Goodbye to red@Retro (2009)

This piece was originally posted on Facebook on 12th April 2009 and I'd forgotten all about it until it popped up in a random search the other day.

A short piece but one written out of love for a 18 month period where I 'moonlighted' as a doorman at club night in Manchester.

It was an incredible night which lasted for a relatively short period of time but so many lasting friendships and memories come from it...

All photos by Justin Johnson

Goodbye to red@Retro 

What started on 10th November 2007 wasn't about money. It was about someone who genuinely loves music putting on her favourite bands for herself and others to enjoy, a community of like minded souls coming together to enjoy themselves and having a bloody good night out.

Retro Bar isn't in a fashionable part of Manchester, Retro Bar probably has never been fashionable. The downstairs venue dark, tired, carpets sticky, door sticking (thanks Chris) but it was home for the last 18 months Maybe in the future when legends are written red@Retro will become as an important people in some bands history as the Russell Club was to those who played the original Factory Club. So many bands and artists, from ska and punk to indie and acoustic in the mix... The Score, Broadcast, Satellite Towns, Orphan Boy, Danny Mahon, Sun and Moon, Music for Aborigines, Cosmic Daisy, Kni9hts (The Number), The Drainpipes, DILE, Sicknurse, Elgazelle, Seaside Riot, The Kirkz, John Herring, The 66, Syd Bosco, The Naughtys and of course Twisted Wheel (who headlined the first red@Retro way back on that November night and had people queueing around the block release their debut album next Monday)... and so many more And the tunes... reggae, Northern Soul, 'Madchester'... Aretha & Donna, Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, James, Buzzcocks, Clash, Paris Angels, Stereolab, Gorillaz... but of everything, the classic, all powerful 'Swamp Thing' by the Chameleons stands head and shoulders above the rest... "I can already hear your tune..." But the music was only part of it, it was a community too, a community of the bands that played and supported each other, and all those involved that regularly attended, am including myself in that, along with Little Red (without who nothing would have happened); Mooch, DJ Justin, Sean, Thumper, Emma, Nat and Shell, Twink, Fi and Willy, Johnny J Last night was the last one. It didn't get boring, it didn't get old, it just stopped. Because the time was right. Thank you Reet

Eilis Frawley – ‘Stats’ – Single Review for Louder Than War (2020)

 Eilis Frawley – ‘Stats’ 

Single Review for Louder Than War - 5th September 2020 

https://louderthanwar.com/eilis-frawley-stats-single-review/

Eilis Frawley

’Stats’

Reckless Yes

Download and Streaming Now

8/10

‘Stats’ is the first track from solo drummer and conservatoire-trained percussionist Eilis Frawley’s second EP due this Autumn. It’s a blistering feminist social commentary which demands to be listened to.

I appreciate hearing a track for the first time that grabs your attention and makes you stop what you’re doing, for me this is one of those tracks.

With ‘Stats’ I was hooked from the opening, electronic militaristic drum beat (ironic?) mixing into early electronica (avant-garde but familiar and fresh at the same time).

It was when Australian Eilis’s spoken-word delivery came in that I really started to pay attention, taking me back around 40 years to the first time I heard ‘The Boiler’ by Rhoda Dakar, not that this is quite as harrowing, but from the off it is an uncomfortable listen which never lets up.

The former ‘Party Fears’ member runs through the everyday hardships that women encounter. Lyrically like a more explicit, angrier sibling to Saffiyah Khan’s ’10 Commandments’ on the recent Specials album covering sexual harassment, abuse, rape, domestic violence, panic attacks and mutilation (amongst other things) until suddenly stopping dead.

As a 50 year old male I wasn’t sure if I was the target audience for Eilis’s unapologetically graphic piece of work and discussed this with a close friend. She pointed out that actually every male probably should be, not so we’d feel guilty, but to be mindful of the points made, to understand them and champion them.

In an ideal world there would still be ‘Top Of The Pops’ where Eilis could perform between Little Mix and Ed Sheeran to highlight how challenging and educational music can be, as there isn’t then I hope that an invitation to Jools Holland or a play on daytime ‘6 Music’ may not be far away.

I would definately recommend to anyone who wants to likes their music to land with a message.

