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

 

The Importance of 4th June 1976 (2020)

This was the day, or more specifically the evening, everything changed... 44 years ago today (although I wouldn't come to know this much much later)

This was the night that ‘punk’ came to Manchester for the first time. The Sex Pistols playing at the Lesser Free Trade Hall, promoted by Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto of the fledgling Buzzcocks

100’s have since claimed to be at the gig yet in reality there were probably less than 40. Records show only £14 was taken on the door at 50p each, so allowing for friends, crew etc this sounds right, and  listening to the 'bootleg' recording you can tell it's a small crowd,  clearly hearing heckles from the audience and Johnny Rottens' occasionally sneering responses

Just for the record, I don’t claim to have been there as I was only 6 at the time... those that were include Morrissey, Peter Hook and Bernard Sumner, Mark E. Smith and journalist Paul Morley, possibly even Mick Hucknall

David Nolan’s brilliant book ‘I Swear I Was There’ covers the gig with eye witness accounts in great detail as does the Granada TV documentary of the same name

The Buzzcocks were due to support the Pistols that night but weren’t ‘ready’ (despite their name being on the ticket). It was the night however that the aforementioned promotors met the only remaining original member of the band, Steve Diggle, thanks to the Malcolm McLaren’s accidental intervention. The band did play support 6 weeks later in July though when the Sex Pistols returned for a second gig

The support on 4th June was from ‘Solstice’, A ‘progressive heavy metal band whose repertoire reportedly included a version of the ‘World In Action’ theme... a band completely at odds to the Pistols (who had been drafted in at the last minute through friends of Devoto/Shelley)

Bear in mind this wasn’t the ‘punk’ of mohican haircuts and safety pins which is now the media’s stock image of the scene. From the few pictures that do exist of that evening the crowd just looked like normal teenagers of the time, flared jeans, shoulder length hair... typically 1976

Up until this point punk had been underground, mainly London centric, and only occasionally mentioned in the music press. The first ‘punk’ single ‘New Rose’ wouldn’t be released by The Damned until October 1976 so it’s extremely unlikely that any of those attending the gig would have heard much like this before, so the impact of it must have been a shock... actually we know it was because many of those who were there have said it was and it’s what galvanised them into action, many thinking ‘well if they can do it so can we’... 

Alongside a number of tracks that would go on to appear on the bands 'Never Mind The Bollocks' they played a number of covers which they had had in their repertoire for some time by The Small Faces, The Who and The Stooges, admittedly with their own twist. 

The Manchester kids in the crowd were ready for something different... while the charts of that era featured comedy band The Wurzels, ABBA, Cliff Richard and Brotherhood of Man, there were a number of alternative scenes bubbling under, like pub rock, featuring the likes of Dr Feelgood and Eddie and The Hotrods; and at home youngsters would be listening to Krautrock, with Neu!, Can and Kraftwerk, alongside glam, like Bowie and Roxy Music. 

They’d been ready to be fair for a few years, with clubs like ‘Pips’ welcoming Manchester’s youth from 1972... actually, if your interested there a couple of excellent books on the subject of ‘those times’ in Manchester written by people who were there at the time... 

Gareth Ashton’s Manchester: It Never Rains... A City Primed for Punk Rock
Martin Ryan’s Friends of Mine: Punk in Manchester 1976-78


So why should people care now about this? 

Why is it ‘the gig that changed the world'...

Well if you like music, and I'm hoping you do because you've got this far... this gig was the catalyst for so much that was to come... it's likely there would be...

no Joy Division
no The Fall
no Factory Records
no Peter Saville
no New Order 
no Hacienda
no Dave Haslam
no Graham Park
no Happy Mondays
no 'Acid House' 
no Smiths
no Stone Roses 
no Oasis 
no Independent Record labels
no Mute Records
no Depeche Mode
no Pet Shop Boys
Anthony H. Wilson may have remained a journalist/presenter 

And that's just scratching the very surface 

Think about about creative types, designers, writers, photographers, actors, actresses, directors who have been influenced by one of those bands or a night at the Hacienda, or who have tapped into the DIY punk spirit, to get on and make things happen on their own terms, 

