 |
|
 |
| |
| 1980 |
 Les
Prior, frontman of Mancunian spoof punk band
Alberto y Lost Trios
Paranoias, dies of leukemia in January
1980. The band continue for 2 more years without him. |
|
The Bee Gees
write the 'After Dark' album for younger brother, Andy
Gibb. It reaches US no.21 and spawns the hits
'Desire' (US no.4) and 'I Can't Help It' (US no.12) |
Hughie Flint reaches
UK.no 40 in March with The Blues Band debut
'The Official Bootleg Album'. The follow up 'Ready'
reaches UK no.36 in October  |
|
In April,
Phil Lynott reaches
no.28 with his debut solo album 'Solo in Soho'. It includes
the hit singles 'Dear Miss Lonely Hearts' (no.32), 'King's
Call' (no.35) and 'Yellow Pearl' (no.14) |
|
10cc return
with the album 'Look Hear?', the first since Eric
Stewart's car accident which had significantly
affected his hearing. It only reaches no.35 and is the
last chart success the band are to enjoy |
|
In April, John Cooper Clarke
reaches no.29 with 'Snap, Crackle &
Bop', which is widely regarded as his best ever album.
It's certainly his only commercial success and includes
the track 'Beasley Street' |
|
In May Magazine
reach no.28 with their third album 'Correct Use Of Soap' |
| .At
5am on 18th May 1980, Joy
Division frontman Ian Curtis
hangs himself at his Macclesfield home, he is just 23
years old |
| .Joy
Division's posthumous
single
'Love Will Tear Us Apart' reaches no.13 in June, whilst
the album 'Closer', also recorded before Curtis's suicide,
reaches no.6 |
|
In Sep, Godley &
Creme score their first chart success since
splitting from 10cc
with singles 'Under Your Thumb' (no.3) and 'Wedding
Bells' (no.7). Both are included on the album 'Ismism'
(no.29) |
|
In
November, Barclay James Harvest
reach number 2 in the German singles charts with 'Life
Is For Living', their biggest ever hit. It's later included
on the album 'Turn Of The Tide', which also reaches
no.2 in Germany |
|
In December, Sad Cafe,
fail to chart with their self-titled fourth album. The
singles 'I'm In Love Again' (UK no.40) and 'La-Di-Da'
(US no.78) also flop and the following 'Sad Cafe Live'
LP (UK no.37) is their last ever chart success |
|
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|
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|
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| |
| 1981 |
|
The Bee Gees move
away from their now trademark disco sound with their ground-breaking
thirteenth studio album, 'Living Eyes', the first ever
to be recorded onto CD by any band. Following their almost
world domination of the previous two LP's it comes as
a shock that it fails to reach the Top 40 in either the
UK or USA. |
 |
New Order |
| Ceremony
|
| Following
the suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis,
Joy Division
rename themselves New
Order, with guitarist Bernard
Sumner taking vocal duties. Gillian
Gilbert, girlfriend of drummer, Stephen
Morris, is added as a keyboard player although
they remain fairly loyal to the dark Joy
Division style. Their debut single,
'Ceremony', penned by Ian Curtis,
only reaches UK no.30 in March, with the follow-up
double A-side 'Procession / Everything's Gone Green'
fairing even worse (no.38) |
|
|
In June Magazine
reach no.39 with their fourth studio LP, 'Magic, Murder
And The Weather'. Howard De Voto leaves
the group shortly after and the band split up |
|
Ex-Nosebleeds
and Slaughter & The
Dogs vocalist, Stephen
Patrick Morrissey publishes his first book,
'The New York Dolls', a biography of his favourite band
[click
here to buy] |
|
'Still', a collection of rare and live Joy
Division tracks reaches no.5 in October 1981
|
|
Despite the continued interest in Joy
Division, New
Order continue to struggle with their debut
album Movement' only reaching UK no.30. With the band
still seeking direction without Ian Curtis,
one track, 'Dreams Never End' is even sang by bass player
Peter Hook |
 |
Elkie
Brooks |
| Pearls
|
| In
November, Elkie
Brooks enjoys her biggest ever chart
success, reaching no.2 with the album 'Pearls'.