More details and social media links for Eilis Frawley:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram

 

Iain Key 2020

Fightmilk - ‘If You Had A Sister…’ - Single Review for Louder Than War (2020)

Fightmilk - ‘If You Had A Sister…’ 

Single Review for Louder Than War - 31st August 2020

https://louderthanwar.com/fightmilk-if-you-had-a-sister-single-review/

 FIGHTMILK

‘IF YOU HAD A SISTER…’

Reckless Yes

DL and Streaming from 4th September

 

The second single to be lifted from the slightly delayed and as yet unnamed follow up album to 2018’s ‘Not With That Attitude’ (thanks coronavirus!) and follow up to the magnificently titled ‘I’m Starting To Think You Don’t Even Want To Go To Space’

‘If You Had A Sister…’ is a slight, but definitely not unwelcome, departure from the punchy, polished upbeat, pop-tones that you may expect if you’re already familiar with their work and can be traced back to a slight change in line-up with Healey joining on bass.

As the band explain… “we put ‘If You Had a Sister…’ together during our first practice with Healey, which seemed like an incredibly good sign. I don’t think any of us expected it to come out sounding all that different from a regular Fightmilk song, but the more we worked on it, the less it seemed to need to”.

Personally, the first thing that struck was that the opening doesn’t sound too dissimilar from ‘Disintegration’ era Cure, which set the tone, but as soon as Lily Rae’s vocals kick in it’s definitely Fightmilk. The song builds steadily with slightly restrained verses and yearning vocals before breaking into a satisfying tumble of drums and melodic guitars. 

The band expanding, “it’s a bit slower and quieter than the fast guitar pop of the last album, and it’s about all kinds of dark things – but if there was ever a time for songs you can do ominous slow dancing to, it’s 2020.”

I’m not sure if ‘maturing’ is a dirty word and hopefully it’s not one that the band won’t turn their noses up at or running for the sick bucket.

Their debut album seemed to come out of nowhere, confident and fully formed. With the release of ‘If You Had A Sister…”, although a little more subdued, I think it signals the band getting ready to take things to the next level.

 

Follow Fightmilk on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

~

Iain Key 2020

Crimson Bloom – Finer Times – Album Review - for Louder Than War (2020)

Crimson Bloom – Finer Times 

Album Review for 'Louder Than War' - 15th August 2020 

https://louderthanwar.com/crimson-bloom-finer-times/

 

Crimson Bloom

Finer Times

Streaming/Out Now

Crimson Bloom release the long-awaited follow up to their eponymous debut. Iain Key reviews the album for Louder Than War.

Crimson Bloom released their self-titled debut album in 2018, and in their own words, ‘drew heavily on the late 80s/early 90s independent guitar scene with a knowing nod to the psychedelia of the 1960s and a few clubby, dubby flavours thrown in here and there’. To all intents and purposes, it was an unashamed love letter to those heady days of the late ’80s and specifically The Stone Roses, especially on the track ‘Fall For You’ which is like a cousin to ‘Elephant Stone’ with its baggy groove and wah guitar.

Thankfully the second album hasn’t taken 5 years to see the light of day and it builds on the debut picking up more influences rather than just repeating the same formula. If you’re already a fan of the debut you won’t be disappointed. For those new to the band it will draw you in with its melodic hooks, jangling guitars and gentle grooves which give a warm glow and takes you back to summers gone by.

Compared to the debut album, Finer Times is more psychedelic in places and more heartfelt. It deals with a whole range of subjects; Death, Love, Corruption and The Seven Deadly Sins. Having had the album for a few weeks I guarantee anyone coming to it will be rewarded through repeated listens. Andy and the band don’t shy away from their influences, such as The La’s, The Smiths, The Coral and even Can and nor should they, but I feel that their talents as a songwriter and musicians may initially be overlooked.

I won’t break the album down track by track as I think this does the band a disservice and takes away some of the enjoyment of seeking out and hearing an album or new artist. What is pleasing is there is a definite flow to the album with each track complimenting the next. There is nothing that jars or takes you away from the pleasure of listening. This is an art that’s been often forgotten with bands or record companies catering for streaming, loaded with ‘the hits’ before petering out, possibly not expecting the audience, or crediting them with the ability or staying power to last 40 mins before switching to something new.