Think about the fashion labels, i.e. Gio-Goi, which set up as a result of one of these movements

For me personally, if it wasn't for that night, my musical tastes would be very different, the bands that I've listened to almost every day over the last 35 years probably wouldn't have existed. I can't even begin to imagine what I'd be listening to, certainly the soundtrack to my life would be very different

I know my bookcase would look very different too... many of the writers could well have ended up doing other things, individuals appearing in the biographies may not have needed those biographies

Most of the art in my house would be completely different as what I have wouldn't exist

My circle of friends would be very different as we'd not have so much in common, or we'd not have met at gigs or bonded over our love of John Peel and the music he played, a lot of which was influenced by the bands which formed as a direct result of that the gig at the Lesser Free Trade Hall

God knows what career I'd have. I wouldn't have given up a steady, 'proper' job in 1994 to go to college, I wouldn't have ended up working in the Music Industry, I may not have ended up at BT as an agency worker with a chip on my shoulder which drove me forward as some people told me I couldn't be what I aspired to be...

8 months after co-promoting this gig and independently releasing the 'Spiral Scratch' EP, vocalist Howard Devoto left the Buzzcocks to form Magazine (although they would carry on with Pete Shelley taking on the role)

18 months after this gig the Sex Pistols split up whilst on tour in America having released one album and spent much of 1977 as public enemy No 1 with many of their gigs cancelled due to pressure from local councils


44 years on the attitude and influence of punk and the spirit of 1976 still lives on within so many, I imagine it does in many people reading this

So much can be traced back to that night at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester

That's the importance of 4th June 1976



Thank you Pete and Howard... 




Iain Key 2020

40 Years.... Remembering Ian Curtis (2020)

Last night I should have been at the Apollo Theatre, Manchester watching Peter Hook & The Light performing the songs of Joy Division in recognition / memory / celebration of Ian Curtis who committed suicide on the evening of Saturday 18th May 1980 aged just 23 years old 

The tickets had gone on sale over a year ago, it was sold out well in advance, but sadly in the current climate there was no way it could have gone ahead. The gig has been rescheduled for January 2021, which is fine, but I imagine it may not have quite the same emotional weight it would had it taken place as planned 

 That said, the surviving members of Joy Division have pulled out the stops to ensure that their singer and friend is remembered and the fans have an opportunity to mark this landmark anniversary this week.

Peter Hook is streaming a previously unseen gig filmed in front of an audience of 500 on the 35th Anniversary where he and his band played every Joy Division song 'officially' released 

That's on from Monday 18th 12:00 (UK Time) for 24 hours via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXmOfbv6KTva9ZDJCHgaBHA (apologies if you're reading this after midday on 19th May, although a DVD https://liveherenow.co.uk/products/peter-hook-the-light-so-this-is-permanent-dvd will be available in the next couple of months!) 

Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris are in conversation, accompanied by Dave Haslam, 
and have a number of 'guests' between 20:00 and 22:00 on Monday evening via https://blog.size.co.uk/2020/05/15/united-we-stream-gm-headstock-presents-moving-through-the-silence/ 

Both events are raising money / taking donations for charity, Peter for epilepsy, Bernard and Stephen for Mental Health, two causes which are extremely worthy. 

 ______________________ 

(Permission pending from owner of photo)

Last weekend a series of photographs appeared on Social Media of Joy Division which had previously been unseen. These had been taken at the Hope and Anchor in London on 27th December 1978. 

Only 30 people had attended the bands first gig in the capital city, and the group were still 6 months away from releasing their seminal debut album, 'Unknown Pleasures' and had yet to release a single on Factory Records. 

It was that night though that (without sounding overly dramatic) everything changed, on the way home Ian had his first epileptic seizure... just as the bands profile, popularity and plaudits were beginning to rise, the health of the singer began to decline

The story of Joy Division has been told in two dramatised films, '24 Hour Party People' and 'Control' as well as Grant Gee's supurb documentary film, 'Joy Division'. 

Many books have also been written, the best probably being 'This Searing Light, the Sun and Everything Else: Joy Division: The Oral History' by Jon Savage, which takes you on a journey from the perspective of the band and those around them. Debbie Curtis's 'Touching From A Distance' is also a must).... 