Selling over 1.2 million copies and staying in the
charts for 79 weeks, it enters her into the Guinness
Book of Records as 'the most charted British female
album artist of the last 30 years'. The LP includes
the no.17 single, a cover of Chris Rea's 'Fool If
You Think It's Over' [video] |
|
|
The Buzzcocks split
up |
|
Wigan Casino nightclub
finally closes its doors on December 6th, unable to renew
it's license because of increasing drug abuse, Wigan council
make plans to build a civic centre in its place. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| 1982 |
|
Wigan Casino is
finally demolished in February, after a fire had delayed
the process. Interestingly, Wigan council decide not to
build a civic centre after all |
|
In May, The Hacienda
nightclub opens on Whitworth Street in Manchester, owned
by Factory Records, it's even given it's
own catalogue number, FAC51 |
|
In the same month, New
Order, who it later transpires are funding
The Hacienda,
reach no.29 with the dance influenced single 'Temptation'.
The importance of this single isn't realised until later,
when it sets the blueprint for the band's new sound, mixing
New York disco sound with British synth pop, which arguably
makes them the most influential Manchester band ever
[video] |
 |
ABC |
| Lexicon
Of Love |
| After
interviewing Sheffield band Vice Versa, Mancunian
journalist Martin Fry is invited
to join the band as vocalist, changing their name
to ABC. Their
Northern Soul
inspired debut album, 'Lexicon Of Love' spends 4
weeks at no.1 in the UK (USA no.24), selling over
300,000 copies. It includes the quarter of a million-selling
single 'The Look of Love' (UK #4 / USA #15), together
with other smash hits 'All My Heart' (#5), 'Poison
Arrow' (UK #6 / USA #24) & Tears Are Not Enough'
(#19) [video] |
|
|
In
July, Barclay James Harvest
enjoy their best ever chart success with the live album
'A Concert For The People (Berlin)'. Recorded at a massive
free open-air concert on the steps of the Reichstag, next
to the Berlin Wall in 1980, it reaches no.15 in the UK
and tops the chart in Germany |
|
In August, the Frantic
Elevators fail to chart with their single
'Holding Back The Years'. Lead singer Mick
Hucknall could never predict the success
the song will bring him in the future |
|
With her 'Pearls' album still in the charts, Elkie
Brooks reaches no.5 in November with follow-up,
'Pearls II'. It includes the single, 'Nights In White
Satin', a cover of the Moody Blues classic (UK no.33)
|
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| |
| 1983 |
 |
Limahl |
| Too
Shy |
| spikey-mullet
haired Pendleton
punk Christopher Hamill, better knows as Limahl
(an anagram of his surname), joins instrumental
new wave group Art Nouveau as lead singer. They
change their name to Kajagoogoo
and spend 2 weeks at no.1 with the synth pop hit
'Too Shy' in January (US #5). Together with hits,
'Ooh To Be Ahh' (UK #7) and 'Hang On Now' (UK #13
/ U.S. #78), it's included on their debut album
'White Feathers' (UK no.5 / US no.38) [video] |
|
|
Stephen Morrissey's
second book, 'James Dean Is Not Dead' is released [click
here to buy] |
|
In March, New Order's
Falklands War inspired dance track, 'Blue Monday', reaches
no.9 in the UK and becomes the biggest selling 12"
of all time. The cover art work is so elaborate it reportedly
loses Factory Records 2p for every copy
of the initial run sold. It's later amended, which comes
as a relieve with an estimated million copies being sold
[video]
|
|
In May, New Order's
second album, the electronic-based 'Power, Corruption
& Lies' reaches no.4 in the UK. It includes the track
'Ecstasy', an indication of the new drug of choice in
The Hacienda
|
|
In
May, Barclay James Harvest
reach no.36 in UK (no.4 in Germany) with album 'Ring Of
Changes', which includes singles 'Just A Day Away (Forever
Tomorrow)' & 'Waiting For The Right Time' |
|
|
In October, The Bee Gees
reach UK no.14 with the soundtrack to 'Saturday
Night Fever' sequel 'Staying Alive' |
 |
James |