That’s definitely not the case here as ‘Finer Times’ starts strongly and keeps the listener engaged throughout to its blissful climax.

~

Crimson Bloom are on Facebook & Twitter

Iain Key 2020

Blue Rose Code - ‘With Healings Of The Deepest Kind’ (2020)

‘Blue Rose Code’ is Ross Wilson… born in Edinburgh, spent a long time living in London and I believe recently moved to Liverpool. 

‘With Healings Of The Deepest Kind’ his latest album, is his fifth and was released in July.  

This was recommended by a friend, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. We’ve all been to those gigs, or forced to listen to records or artists which/who friends claim to be amazing’ but ultimately you find it not to you personal taste and then wonder why these people are even your friends!

I should have more faith in some of my friends… 

‘Blue Rose Code’ or Ross, as hopefully he won’t mind me referring to him, thankfully doesn’t fall into that category. Within the first 3 tracks I was hooked and already searching Bandcamp and Apple Music (other music streaming services are available) to see what else I would be able listen to after working through the 9 tracks on this release

Ross is billed as ‘at the edge of contemporary alt-folk, Wilson's music evokes a meeting of Van Morrison and a young John Martyn’. There is no doubting his influences however my first thoughts listening reminded me of Deacon Blue, with the warm emotive tones of Ricky Ross backed by Lorraine McIntosh, of Orkney based folk artist Kris Drever and also English 

Troubadour Frank Turner in some of his more heartfelt moments

To be honest I feel a little late to the party, Ross’s music has already has received rave reviews over the years, as has ‘With Healings Of The Deepest Kind’ and quite rightly so. He’s appeared on Scotlands perennial music show ‘The Quay Sessions’ on a number of occasions (available to us South of the border on iPlayer) and has recorded sessions for BBC Radio 2

Since releasing his first single, ‘Love / Whitechapel’ in 2009, Ross has built a loyal fanbase, and in a similar way to fellow Scot, Gerry Cinnamon is fiercely independent, proudly not disguising his accent or heritage, choosing to release the album himself without the backing of a ‘label’

 

To be fair, if you’ve read this far then do yourself a favour and watch the short film released to accompany the album ‘This Time Around’ before you listen to ‘With Healings Of The Deepest Kind.’ 

Ross’s journey hasn’t been smooth over the last decade, anything but… and it's refreshing that in the film he talks openly about this. 

I guarantee after watching the film the collection of songs will have more resonance, especially when you realise each comes straight from the heart, every track has meaning and there isn’t a single lyric wasted… 

Musically, the production is exquisite throughout, whether on the slightly bluegrass, Ryan Adam’s feel of ‘Love A Little’ the uptempo, driving, 'LDN City Lights.’ There are some touches in songs that spring to mind as well, the subtle organ which begins the building ‘Bloom'; and

the rolling cymbals evoking images of the sea at the start of the reflective ‘Wide Atlantic Way’

My personal favourite track on the album is ‘Starlit’ in which Ross is accompanied by piano and strings and vocals which really take you on a journey as you feel the emotion pouring out of him… (to be fair that could be many of the tracks, but for me this was the one)

I can imagine ‘Healings Of The Deepest Kind’ as the perfect album for both lazy summer mornings and the cold, reflective winter evenings 

Ronnie The Revel (1989)

This was something that I originally wrote for my friend Sue in 1989 but reworked slightly for my nephews and niece

I only got a copy of it again recently when my sister found it at the back of a cupboard 

Essentially it’s a children story, but hopefully with a few nods to things, that would have then been contemporary for the adults as well... 

Tony Davidson (TJM Records / TJ Davidson’s Rehearsals) - Interview (2020)

The history of the Manchester Music Scene from the night the Sex Pistols played the Lesser Free Trade Hall on 6th June 1976 is generally well documented for  those who are interested.

Over the last couple of years a two books have been published by Empire Publishing, Martin Ryan's 'Friends Of Mine' and Gareth Ashton's 'Manchester, It Never Rains' which added new perspectives to the music scene in the city leading up to and including the early days of punk and new wave.