All of these are worth searching out, although I suspect most people reading this blog will be familiar and have searched out and spent many hours watching and reading the above as well as the published essays from Paul Morley as well as the biography by Tony Wilson's first wife, Lindsay Reade, soaking up every detail revealed. 

When I first 'discovered' Joy Division in the mid 1980's, with the special edition cassette of 'Still' (to which I was disappointed to find there was no 'Love Will Tear Us Apart anywhere to be heard), other than the music the only things available were a single book, 'An Ideal For Living' which contained a handful of photos (mainly taken by Kevin Cummins, Anton Corbijn or Paul Slattery) and a 'low quality' video 'Here Are The Young Men'... 

Information was limited, the Internet didn't exist and 'New Order' weren't always forward about giving interviews or talking about their past.I spent hours talking to older colleagues who had seen the band or hanging around in Manchester's Underground Market or Corn Exchange searching out bootleg recordings of gigs, Peel Sessions, and demos to try and put pieces together of 'the jigsaw'. 

For those seeing those pictures for the first time last week, like me, there was a sense of wonder. Just when you think there is nothing more to see, something else revealed... on this occasion nearly 42 years later. 

 This is probably, partly, why my love of Joy Division has endured, unlike today where you can open an app on your phone and download every recording commercially available, I was made to work for it. 

Peter Saville's iconic sleeves offered no information other than title, catalogue number and the name of Factory Records. Often the official recordings would be in and out of print (the gorgeous 'Atmosphere' specifically). 

The various releases weren't even all on the same label!

Like many I'd sit and try and decipher the lyrics, playing tapes over and over to understand the subject matter. Even now, 'Closer,' with the benefit of hindsight and understanding of the situation is extremely powerful, with Ian Curtis bearing his soul for all to hear... and the lyrics for 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' seem beyond anything someone only 22/23 should have experienced never mind articulate. 

Over the years with compilations, box sets, biographies and the aforementioned films the story of Joy Division is no longer a secret, however for many of a certain age it was passed down almost as folk lore, a little being revealed at the time... but for those who are unaware, a whistle-stop tour... 

• Formed after seeing the Sex Pistols at the Free Trade Hall by Bernard and Peter 
• Joined by Ian and completed by Stephen on drums 
• Christened Stiff Kittens but changed name to Warsaw before their first gig 
• Originally quite generically 'punky' 
• First release on vinyl on Virgin Records 10" EP recorded on the last weekend of Manchesters 'Electric Circus' venue 
• Band record initial. self funded, 4 track EP in December 1977
• It's released in on a 7" single with poor sound quality in June 1978 
• Due to 'the name' and imagery accused of Nazi connotations/leanings 
• Taken under the wing of manager (and DJ at Rafters) Rob Gretton 
• Re-release debut EP on 12" 
• Record a debut album for RCA Records but buy tapes back as not happy with outcome 
• Appear on 'Granada Reports' performing 'Shadowplay' 
• Sign for Factory Records Team up with 'genius' producer Martin Hannett 
• Gig often while still holding down day jobs 
• Ian develops epilepsy Gigs continue 
• Record / release 'Unknown Pleasures' with iconic sleeve by Peter Saville 
• Adored by press and fans alike, Bernard and Hooky don't like it 
• Appear on BBC2's 'Something Else' performing 'She's Lost Control' and 'Transmission' 
• Gigs continue including a tour with Buzzcocks 
• Band take first trips to Europe Ian meets / starts platonic affair with Belgian Embassy worker and gig promoter Annik Honore 
• Band turn 'professional' and give up day jobs 
• Ian's illness worsens 
• Second album 'Closer’ recorded
• Band choose picture of a mausoleum for the cover 
• Ian struggling with mental health, married since 1975, a young daughter and a 'lover' 
• Ian doesn't like the album that's been recorded 
• Gigs continue 
• Suicide attempted 
• A riot ensues at 'Derby Hall', Bury when Ian is released from hospital but others are used to stand in Around 300 people attend the bands final gig on 2nd May 1980 
• Ian Curtis commits suicide the day before the band were due to fly to America 
• Single 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' released in June 1980 reaching No 13 in the Charts (probably would have been higher if it had not been for a strike in the Media meaning some music shows were cancelled) 
• Album 'Closer' released in July peaks at No 6 

All that in the space of 4 years, but worth bearing in mind the first London gig was December 1978, the debut album wasn't released until June 1979... within a year... well you know... you've read this far (hopefully). 

