.. angle of street looks wrong and there was always a clock on that junction not in photo. Hmm…rnrnbrendadada: @bounder opposite M&S, not sure what shops are there now, Hardy’s is on corner of High St & Bull St.rnrnbrendadada: @bounder Hardy & Co was a furniture and carpet shop. Also, bands used to play on the roof ledge thing of the Rainbow Suite. I think it’s…rnrnpigsonthewing: @bounder Guessing where Zavi was, next to Waterstones on High Street. See also http://bit.ly/Z39IQ rn

  7. Jon Bounds on 24 June 2009 at 8:42 am

    More about the band (from Andy Mabbett: http://www.dickiethomas.co.uk/breakthru.html)

  8. Jon Bounds on 24 June 2009 at 8:42 am

    More about the band (from Andy Mabbett: http://www.dickiethomas.co.uk/breakthru.html)

  9. Jon Bounds on 24 June 2009 at 8:42 am

    More about the band (from Andy Mabbett: http://www.dickiethomas.co.uk/breakthru.html)

  10. Jon Bounds on 24 June 2009 at 8:42 am

    More about the band (from Andy Mabbett: http://www.dickiethomas.co.uk/breakthru.html)

  11. Jon Bounds on 24 June 2009 at 8:42 am

    More about the band (from Andy Mabbett: http://www.dickiethomas.co.uk/breakthru.html)

  12. Anonymous on 24 June 2009 at 8:59 am

    Yeah cool, I still think it’s on that corner. The Rainbow Suite was inside that block, down an arcade.

  13. Anonymous on 24 June 2009 at 8:59 am

    Yeah cool, I still think it’s on that corner. The Rainbow Suite was inside that block, down an arcade.

  14. Anonymous on 24 June 2009 at 8:59 am

    Yeah cool, I still think it’s on that corner. The Rainbow Suite was inside that block, down an arcade.

  15. Anonymous on 24 June 2009 at 8:59 am

    Yeah cool, I still think it’s on that corner. The Rainbow Suite was inside that block, down an arcade.

  16. Anonymous on 24 June 2009 at 8:59 am

    Yeah cool, I still think it’s on that corner. The Rainbow Suite was inside that block, down an arcade.

  17. dickie on 24 June 2009 at 11:44 am

    I believe it was Bull street northern side. I just sent a high res photo and B’ham Mail clipping to Brendadada. Dickie, Breakthru’s drummer:)

  18. dickie on 24 June 2009 at 11:44 am

    I believe it was Bull street northern side. I just sent a high res photo and B’ham Mail clipping to Brendadada. Dickie, Breakthru’s drummer:)

  19. dickie on 24 June 2009 at 11:44 am

    I believe it was Bull street northern side. I just sent a high res photo and B’ham Mail clipping to Brendadada. Dickie, Breakthru’s drummer:)

  20. dickie on 24 June 2009 at 11:44 am

    I believe it was Bull street northern side. I just sent a high res photo and B’ham Mail clipping to Brendadada. Dickie, Breakthru’s drummer:)

  21. dickie on 24 June 2009 at 11:44 am

    I believe it was Bull street northern side. I just sent a high res photo and B’ham Mail clipping to Brendadada. Dickie, Breakthru’s drummer:)

  22. Anonymous on 24 June 2009 at 11:53 am

    Hello Dickie. :)

  23. Anonymous on 24 June 2009 at 11:53 am

    Hello Dickie. :)

  24. Anonymous on 24 June 2009 at 11:53 am

    Hello Dickie. :)

  25. Anonymous on 24 June 2009 at 11:53 am

    Hello Dickie. :)

  26. Anonymous on 24 June 2009 at 11:53 am

    Hello Dickie. :)

  27. dickie on 24 June 2009 at 11:57 am

    It was for the opening of Nelson House clothing store. High res pic on my site here:rnhttp://www.dickiethomas.co.uk/nelsonhouse.jpgrndickie.

  28. dickie on 24 June 2009 at 11:57 am

    It was for the opening of Nelson House clothing store. High res pic on my site here:rnhttp://www.dickiethomas.co.uk/nelsonhouse.jpgrndickie.

  29. dickie on 24 June 2009 at 11:57 am

    It was for the opening of Nelson House clothing store. High res pic on my site here:rnhttp://www.dickiethomas.co.uk/nelsonhouse.jpgrndickie.