This October sees the release of 'The TJM Story' by Tony Davidson, a man who isn't perhaps as well known as the likes of Tony Wilson, Rob Gretton or Martin Hannett however is equally important, if not more so, in some areas and whose involvement facilitated the development and growth of a number of individuals and bands which has led to artists such as New Order and Simply Red being heard around the world.

Tony regularly posts fascinating anecdotes on Facebook which add additional context to what's been written about previously and I, like many are really looking forward to reading the book

Hi Tony, How are you?

Very good, working hard on the book, getting to the end of it now. It's been a good experience, really enjoying it, the people I've been meeting and the really great stories/memories I'm hearing

When did you start pulling it together?

I started off over 2 years ago, a slow process, and then things started getting momentum with a few 'big names' coming along. now I've got a bit of media interest to now they know there is a book coming out

 

A lot of significance is put on the first Pistols gig and Factory for making Manchester what it is, but I think you’re often overlooked and don’t get the credit or recognition you deserve in making things happen

No, I don't. Tony Wilson came a long later, and was a great talented guy in the media but it all had to start somewhere, and part of that was the bands coming together and a lot of them have said if it wasn't for the TJM set up with the Warehouse in the centre of Manchester the music scene could have happened but it would have been very fragmented... because of the rehearsal rooms it gave bands a chance to come together to share their ideas, Peter Hook said that, it was a place all the bands came together, it was just a unique moment in time

Did you feel it was something special at the time?

Not really, when you're in the process of it all from 1977-79 you're just doing your best but now it's become part of the worldwide music history

How did you come to buy the warehouse that was to become TJ Davidson’s?

My family were in the jewellery business, and I was very lucky. I had left jewellery college and worked in the family shop for a year and then went out on my own. At the same time the price of gold went up, and because of the contacts I had in about 6 months I earnt quite a bit of money. I was going to buy a house in Wilmslow and about to get married to my first wife, but I was managing The Drones and had some success getting them a record deal...

Like a lot of people went to the second Sex Pistols concert. I was just fired up and have a eureka moment. I'd done my best with The Drones taking them as far as I could and saw this property in town, you're talking about Manchester in 1977, it was a very depressed area, near Deansgate, around the corner from where the Hacienda would be, less than 50 yards away on Little Peter Street. This 'mill' took up two thirds of the street, I looked round it and thought 'right'... 

I always knew there was a demand for a place for rehearsals and just had a feeling. I could see the bands in there. I just got the inspiration...

Can I ask how much it cost?

The building cost me £21500, they had it up at £28000 but I got it down to £21500 and bought the property... that was a lot of money back in 1977. I wish I'd kept it! I'd be a millionaire by now!

 

How did you attract the bands?

I had a plan straight away and started fly posting, advertising, there was no media, no internet... I got Tosh Ryan from Rabid Records involved, did my office in the building up and then the bands just started coming... the first were Ed Banger and The Nosebleeds

and then it was just an avalanche... people saw the number about town and started coming down, Joy Division, The Fall, Buzzcocks... and big bands at the time like Sad Cafe. Sometimes there would be 20 bands in there at the same time and out of that then started the record company...

 

I was going to ask about that, did it feel like a natural progression?

Yes, it was a natural progression as there were so many bands...

I remember when Mick Hucknall come in, he was very push though and we were full, he said 'but we've come all the way from Hyde'... I said I've got one room... right in the depth of the building, in the cellar, it had lighting but no natural light... they loved it... After 2 weeks I went to get my rent money but they didn't have it... and Hucknell said 'we'll do a record for you'... at the time I'd signed The Distractions and Slaughter and The Dogs, they weren't even on my radar... but he was that persuasive, I said 'look, I'll give you 4 weeks free time'... cos I felt sorry for them... told them to improve the act as they were all over the place musically, hone your craft, and fair play to them they used to treat it like a job and come in 9am-5pm and work.They still weren't perfect, but I saw something...

Slaughter and The Dogs come in, they'd left Decca, and thought they were gonna sell records so gave them a big money deal... £2000 advance... put them in the studio, they sold 15000 records, which today would get you in the charts...

 

What was it like with Joy Division?

I saw them develop from Warsaw into Joy Division, they didn't really know what they were doing at first, people say now that they had some magical touch... but it was the press and production that made them.