| Jimone
|
| Whalley
Range band,
James,
make their debut with the Factory records released
'Jimone' EP in November . It includes tracks 'What's
the World', 'Folklore' and 'Fire So Close', recorded
at Strawberry Studios [video] |
|
|
Having been sacked from Kajagoogoo because
of his prominence, Limahl
returns in November with his debut solo hit 'Only For
Love' (UK no.16 / USA no.51), taken from his album 'Don't
Suppose' (UK #63 / USA #41). He follows this shortly later
with the soundtrack to the film 'The Never Ending Story',
giving him a UK no.4 hit (USA no.17). They are to be his
only Top 40 hits and he is one of many Mancunians who
are forced onto the dole, being photographed coming out
of a Job Centre
[video] |
|
In the same month, Martin Fry's, ABC
can't follow up the success of their debut album, as 'Beauty
Stab' only reaches no.12 (US no.69), with it's singles
'That Was Then but This Is Now' (UK no.18 / US no.89)
and 'S.O.S.' (no.39) also disappointing
[video]
|
|
James drummer
Gavan Whelan is asked to leave the band after an on stage
fight with Tim Booth
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| 1984 |
 |
The Colourfield |
| Virgins
And Philistines |
| In
January, ex-Specials star Terry
Hall forms the Manchester pop trio The
Colourfield. Their self-titled debut
single reaches UK no.43 and is included on their
debut album 'Virgins & Philistines' (UK no.12)
alongside their biggest hit 'Thinking of You' (no.12)
[video] |
|
 |
The Smiths |
| The
Smiths |
| In
March, The Smiths
are just pipped by The Thompson Twins into the top
spot the UK charts with their self-titled debut
album. Together with the track 'Reel Around the
Fountain', which features lines taken from the Mancunian
film A
Taste Of Honey, it includes 'Hand In
Glove' and the hit single 'What Difference Does
It Make?' (UK no.12)
[video] |
|
|
April
1984, Barclay James Harvest
reach no.33 in the UK (no.4 in Germany) with their album
'Victims Of Circumstance' which includes the single of
the same name and 'I've Got A Feeling'. It's to be their
last chart success. |
|
In the same month,
Peter Skellern
joins Julian Lloyd Webber, Mary Hopkin and Bill Lovelady
in the classical meets pop group Oasis.
Their self-titled LP reaches no.23 |
|
Having been invited by The
Smiths to ressurect her career by covering
their song 'I Don't Owe You Anything' (which had been
written with her in mind to sing). 60's singer Sandie
Shaw agrees and also covers the tracks 'Jeane'
and 'Hand In Glove', which reaches no.27 in the UK singles
charts. The band appear with her on Top Of The Pops
[video] |
|
Elkie Brooks only
reaches no.35 in July with her 'Minutes' LP |
|
In October, ABC,
by now a duo of Martin Fry and synth
player Mark White, only reach UK no.28 (USA no.30), with
their third album 'How To Be A Zillionaire', but they
do enjoy USA Top 20 hit singles 'Be Near Me' (USA no.9
/ UK no.26) and 'How to Be a Millionaire' (USA no.20 /
UK no.49)
[video]
|
|
In November, The Smiths
reach no.7 with the compilation album 'Hatful Of Hollow'
which includes BBC Radio 1 Sessions, b-sides and the two
hit singles, 'William It Was Really Nothing' (no.17) and
'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now' (no.10), a nod to Sandie
Shaw's 1969 single 'Heaven Knows I'm Missing
Him Now'
[video] |
|
In December Elkie Brooks
scrapes into the Top 40 with her 'Screen
Gems' album (UK no.35) |
|
|
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|
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| |
| 1985 |
 |
Paul Young |
| Mike
& The Mechanics |
| Taking
a break from Sad Cafe,
Wythenshaw vocalist Paul Young,
joins Mike & The
Mechanics for their debut LP. He sings
lead vocals on the hits 'All I Need Is a Miracle'
(US no.5) and 'Taken In' (US no.32), as well as
on the album tracks 'Hanging By a Thread' and 'Take
the Reins' . It reaches no.26 in the USA (no.78
in UK) [video] |
|
 |
The Smiths |
| Meat
Is Murder |
| In
February, The Smiths,
enjoy their only no.1 album with 'Meat Is Murder'.