Even typing/reading that, it is an incredible story and honestly, given the speed of events, the tragedy unfolding at the time that the 'success' was starting to happen; one which you could potentially dismiss as 'far fetched' ... but here in the North West of England it happened... 

Despite what you may think now, with Peter Saville's imagery visible in the media, the bands name plastered on more T-Shirt's than you can count around all corners of the word they were never 'a big band'. Only around 300 attended their final gig, their biggest 'home town' gig in their own right saw them attract a crowd around 900 a couple of weeks before... 

Never achieving 'Chart Success' while a functioning band, 'Unknown Pleasures' only sold 15,000 copies in its first 6 months and didn't threaten the 'Top 75 albums' until after the posthumous 'Closer' had been a 'hit' the following year.

Despite this, maybe in some part because of the mythology surrounding the band the legacy has grown year on year with the influence in popular media, culture and music is there for all to see. (Further reading https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jun/18/the-eternal-influence-of-joy-division-moby-killers-jon-savage-zia-anger) 

It's often been said that U2 picked up the ball and became the band that Joy Division should have been. It's easy to speculate but I'm not sure that things would have gone that far, even if Ian had lived... 

The fact remains the story of Joy Division has a start, a middle and an abrupt end, and what a story it is. 

40 years after the abrupt, possibly cruel, possibly selfish 'full stop' those involved who are still with us are making sure that Ian's short life is celebrated 40 years after he left us and using the opportunity to benefit things which, if had been better developed and more understood at the time could have lead to a different outcome but now can make a difference to people. 


Iain Key 2020

Factory United - A Chat With Fiona Allen (2020)

Until a few days ago this ‘piece’ had been meant to go onto another blog/website however that is currently on hiatus...

To be honest the article was ‘in draft’ for some time and it had gone through various revisions but now having it finished and nowhere for it to go it felt wrong...

So in the spirit of of the individuals mentioned within I got off my arse and created this blog so there would be somewhere to ‘put it out’ (because that’s what they would have done!)

That was 48 hours ago...

Factory United – A Chat with Fiona Allen

In Manchester at least  the blue side have been much derided over this season with their use of the 'Hacienda Strips' as part of their away kit

Even as a lifelong United fan and attendee over 30 years I can respect what they've done as a homage and mark of respect to the likes of late Rob Gretton (died 15.05.99), manager of Joy Division and New Order, one of the founding members of Factory Records and the key driver behind the Hacienda…

Also, to Mike Pickering, legendary Hacienda DJ, leader of M People, respected A&R man (without whom the careers of Happy Mondays, James could have been very different)

The influence which Rob and Mike have had on the culture of Manchester is without question and is most likely to have touched, in some way, anyone reading this whether they realise it or not

So I guess fair play to Manchester City for their tribute/acknowledgment, Rob and Mike deserve it

For those of a certain age, the heady years of the late 80’s and early 90’s may be beginning to blur a little. It is easy to mix the heyday of 'Madchester' with the rampant success and dominance during Fergie’s time however this isn't strictly true.

The roots of Madchester can first be seen and heard around 1987 when Little Hulton's finest (and United fans) introduced 'E' to the city, helping turn football hooligans from gangs looking to fight to groups looking to party. The story of the drugs, guns and gangsters taking over and then falling apart have often been told so it's not worth repeating here.

One thing that is not often discussed, and some Manchester United fans may not be aware, is that it was the red side of Manchester who were the first to be linked to fashion long before there was a new 'leisure wear' line to accompany the replica shirts featuring the Adidas or Nike logo

On Thursday 17th May 1990, as the 'Madchester' scene was peaking (Happy Mondays 'biggest' hit 'Step On' was in the Top 20), United were seeing their first flourishes of success with an FA Cup replay victory against Crystal Palace which led to a period of domination unlikely to be ever repeated in English Football

Around this time, Factory Records employee, front of house at the Hacienda, future Corrie and EastEnders Actress and Award-Winning Comedienne, Fiona Allen had the idea to use her Factory credentials to bring the worlds of football, music, and fashion together

How did you get involved with United?