At the time they come to me and asked me to manage them. but I had so much on my plate with the rehearsal rooms and record company... I knew I couldn't do them justice, I think they were trying to impress me, I remember it clearly, they took me to the one kebab house in Manchester open on a Sunday, under Piccadilly Hotel... but I said to them, give me 2 weeks... and in that time Rob Gretton became the manager... we had a good laugh about that

But you still helped them with 12" repressing of 'Ideal for Living'

Yeah, I leant the money, it was all good natured, I didn't charge them any interest... they owed me £100 in back rent too which I put in the letter that has been in books and things

 

There must be some fantastic stories going into the book...

There are, Billy Duffy who is in America now was in Ed Banger and The Nosebleeds, he's a superstar now in The Cult. Toby Tomanov was in Primal Scream.... the stories they tell me are fantastic.

There are so many stories within stories

 

You had a feature in 'Record Collector' earlier in the year. Has there been any interest in putting together a compilation of the bands?

Yes, we're bringing out a compilation to cover the label

 

TJM Records finished in 1979, what did you do afterwards?

After TJM closed down I went back to the jewellery business until a few years later when Mick Hucknall, Simply Red released 'Holding Back The Years' and I had those early recordings of him so I brought out a 12" EP of the 6 recordings he did for TJM.

There was a big legal case with Virgin which I won... and after that I started up a '60's' label...

 

That must have been interesting...

It was, I did a lot of work signing about 80 bands from the 60's. People like Pete Best, Tony Preston, Little Eva, Bobby Vee, The Searchers... load and loads...  and licensed them to part of the 'Trojan' Music Group. That took me all over the world... in the 90's I did a compilation Manchester bands...

 

With Pete Mitchell who is sadly no longer with us ?

Yes, that's very sad. It wasn't long since I'd spoken to him as he was going to set up meetings with Bernard Stephen and Hooky, separately of course but unfortunately, he passed away.

Since then I've met up with Hooky who said he wanted to get involved. He's always been very complimentary in his books about TJM and myself, he has agreed to speak on the 'launch night' for the book 

Sorry, I interrupted, so the 60's label?

Well I was a Soul Boy, loved the Twisted Wheel, but that lead me to punk. I just love music of all kinds. It's taken me all around the world... In the course of doing what I've done I've met people like George Martin, I'm not saying I'm a great friend of his but you'd get talking about what you were doing, he was really nice and interested with a real passion for music like me.

I've had a great life and here to tell the tale!

 

Just aside from music for a moment... football?

I used to be a United fan but for some reason lost interest When my son was young, I got interested in Bury FC, and I become a really passionate supporter.

Their demise has really impacted on the people of the town, they've lost their identity. It's a great shame but I will be supporting the phoenix club... I live just down the road in Prestwich

 

Is it just bands covered in the book?

I have as many as I could, not all the big bands. There are some of the 'smaller' ones. I couldn't interview everyone though as there were nearly 80, maybe 90 that passed through the rehearsal rooms, but there are people like  Dave Gleave from 'The Naughty Boys'... they didn't release anything but I've got to know Dave.

I've done a piece on the photographers that passed through in the book. There was Anton Corbijn and of course Kevin Cummins, but Dave has, by shear hard work and persistence,  come forward and for me is the No 1 Manchester photographer.

He's better than he thinks, he's a very talented photographer. He's got an edge on a lot of others so he merits a place in the book, he’s got the rare knack of bringing out the character in the individual. 

 

You mentioned The Fall, did you get to speak to Mark before we lost him?

Yes I did, I knew him from TJM and we got on, but in his later life I bumped into him in Prestwich Precinct. People always say he was very abrupt and offhand but he said, 'you'll have to come for a drink'.

I ended up drinking with him 3 or 4 times. He'd talk about things in life that were so in-depth and he encouraged me to get the book done... he wasn't one that followed Factory, he thought they were very pretentious.... but my point is I've been very honoured to have some of these kinds of meetings and do these off the wall interviews... I'm not going to say we were best of friends, but he did take time to do a great interview...

 

What can people expect from the book?

The book will not be a glib, sanitised thing, I've had a great life, but I have lived in the fast lane, 3 wives... I like wedding cake! I'm going to tell it like it is from my rebellious boarding school days it's all added up into a good story...

