Musical pictures of Manchester

For the website I making about Manchester Music I have thought of taking pictures of Manchester's musical sites.

Some of sites I may take pictures of:

The Ironic Bridge on Kings Road Stretford. This was mentioned in the Smith's song "Still Ill" it is that Iron Bridge that Morrisey was refering to

384 (I will double check this) Kings Road, Stretford, this was where Morrisey was bought up.

The Hacienda site - Needs no indruction.

The Cemetry Gates - Located at Southern Cemetry, Chorlton, this was the gates Morrisey refers to in Cemetry Gates.

Keppel Road, Chorlton the house where the Bee Gee's grew up

Can anybody think of any other important places, as I am on buses/foot I don't want to go into rough areas (hence Salford lads club is out of the question) I don't want my £150 camera to get nicked.

 

shame morrisey aint in the cemetry

 

I suppose I would be researching Indie bands like Stone Roses, Oasis, Happy Mondays etc and seeing where they recorded, where they played key gigs in Manchester etc.

My favorite musical place in Manchester is the massive guitar shop near the railway station... if its still there...... A1?? cant remember it was 10 years since I was there.

Didnt the Hacienda move? youve got 2 shots then if it did.

I suppose the question is... what bands came from Manchester?? apart from the britpop ones mentioned I couldnt help! I bet people like SCIDB and TONYL could though!

Chris

 

Really ancient history -the Hollies.

 

The Ritz on Whitworth street, saw many a burgeoning band there.
I bet they're knocked down now but also went many times to the International's in Levenshulme to watch bands. The Apollo was where the bigger bands played, still up and running.
How about Johny Roadhouse on Oxford Rd, I bet there were a few cheap guitars that came from there.
Sankey's Soap up in Ardwick, Dry bar, Paradise Factory where Factory built their headquaters, the BBC building on Oxford Rd.....
I'm sure I'll think of some more

 

I already have pictures of the Ritz, Apollo, MEN, a few random clubs. I am hoping to take a picture of 86 Palatine Road tomorrow (the old factory HQ) I have already taken one of their Princess Street HQ.

I don't want to venture into Burnage to take a picture of their old house as its a bit risky.

The same goes for the Happy Mondays, its not a nice area (Little Hulton) if you don't know it.

Does anybody know if the Strawberry Studios building still exists in Stockport?

The Hacienda was always located on Whiteworth street, it was closed down for good in 1998. There are luxer appartments called the Hacienda there now.

I don't think that guitar shop is there anymore.

 

hey i rember A1,right opposite the salsbury (i think) pub on oxford road

 

Don't forget Mr Sifters in Didsbury as mentioned by Oasis and a picture of Rusholme where Roy Harper was brought up or Burnage Grammar where Ian Wilson of Sad Cafe went to school.
I wouldn't stop my car in Moss Side or Longsight but Burnage - risky - you wuss!

Also Freddie Garritty's (Freddie and The Dreamers) favourite Indian takeaway is in Poynton and 2 ex members of The Purple Gang (Granny Takes a Trip - first record ever banned by the BBC) have just been voted onto the local council there!

Bob

 

I am not sure where Burnage Grammer was, all I am can assume its now Burnage High school.

Sifter's records is a very good idea though, I have bought some bargains their myself.

I will try and get a picture of Dry Bar too although it may be hard as its a very busy area.

I will take one of Oswald Road Primary school too (I can take that from my bedroom window almost) thats where the Bee Gee's went to school. I was also educated here, although some 45 years or so later

St Bedes School is another place of interest. Both Rob Gretton and Peter Noone (Herman's Hermits) were educated here.

The main places I can really only access are south of the city although with the exception of Wigan and Rochdale this were most bands are from.

A lot of bands are form the Salford area but these parts are either hard to get too or rough.

So most pictures will be around the city centre and south manchester.

 

Yeah it is Burnage High School. It was Burnage Grammar when Ian and I went there.

Bob

 

I have no idea whether these still exist, but you need to pay homage to:
The Manchester Free Trade Hall – location of a most legendary Pistols gig.
The site of the Electric Circus club – Manchester's punk venue.
86 Palatine Road, the site of the first Factory offices.
The site of the PSV Club Hulme, the first Factory Club.
The Band on the Wall – another seminal Manchester club.

I'm sure I'll think of many more!

Tony.

 

Lol this is quite shocking

The Manchester Free Trade Hall – location of a most legendary Pistols gig.

The front is still there but the building itself isn't, its a 5 star hotel now.

The site of the Electric Circus club – Manchester's punk venue.

This was pulled down years ago.

86 Palatine Road, the site of the first Factory offices.

Still there and one of things I am taking a picture off, its rather scruffy and probably hasn't had a lick of paint since the factory days.

