Indie star Tom Clarke of Coventry group The Enemy has bought an E Type Jaguar, claiming that he enjoys being part of the Midlands’ automobile heritage.
The Midlands used to be one of the biggest car production centres in Europe. Sure, British cars weren’t the best selling brands in the world but there is something irreplaceably cool about brands such as Jaguar.
However the area fell on hard times in the 80s when the British car manufacturing industry hit hard times. With many commentators likening the current political climate to the early 80s, it seems appropriate to point out that, once again, the British automobile industry is under threat.
Tom Clarke is a fan of British produced cars, it seems, and recently purchased a new E-Type Jaguar. “I didn’t get it to be flash. It was because in 1972 my Grandad used to work in Jaguar’s Brown’s Lane plant in Coventry and I wanted a car he’d worked on,” Clarke told The Sun newspaper.
“He’s dead now but whenever I look at the car I think of him.”
Clarke also revealed that his only other big purchase since hitting the big time has been a new flat. The singer wrote the group’s first album ‘We’ll Live And Die In These Towns’ while working dead end jobs.
Singing of dis-satisfaction with his life and surroundings, Clarke struck a chord with thousands across Britain. The band’s debut album was a massive success, and the singer recently revealed it was partially inspired by the collapse of the car companies in the Midlands.
The Enemy are due to return with their new album ‘Music For The People’ later this month. A more mature effort, it nonetheless contains its fair share of fists in the air anthems.
In another coup, the band have been picked as the main tour support on Oasis’ summer tour. Taking in their biggest venues in years, the tour will also feature a star-studded bill including Kasabian, Twisted Wheel and many more.