More political than their first two LP's, attacking
the Thatcher government, It includes the single
'That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore' (no.49), the
Victoria Wood inspired track
'Rusholme Ruffians' and a song about Manchester
School, 'The Headmaster Ritual'. Later reissues
include the hit single 'How Soon Is Now?' (UK no.24)
[video] |
|
|
In May, New Order's
largely synthesized third album, 'Low-Life' reaches UK
no.7 (US no.94) |
|
Fivepenny Piece
split up in May (they later reform in 1995 with Bernard
Wrigley as vocalist) |
 |
The Stone
Roses |
| So
Young |
| The
Stone Roses, made up of former Altrincham
Grammar pupils Ian
Brown and John
Squire, plus Alan 'Reni' Wren, Pete
Garner and Andy Couzens, appear on the scene in
September with the non-charting doom-laden debut
punk single, 'So Young', also known as 'Misery Dictionary' |
|
 |
Happy
Mondays |
| Forty
Five EP |
| Mike
Pickering persuades Factory
Records to sign unemployed Salford scallies,
Happy Mondays
despite them coming last in a talent contest at
The Hacienda.
Their debut 'Forty Five E.P,' featuring 'Delightful,'
highlights their lack of musical talent and fails
to chart in September |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| 1986 |
|
On January 4th 1986,
Phil Lynott dies,
aged 36, of heart & kidney failure due to his heroin
addiction |
| The
Monkees single "That Was Then, This Is Now,"
reaches no.20 in the USA (no.68 UK). Due to personal friction
between Davy Jones
and the rest of the band on their 1986 tour, the Mancunian
refuses to sing on the track as well as two other new
songs included on the "Then & Now... The Best
of The Monkees" compilation album. Both album and
single are credited to 'Micky Dolenz & Peter Tork
(of The Monkees)'.
|
|
Because of his heroin addiction, bassist Andy
Rourke is temporaily sacked from The
Smiths, being informed by a Post-It note
stuck on his car windscreen by Morrissey.
He's reinstated 2 weeks later with his replacement Craig
Gannon remaining in the band, moving onto rhythm
guitar. |
 |
The Smiths |
| The
Queen Is Dead |
| In
June The Smiths
reach no.2 in the UK charts (US no.70) with their
fourth album, 'The Queen Is Dead'. Kept from the
top spot by Genesis 'Invisible Touch', it's widely
regarded as their best release, it features the
singles, 'The Boy With The Thorn In His Side' (no.23),
and 'Big Mouth Strikes Again' (no.26) [video] |
|
|
After supporting The Smiths,
James only reach
UK no.68 in June with their debut album 'Stutter' |
|
In September, New Order's
fourth album, 'Brotherhood' reaches UK no.9 |
|
In October, punk band The Fall
score their first chart success, with their 16th, and
arguably best, album 'Bend Sinister' (UK no.36). It also
includes their first Top 75 single 'Mr Pharmacist' (no.75) |
|
In November, Elkie Brooks
rediscovers chart success with 'No More The
Fool' which reaches number 5 in the singles chart. It's
later included on the album of the same name which also
reaches no.5. At the same time, 'The Very Best Of Elkie
Brooks' reaches number 10. [video] |
|
Andy Couzens leaves The
Stone Roses and the band adapt a more baggy
sound |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
| |
| 1987 |
 |
The Smiths |
| The
World Won't Listen |
| In
February The Smiths
reach no.2 in the UK charts with the compilation
album 'The World Won't Listen', which includes non-album
singles 'Shakespeare's Sister' (UK no.26), 'Panic'
(UK no.11), 'Shoplifters Of The World Unite' (no.12)
and 'Ask' (UK no.14), which features Ewan
MacColl's daughter, Kirsty
MacColl, on backing vocals. It's kept off
the top spot by the Phantom of The Opera Cast Recording.
[video] |
|
 |
The
Railway Children |
| Reunion
Wilderness |
|
Factory Records release Wigan band
The Railway Children's
debut album, 'Reunion Wilderness', to much critical
acclaim. It doesn't chart but their jangly sound,
similar to The Smiths,
a band Tony Wilson hadn't signed,
gains singles 'A Gentle Sound' & 'Brighter'
maximum exposure
[video] |
|
|
Happy Mondays
debut album, the interestingly titled 'Squirrel and G-Man
Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile
(White Out)' not only fails to chart in April, but also
earns Factory Records a writ from Michael
Jackson, who own the Beatles back catalogue. In trouble
for stealing lyrics from ''Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da', the track
'Desmond' is quickly replaced on reissues with '24 Hour
Party People' |
 |
Swing
Out Sister |
| It's
Better To Travel |
|
Swing Out Sister
spend 2 weeks at the top of the charts in May with
their electro pop jazz-tinged debut album, 'It's
Better To Travel', shifting over 100,000 copies.