  30. dickie on 24 June 2009 at 11:57 am

    It was for the opening of Nelson House clothing store. High res pic on my site here:rnhttp://www.dickiethomas.co.uk/nelsonhouse.jpgrndickie.

  31. dickie on 24 June 2009 at 11:57 am

    It was for the opening of Nelson House clothing store. High res pic on my site here:rnhttp://www.dickiethomas.co.uk/nelsonhouse.jpgrndickie.

  32. Anonymous on 24 June 2009 at 12:12 pm

    Nelson House gents outfitters, very trendy, was owned by the Blumenthal tailor dynasty? Later one was old skool style Tory Cllr and mayor of Brum iirc.

  33. Anonymous on 24 June 2009 at 12:12 pm

    Nelson House gents outfitters, very trendy, was owned by the Blumenthal tailor dynasty? Later one was old skool style Tory Cllr and mayor of Brum iirc.

  34. Anonymous on 24 June 2009 at 12:12 pm

    Nelson House gents outfitters, very trendy, was owned by the Blumenthal tailor dynasty? Later one was old skool style Tory Cllr and mayor of Brum iirc.

  35. Anonymous on 24 June 2009 at 12:12 pm

    Nelson House gents outfitters, very trendy, was owned by the Blumenthal tailor dynasty? Later one was old skool style Tory Cllr and mayor of Brum iirc.

  36. Anonymous on 24 June 2009 at 12:12 pm

    Nelson House gents outfitters, very trendy, was owned by the Blumenthal tailor dynasty? Later one was old skool style Tory Cllr and mayor of Brum iirc.

  37. Anonymous on 24 June 2009 at 12:16 pm
  38. Anonymous on 24 June 2009 at 12:16 pm
  39. Anonymous on 24 June 2009 at 12:16 pm
  40. Anonymous on 24 June 2009 at 12:16 pm
  41. Anonymous on 24 June 2009 at 12:16 pm
  42. Jon Bounds on 24 June 2009 at 9:38 am

    From Twitter (read from bottom up):

    #
    mikelcu: @brendadada @bounder we need to be looking at the 1st floor as that is the same now (if building is still there)

    #
    Green_8044_green_3352_twitter_normalGreen_0981_1984_normal
    mikelcu: @brendadada @bounder if we could read that other sign under “Hardy & Co” we would have a better idea.

    pigsonthewing: @bounder “for Coventry”.

    pigsonthewing: @bounder The sign probably sent people down high Street (towards where Rotunda is) of Coventry and Carrs Lane for Digbeth.

    pigsonthewing: @bounder Martineau Street & Union Passage are long gone, but roughly under Martineau Place (i.e. Argos, by WH Smith)

    pigsonthewing: @bounder My father (an old Brummie; not on Twitter) tells me Hardy & Co. were “On Matineau Street & Union Passage (off High Street)”

    brendadada: @bounder, actually am thinking again.. angle of street looks wrong and there was always a clock on that junction not in photo. Hmm…

    brendadada: @bounder opposite M&S, not sure what shops are there now, Hardy's is on corner of High St & Bull St.

    brendadada: @bounder Hardy & Co was a furniture and carpet shop. Also, bands used to play on the roof ledge thing of the Rainbow Suite. I think it's…

    pigsonthewing: @bounder Guessing where Zavi was, next to Waterstones on High Street. See also http://bit.ly/Z39IQ

  43. Jon Bounds on 24 June 2009 at 10:42 am

    More about the band (from Andy Mabbett: http://www.dickiethomas.co.uk/breakthru.html)

  44. brendadada on 24 June 2009 at 10:59 am

    Yeah cool, I still think it's on that corner. The Rainbow Suite was inside that block, down an arcade.

  45. dickie on 24 June 2009 at 1:44 pm

    I believe it was Bull street northern side. I just sent a high res photo and B'ham Mail clipping to Brendadada. Dickie, Breakthru's drummer:)

  46. brendadada on 24 June 2009 at 1:53 pm

    Hello Dickie. :)

  47. dickie on 24 June 2009 at 1:57 pm

    It was for the opening of Nelson House clothing store. High res pic on my site here:
    http://www.dickiethomas.co.uk/nelsonhouse.jpg
    dickie.

  48. brendadada on 24 June 2009 at 2:12 pm

    Nelson House gents outfitters, very trendy, was owned by the Blumenthal tailor dynasty? Later one was mayors of Brum iirc.

  49. brendadada on 24 June 2009 at 2:16 pm
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