The site of the PSV Club Hulme, the first Factory Club.

This was pulled down in the 1990's when Hulme was totaly regenerated, in fact hardly anything of that era now stands there.

The Band on the Wall – another seminal Manchester club.

This is still going, but I am not sure if the venue is the same.


Its quite shockling just how many of these places no longer exist

 

The band on the wall is still the same, you'll find it in the Northern Quarter on the corner of Swan street.
The Odeon on Oxford Road used to be used as a theatre as well, believe the Beatles and the Stones played there
G-mex saw some great gigs there, The Pixies, James, Level 42!!!!!!! was going to see Nirvana there but he shot himself.
There's the Xia arts centre.
Not sure what happened to the internationals, they used to be on Plymouth Grove near the police station. I think they've probably gone too, saw the fall there, the inspirals a few times. You need to visit Wigan as well and visit the Astoria where the northern soul all-nighters were
Just remembered the boardwalk, but never went there sober, so can't quite put my finger on where it was/is. Perhaps someone else?

 

Hi AT,

If you are after history of the Manchester music scence, you have got to feature the place which many class as the birth place of Northern Soul, The Twisted Wheel.

This opened in 1963 on Brazenose St, playing beat, R&B, Blues & soul music. Acts like Spencer Davis Group, John Mayell, Edwin Starr, Ben E King, Long john Baldery & John Lee Hooker played here. A DJ called Roger Eagle started up by playing Harder Rhythm & Blue & the latest Soul music, which lead to the venue becoming a top place for the Mods to hang out.

The club moved to 6 Whitworth St in 1965 & the allnighters started. These were a mixture of live music & the latest sounds in Black American music. Acts such as Junior Walker & the Allstars, The Drifters, Stevie Wonder, Jimmy Ruffin the Chiffons.The music started to go towards uptempo soul music which was good to dance to. Rarer Uk releases were featured more & more. The period of 1967 to 1969, saw the music go more towards rare soul based tunes, with a large number of US imports being featured. The records dated from a golden era of soul music around 1963 to 1967. Also the demand for some of the records caused big price to be paid for them. Collectors would pay huge amounts of money for a piece of rare vinyl. This lead to a increase in bootlegging of the tunes.

The clubs reputation spread nationwide, with people coming from all over the UK to sample the vibe. A soul guru called Dave Godin, came to the club in the early 70s & coined the phrase ' Northern Soul' to describle the music on offer. Most other clubs were playing newer & current sounds while The Twisted Wheel played a certain type of soul music.

The club got shut down in 1971 due to drug problems but the seeds were already sewn.

I understand that the original venues are still in use. They started the Twisted Wheel again, first back at Brazenose St & I think it's back at Whitworth St as well.

Here is some sites with regards to the venue.

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~zalasta/hsc/wheel.htm

http://www.thisoldsoul.com/wheel.html

SCIDB

 

Bridgewater Hall ?

 

Hi AT,

Another venue you have got to put on is Belle Vue. This was a big complex situated in Hyde Rd. It had gardens, a zoo, a circus, speedway, an amusurement park, conference rooms, ballrooms & concert halls. I remember going to the amusement park as a young kid (late 60s /early 70s). The venue dates from 1819.

The venue held concerts & gigs for an array of artists. There were brass band concerts from early on in it's history. People like Bing Crosby, Bob Hope & Andy Williams later appeared. In 1963, Jimmy Saville ran the Top Ten club. Many artists from the 60s to the 70s played here. People like Jerry Lee Lewis, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zepplin, Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, The Stranglers & the Clash. I think my mate went to see Earth, Wind & Fire & Funkadelic here.

The place went into decline in the 70s.

Check below for my info on Belle Vue.

http://manchesterhistory.net/bellevue/attract.html#

SCIDB

 

There isn't much there now though, just a few 1970's council estate style houses. Its quite rough as well I think.

Thanks for your info on the twisted wheel though I will be taking a picture of that.

For who ever mentioned the bridge water hall I already have a nice picture of that.

Does anybody know where 10cc's Strewberry Studies is situation in Stockport? I would like to get picture of this as its where Unkown Pleasures was recorded.

 

You could try and find the flat where Ian Curtis swung along to the sounds of Iggy Pop's 'The Idiot'...
:chop:

 

Thats not a nice way to speak about the dead even if he did cheat on his wife and I doubt in his state that he was aware he was 'swinging' along to the Idiot although I assume he knew he would be doing.

Its in Maclesefiled though so its too far for to get to, however I agree it would be a great picture.

 

Unless its moved from its original site Strawberry Studio is up the hill away from Richersounds in Stockport. At the lights after Peter Carlson turn left and the studios are on the left after 50 yards. They were there today when I went into Stockport!

Bob