It includes the 250,000 selling smash hit single
'Breakout' ( UK no.4 / USA no.6) as well as 'Surrender'
(UK no.7), 'Twilight World' (UK no.32 / USA no.31),
and 'Fooled By a Smile' (no.43) [video] |
|
|
In May, The Smiths
reach no.38 in the UK charts (US no.63) with the 4 disc
import compilation album 'Louder Than Bombs', which includes
the new single 'Sheila Take A Bow' (no.10). The album
cover features a photograph of Salford playwright Shelagh
Delaney.
[video] |
 |
Wax |
| Building
A Bridge To Your Heart |
|
Former 10cc
bassist Graham Gouldman forms Wax
with American singer Andrew Gold. Although they
reach no.43 in the USA with 'Right Between The Eyes'
in 1986, the duo's only UK hit comes in Aug 1987
with 'Building A Bridge To Your Heart' (no.12) [video] |
|
|
After recording the album, 'Strangeways Here We Come',
Johnny Marr
leaves The Smiths,
citing his anger at Morrissey's
regular covers of 60's pop tunes. The band split up in
August with Marr
temporarily joining The Pretenders. |
|
In August, New Order's
12" single compliation album, 'Substance', reaches
UK no.3 (US no.36) and includes the new hit single 'True
Faith' (UK no.4 / USA no.32) |
|
Pete Garner quits The
Stone Roses in August after second single,
'Sally Cinnamon', fails to chart |
|
The 10cc and Godley
& Creme compilation album 'Changing Faces
- The Very Best Of 10cc and Godley & Crème'
reaches no.4 in the same month |
 |
Bee
Gees |
|
You Win Again |
| The
Bee Gees score their fifth UK no.1
hit single, their first chart hit in 8 years. It
spends 4 weeks in the top spot, selling over 500,000
copies in Sep and is included on the album 'E.S.P.'
(UK no.5) [video] |
|
 |
The Smiths |
| Strangeways
Here We Come |
| In
October, The Smiths
final album, 'Strangeways, Here We Come', is finally
released, reaching no.2 in the UK charts (US no.55).
Kept off the top spot by Michael Jackson's 'Bad',
it features hit singles 'I Started Something I Couldn't
Finish' (no.23), 'Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody
Loved Me' (no.30) and 'Girlfriend in a Coma' (no.10),
which again features a photo of Shelagh
Delaney on the sleeve.
[video] |
|
|
After being treated for Hodgkin's disease, Martin
Fry returns in October with ABC's
UK no.7 (US no.48) album, 'Alphabet City'. It includes
the worldwide smash 'When Smokey Sings' (UK no.11 / USA
no.5), a tribute to Smokey Robinson, together with other
singles 'The Night You Murdered Love' (no.31) and 'King
Without a Crown' (no.44) [video] |
 |
The Mock
Turtles |
| Pomona
EP |
| 5
piece Middleton band The
Mock Turtles, fronted by Martin
Coogan, the elder brother of comedian Steve
Coogan, emerge on the scene in 1987
with the 4 track 'Pomona EP', featuring the track
'John O'War'. (Does not chart) |
|
|
Karl Shale leaves Colourfield
and after their 3rd album fails to chart, the group call
it a day |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| 1988 |
 |
808 State |
| Newbuild
|
| Biting
Tongues member Graham Massey, Techno
DJ Gerald Simpson
and Martin Price, the owner of the Eastern
Bloc record store, rename their Hit
Squad Mcr hip hop act 808
State, and, like so many other bands
who are regulars at
The Hacienda, shift to an acid house
sound. Their debut album 'Newbuild', with drug influenced
track, 'E Talk', fails to chart in Jan. |
|
|
On March 10th 1988, Andy
Gibb dies at the age 30 as a result of an
inflammation of the heart, possibly caused by his cocaine
addiction. Tragically, his death comes only a few days
after his brothers decide he should become the fourth
member of The
Bee Gees |
 |
Morrissey |
| Viva
Hate |
| Morrissey
recruits Vini
Reilly of The
Durutti Column to release his debut
solo album. It goes straight to no.1 in the UK (US