I was a United fan, and a Bolton Wanders fan (sorry!) Tony Wilson was obviously a massive Man United fan and we'd often get a load of tickets to all the games, generally, in the stands but sometimes we'd get a box. I used to look at their merchandise, but it wasn’t really to our taste, it wasn't very Factory, so we come up with the idea to make something of our own. Merchandise even then was tied up in knots, but I managed, with some perseverance, by talking and pushing the people at United, explaining that it was going to be uber cool, it wasn't going to cross markets or probably even make any money, it was just a creative thing using the emblem and a statement. No one was going to 'get it' unless they were a music fan and a United fan, so people buying the other merchandise wouldn't want to touch it anyway

They were brilliant t-shirts

How many shirts were there?

Three in the end. There was one with the United emblem and Factory logo, another which had 'Are You Man U' plastered on the front and another with 'the Saint' which was a stick man one

Did you design them?

Yes, our graphic designer listened to the brief, designs were created and once decided on the T-shirt’s were sent off for print. We bought good T-shirt’s. They were really thick cotton. Cost a bit more but they were well made.

Everyone really loved them. 

You wouldn't be able to do anything like that now with the branding rights and kit sponsors etc

No, at the time merchandise wasn't as considered, I went round the shop and everything was shiny nylon, I didn't like it at all. It was big, but nowhere near as big as now. I do remember going back to Tony after a visit and saying, 'there was a really lovely old guy there with a cap on'... and that was Sir Matt Busby! I'm so uncool!

The T-shirts were very tastefully done, great quality, they were a really nice product, very subtle, other than the 'Are You Man U' one... it was a typical Factory thing to do

It was an idea I had, I went to Wilson and said, 'I think we should have a shop' ... he asked why and I said, 'because we've got loads of stuff to sell’.

I suggested we had a clothing label... it was going to be so smart, but we just didn't have the money. We all sat around with the designers, it was a mix of 'Paul Smith' and 'Comme Des Garçons' it would have been a very blokey thing, but I loved them...

While sadly the fashion label didn't come to be (although you could argue that the Donnelly Brothers filled this gap via Gio Goi) 

Fiona did take up a vacant slot at Afflecks Palace to open the 'Factory Shop' as an outlet for various pieces of merchandise and releases generated by the label, as well as those Factory/United T-shirts.

John Cooper of Cerysmatic had previously interviewed Fiona about ‘The Area’... that interview can be found at... https://factoryrecords.org/cerysmatic/sc5-absence-of-the-object-becomes-presence-you-can-feel.php

Use Hearing Protection Factory Records 1978-1979 review (2019)

Review done for the Cerysmatic website of the mammoth box-set released to commemorate/celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Factory Records...

https://cerysmatic.factoryrecords.org/2019/10/use-hearing-protection-factory-records.html

Where do you start?

It's big? 15" x 15" x 5" is a little oversized for the average shelf.

It's quite expensive? Yes, but with some justification.

It has limited appeal? Maybe, but those who are invested will love it.

It's breathtaking.

When this box was first announced in August, I had no hesitation in ordering it. Whilst costing more than I would normally spend (I thought the deluxe version of 'Movement' a little on the high side) the contents, the book, the music, the posters, the CD and DVD promised a treasure trove of riches most could only dream of owning, despite being copies.



It's worth noting on this point that where things are facsimiles, they are to the highest degree, for example, FAC-2 is in a proper heat sealed sleeve rather than a card or paper one. FAC 6 is in a replica black-on-black thermographic braille sleeve. Clearly no expense has been spared in the production of this box celebrating greatest of all record labels.

Opening the high quality box very carefully the first thing you see is the 12x12" 60-page paperback book. With new text by the curator, James Nice, and some rare full-size photographs mixed with quotes from various sources, this focuses on the content of the box and reprints an original 1979 article by the future filmmaker and screenwriter Mary Harron. My initial intention was to have a quick skim through the book before moving on to the contents of the box, but found myself being drawn in and studying it in detail for a long time.