Finally, just back to Lou Macari, how did the contact with him come about, was it down to the 1979 Squad coming to rehearse their Cup Final Single at the rehearsal rooms?

That's another story! 

Football wasn't like it is now with all the millions but Man United were still the biggest. They'd got to the Cup Final against Arsenal. The club didn't sponsor the record, so the players had done a deal with RCA Records to get some money in their pockets.

TJM Studios were very prominent at the time, and my posters were plastered all around Manchester, you couldn't miss it... so I get a call from Man United asking how much it would be to book a rehearsal room just for 2 hours to rehearse the song...

I said £70. The cheque came the same day they came down. I'm there thinking 'they're not going to like it'... the rooms were great for the punks, they had atmosphere, but the players couldn't relate to that.

So they all come up the stairs, I greeted Lou Macari at the top, he's looking round, shaking his head, laughing and joking. Hucknall was there hanging over the bannister trying to get autographs, Hooky was there too but most of Joy Division were City... you could hear United and City chants echoing around the building...

Anyway, I opened up the room, which was Sad Cafe's room, they were away on a world tour... so they all look in and there was a deathly silence... and Sammy McIlroy says 'there's no chairs to sit down'... and I said, 'you’re not here for a Team Photo, you're here to rehearse'... so they all started laughing, and had a con-flab... Lou said... 'keep the cheque, we'll go back to Old Trafford to use the Conference Room there’.

Now, years later I'm doing the book and was thinking I wouldn't mind getting Man United in it, I managed to get through to Lou Macari and I introduced myself and asked if he could remember coming down... he burst out laughing and said 'I couldn't forget it... and you kept the cheque as well!'

From there we've struck up a rapport. I knew about his charity and was invited to go down. I tell you I was humbled. He's there at the homeless shelter 5 or 6 times a week, he's a modern-day Saint. I mean that genuinely. He devotes his time to help people that are really lost causes, and I have nothing but respect for him. He uses his celebrity status to help people, he's great guy.

I don't want to come across all 'Smashie and Nicey' about it but I've raised £2000 for his  Charity, 'The Macari Centre' though those I’ve spoken to about the book and people they’ve brought to it also, like yourself, with the reprints of some of the old posters and the TJM Badge..

 

Last 3 questions...

What's your favourite album?

That's a hard one... so many... I love a lot of different music, but I'd have to go back to a soul album really, it's quite rare now... 'The Artistry of Brenda Holloway'. I just do love soul music... I do lve punk and I do love rock, but I'll always go back to soul

Favourite single or song?

For that Brenda Holloway it's the whole album, but there is a track 'Every Little Bit Hurts' which is a kind of dance record that takes me back to when I used to go to the Twisted Wheel, just evokes happy memories.

All Time Favourite Band or Artist?

Dylan, I'd say Bob Dylan, for what he did to change pop music.

 

Thanks for your time Tony. Look forward to meeting up for the book launch if not before

 

 

Iain Key 2020

 

Brian Gorman Interview (2020)

 

Brian Gorman is professional actor, freelance writer and artist based in Manchester

His graphic novels celebrating Patrick McGoohan the 1960's Cult TV Show, 'The Prisoner' and iconic Manchester band, Joy Division have received acclaim, as has the play 'New Dawn Fades' based on the latter.

He has also completed the artwork for S M Worsey's 'Animus'. It's been described as 'The Expendables' with animals and will be published later this year.

'New Dawn Fades' was first performed in 2013 and subsequently there have been numerous sold out performances every year since other than 2017 (and this year as it stands)

I caught up with Brian as he's working on 'Atmosphere' a sequal to New Dawn Fades, continuing the story of the post-punk Manchester music scene

Hi Brian, how are you?

Absolutely fine, thanks. As a writer/artist, I am used to working alone, and often in isolation, so I have kept myself busy.

 

Before we talk about 'Atmosphere', you were born in 1964. When were you first aware of Manchester's rich music scene 

Probably in the mid-1980s when I got involved in amateur theatre in Wigan.

My family were very ignorant of contemporary music, and my dad only ever had Jim Reeves, Nat King Cole, and Irish folk songs on the record player. Joining the theatre crowd, led me to hearing more modern stuff, and everybody loved New Order.

I was a very shy kid and was very late in my experience of late-night pubs and clubs. After rehearsals, some of us used to go to The Pier nightclub, in Wigan, and it was New Order, The Smiths, etc being played. Stuart Maconie was in the same theatre company, and we acted in a few plays together.

He was Macbeth, with me as Malcolm, and when his character was killed, I was crowned king at the end of the play!

Photo : Shay Rowan

 

'New Dawn Fades'... which idea came first, the graphic novel or the play? 

Weirdly, the graphic novel came both before AND after the play! I started writing the graphic novel around 2006 and got a three book deal with Simon & Schuster. Unfortunately, there were some technical and legal issues, and the book deal evaporated. I'd done so much work, and research, and I didn't want to waste it all, so I had the idea to adapt it into a stage play.

My friend Gareth Kavanagh was running The Lass O'Gowrie pub, and we put it on there as part of the 2013 Greater Manchester Fringe Festival. 

We opened on Ian Curtis' birthday, 15th July, and every performance sold out in advance! John Robb gave us a brilliant review, and Rowetta from Happy Mondays was in tears at the end. We then took the show to bigger and bigger venues, and I decided it was time to publish the graphic novel with a small indie company, in Glossop. I added some new artwork, and a selection of Shay Rowan's brilliant photos from the stage show, so it made a perfect souvenir and companion to the show.

 

The book and the play are both very rich in detail, which I think appeals to fans without losing 'casual' readers / audiences. Was this balance something you were conscious of when creating/writing them?

Definitely! Anything I do, I aim for it to be accessible to both the casual reader/audience, as well as the more die hard fans. I always try and find the human element, and the universal themes; life, love, mortality, creativity, etc. Ian Curtis' personal story is obviously full of drama and tragedy, and his enigmatic lyrics also helped me to introduce a variety of diverse elements into the story - the 2000 year history of Manchester, Tony Wilson and Factory records, etc.

Are there likely to be future tours of 'New Dawn Fades' once things 'return' to normal?

Yes. We were planning a new tour for 2020, before the lockdown happened. We were always being asked to tour further afield and were working on places like Berlin and New York.

What we have always needed is some kind of financial support or sponsorship, as we are a completely independent show, with our only revenue coming from ticket sales. My producer, Giles Bastow, and I had been investigating possible sponsors, but everything is obviously on hold, for now.

 

You're currently working on the graphic novel 'Atmosphere' which covers the late 1970s and 1980s Manchester music scene. It's set to encompass Manchester's entire history, leading up to the present day, featuring the likes of New Order, The Fall, The Drones, The Smiths, Buzzcocks etc. How long has this been planned?

I've been asked about a sequel to New Dawn Fades, for a while now. I was never sure if I wanted to do it, as the Ian Curtis and Joy Division story was really my main interest.

However, I met Tony Davidson when he came to see the show, a couple of years ago, and he had so many personal stories of when Joy Division (and many other bands) rehearsed at his studios in the 1970s and 80s; I had an idea. I could use the studios as the focal point and tell the story of how all these great bands came together, there, and how Joy Division fitted in with them.

 I was also influenced by Tom Stoppard's play 'Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead', which is a modern play centred around two minor characters from Hamlet. In the play, we see parts of Shakespeare's original scenes, but from the point-of-view of these two characters.

I thought I could revisit some of the scenes in New Dawn Fades but have more of the other bands interacting with Curtis, Hook, Sumner, and Morris.

Imagine, for instance, new scenes with the likes of Mark E Smith and Mick Hucknall, perhaps rehearsing in one room, while Joy Division record Love Will Tear Us Apart in another. I will also be delving more into Manchester's past, and peering into the present and future music scene.

Has 'lockdown' benefitted you at all and given you the opportunity to focus more on your work? 

Yes. It has saved me from spending too much time, and money, in the pubs. It's also allowed me more time to work on writing and drawing. Plus, I have been experimenting with making short videos, and performing scenes from plays for virtual events.  