Nestled between the book and the first couple of pieces of vinyl are the 3 posters and other paper-based artefacts (FAC 1, FAC 3, FAC 4, FAC 7 and FAC 8).

The posters I've not opened out yet and, to be honest, I'm a little scared of doing so as I don't want to damage them at all as I am contemplating having them framed. The stationery is interesting, especially the copy of the 'History of Factory' double-sided piece of A4 originally typed up by Tony Wilson. When it comes to Linder Sterling's Factory Egg Timer print it's something of a curio. Indeed it's probably something that will get passed over during the first examination by most people, but it's essential as not only is it one of the first 10 items with a Factory catalogue number, it's so off the wall you can't imagine any other record company encouraging the idea of such a thing… which in itself is what makes Factory so special.

Moving on to the vinyl, as mentioned these are facsimiles of the originals. A Factory Sample, All Night Party, Electricity, Unknown Pleasures and the previously unreleased 3-track 12" by Tiller Boys. Other than the Joy Division album (the 2015 master), all of the other tracks have freshly been remastered at Abbey Road this year from the original tapes.

I must confess, that when listening to 'A Factory Sample' I realised what a bad 'fan' I am. Other than the Joy Division and Cabaret Voltaire tracks I'd never actually heard the other tracks on the debut EP, never having owned it before. Whilst I was listening to the first disc I looked at what was in the charts on 24 December 1978 when it was released… Boney M were No 1 with 'Mary's Boy Child' in the singles and the 'Grease Soundtrack Album' was holding off all pretenders in the album chart. Those Martin Hannett-produced tracks sound light years away from what was in the mainstream at the time, as would the Cabs. Curiously the 3 tracks by John Dowie don't sound that dissimilar from something the likes of the Barron Knights may have performed, who had a single in the Top 5 at the time.



I'm not sure how the bonus Tiller Boys 12-inch would have been received if it had been released as originally planned. It's interesting to hear, but to my ears is basically a set of instrumental jams, and not something that would have necessarily been comparable to the opening salvo of ACR, OMD and Joy Division, although again, the fact that this was considered is typical of the label.

Hidden under the seven-inchers are the final treasures in the box, the first of which is the rarely seen and recently remastered 'No City Fun'. Accompanied by 3 Joy Division tracks, the film is almost exclusively filmed on the 42 bus route through Withington to Manchester City Centre. For me this was fascinating as it took me back to my youth, as it was about a journey I vaguely remember making as a 9-year-old complete with orange double-decker buses and Piccadilly Radio 261.

The final item contains 2 CDs worth of an interview / conversation with the aforementioned Mary Harron. This comprises ninety minutes of conversation between Mary, Tony, Rob Gretton and the members of Joy Division whilst eating out in Manchester. I had an idea this would be interesting, but I didn't realise HOW interesting. The conversation covers everything from the birth of punk and the Sex Pistols in Manchester to the formation of Joy Division and Factory. There’s all this and Tony Wilson really pushing a new Mexican restaurant (which probably would have been one of the first) in Manchester City Centre and explaining what a taco is to those listening.

Unlike myself and the Factory Sample, I imagine anyone reading this, or thinking of buying the box will have heard or own the contents of the box. They may also have seen much of the printed material in books or behind glass at exhibitions.

The box is a gorgeous artefact, lovingly curated and a truly a sum of its parts. For me personally, it's an audio/visual time capsule of a period which I missed out on by around 10 years and it offered me an opportunity to immerse myself in the late 1970s Manchester. Incidentally I am currently reading Gareth Ashton's brilliant 'Manchester: It Never Rains’ book which covers this period via eye witness accounts and adds additional context from outside of the Factory bubble.

Yes, this is expensive, but I'd say worth it as it's a quality item, which has been made to the highest possible specifications and overseen by those that have been keeping the Factory legacy alive.

Saying it's the perfect tribute for the 40th Anniversary of Factory, and to the memory of Messrs Curtis, Hannett, Gretton and Wilson, or a celebration of Saville and those who remain doesn't seem enough, but that's exactly what it is.

- Iain Key for Cerysmatic Factory