I have also, recently, started writing songs. I wrote my first one a couple of years ago, called 'Dance Of The Dead', for a special performance in a cabaret I devised for an event at Portmeirion. I had to hum the tune into a phone recorder, and a friend transcribed it for guitar. When the lockdown started, I set myself a task of writing an album's worth of songs, by the time the pubs opened again. I have done five, and just need someone to transcribe the music. 

Hopefully, they will be recorded by the end of the year. In the meantime, I may perform they as Spoken Word poems when we are able to utilise live music venues again. I've also started teaching myself to play the ukulele!

Are there any stories you're specifically looking forward to telling in the book? 

Ha ha! Oh, yes!! I am especially keen on including Mark E Smith, Morrissey, and others. So many dynamic and controversial characters on the Manchester scene. Plus, more of Tony Wilson's exploits; The Hacienda, etc. 

I'm also thinking of involving myself as a character, as I used to ride into Manchester, on my push bike, from Wigan in the early 1980s. I rummaged around second hand record shops, looking for film soundtrack albums, and I have since learned that I went in some of the very same shops that a young Ian Curtis frequented.

Photo : Shay Rowan

As mentioned, you've got Tony Davidson (legendary owner of TJ Davidson Rehearsal Rooms and TJM Records) involved in the 'Atmosphere' project who is also in the process of writing 'The TJM Story'.

Are there any bands which you feel have been overlooked who don't get the credit they deserve for the part they have played in the Manchester music scene?  

Tony has been a huge help, and his experience and knowledge are invaluable. There were many bands who helped to kick-start the post-punk scene, that never made the dizzying heights of Joy Division, New Order, The Smiths, etc.

The likes of The Drones, Ed Banger and The Nosebleeds, V2, Slaughter and The Dogs, and others, were a vital part of the whole scene, and some are still gigging today. After New Dawn Fades hit the stage, I got to meet a lot of those people who were around in the 70s, and their personal experiences are fascinating. So many tales to tell!

You have an www.indiegogo.com campaign on the go at the moment, there are some really nice perks available, including the opportunity for people to have themselves 'drawn in' to the book as well as some of your own paintings and sketches...

Yes, I believe this is the best way forward for projects like this. We tried to get Arts Council funding for the stage shows but were always knocked back. Graphic novels cost far less to produce, and with a Crowdfunder, I have complete independence.

Anyone who enjoyed the stage and graphic novel versions of New Dawn Fades will certainly enjoy 'Atmosphere', as it continues the story, but also revisits and enhances what they have previously seen and read. The campaign expires in a few days, but I am going to extend it for another 30 days:

ATMOSPHERE: A GRAPHIC NOVEL

Painting by Brian Gorman

Maybe getting ahead of myself... what have you planned after 'Atmosphere'? 

Do you feel a need to get up on stage and act in order to give yourself a break from drawing?

I toured my one man show, 'ONE MAN BOND: Every Bond Film In 60 Minutes', through 2017 and 2018 (and won the 2018 Salford Star Award for 'Best Performer'). That was the most physically exhausting show I have ever done! Nearly 200 characters, accents, fight scenes, and songs!

I'm 56, now, and I want to concentrate on art, which is my first love. There will be more graphic novels - I have plans for biographies of P J Proby, John Thaw, and others. They were originally planned as one man shows, but the live theatre scene is on hold at the moment. Luckily, I can create graphic novel versions in the meantime. I am also looking at doing more virtual performances online.

I have also, recently, completed a series of paintings and coloured drawings for an exhibition in Ashton. Portraits of famous Northern artistes (music, football, film) as well as local characters I have met in pubs. I want to do more portrait paintings, and street scenes.

I am never bored!

A few quick questions to finish 

Best gig you've been to

The Fall, Royal Exchange Theatre circa 2015. To see Mark E Smith's attitude, in action, was a profound experience!

Favourite song / single

Ooooh, tough one! 'Ordinary World' Duran Duran (a great comeback for them, and came out around the time my mum died, in 1993, so it has very poignant emotions). It was also the same time as I split up with a long-time girlfriend, and the hurt has never gone away. Boo hoo!!

All-time favourite artist? 

Easy: John Barry! The melancholy, emotion, exuberance, and epic qualities of his music have thrilled me all my life. It was those same melancholic elements that drew me to Joy Division and New Order.

Iain Key 2020