no.48) in March, barely 6 months after The
Smiths final album was released. The
lyrics and the album title are both bitter and political
with tracks like 'Margaret on the Guillotine' and
hit singles 'Suedehead' (no.5) & 'Everyday Is
Like Sunday' (no.9) [video] |
|
|
Also in March, the latest line-up of The
Fall reaches no,19 with the album 'The Frenz
Experiment'. With more of a pop influence than before,
it includes their biggest ever hit single, a cover of
the Northen Soul
track 'There's A Ghost In My House' (no.30) and another
cover, The Kinks 'Victoria' (no.35) |
|
The Joy Division
collection '1977-1980 Substance' reaches no.7 in July
|
 |
Inspiral
Carpets |
| Plane
Crash EP |
| psychadelic
Oldham
band Inspiral
Carpets , with vocalist Stephen Holt,
release their debut recording, 'Plane Crash EP in
July, containing the grage pop track 'Keep The Circle
Around'. It doesn't chart but wins widespread airplay
from Radio 1 |
|
 |
The Hollies |
| He
Ain't Heavy He's My Brother |
| The
re-release of The
Hollies 1969 track spends two weeks
at UK number 1 in September following it's use in
the popular Miller Lite beer advert [video] |
|
 |
The Smiths |
| Rank
|
| In
the same month, due to contractual requirements,
the now defunkt Smiths
release the live album 'Rank' (recorded in 1986).
Riding high on Smiths
nostalgia and the success of Morrissey's
debut solo album, it reaches
UK no.2 (US no.77), kept off the top spot by 'Kylie
- The Album' |
|
|
Godley & Creme
split
after
their seventh album, 'Goodbye Blue Sky', fails to chart |
 |
Paul Young |
| The
Living Years |
| Sad
Cafe vocalist Paul Young,
re-appears on Mike
& The Mechanics second album, 'The
Living Years', reaching no.2 in November (US no.13).
The title track, sang by Paul Carrack, tops the
charts in the USA and across the globe (UK no.2) |
|
|
The Buzzcocks re-unite
although fail to score any future chart success |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| 1989 |
 |
New Order |
| Technique
|
| In
February, New Order
enjoy their first no.1 album 'Technique' (US no.32).
Recorded in Ibiza, it incorporates acid house influences
into the group's techno-rock sound, opening the
door for a whole scene of Mancunian dance rock bands.
It spawns the singles 'Fine Time' (UK no.11), 'Round
And Round' (UK no.21 / USA no.64) and 'Run' (no.49)
[video] |
|
|
former Smiths
guitarist Johnny Marr
joins The The, where he remains a member
for 5 years |
|
Georgie Fame
joins Van Morrison's band, playing organ |
|
In March, Inspiral
Carpets, replace vocalist Stephen Holt with
Hacienda
glass collector, Tom
Hingley. Their 'Train Surfing EP', with the
track 'Butterfly' fails to chart |
|
The Bee Gees only
reach UK no.29 in April with their sixteenth album 'One',
which is largely written about their brother, Andy. |
|
In May, Swing Out
Sister, now a duo with Martin Jackson
having left the group, enjoy a UK no.9 album with the
more easy-listening inspired 'Kaleidoscope World'. It
includes the singles 'You On My Mind' (no.28), 'Where
In the World' (no.47) and 'Forever Blue' (no.80)
[video] |
|
ABC also experiment
with the sound of acid house, that by now is pumping out
of The Hacienda
and onto the airwaves. The album 'Up' flops (no.58), spawning
the no.32 single 'One Better World' [video] |
 |
The Stone
Roses |
| The
Stone Roses |
|
The Stone Roses
self-titled debut album only reaches no.32 in March
despite later being described by many music magazines
as the 'greatest album of all time'. It includes
the minor hits 'She Bangs the Drums' (no.36) and
'Made of Stone' (no.90). Whilst not being commercially
successful on its release, it goes on to influence
different generations and reappears in the UK Top
10 some 15 years later!
[video]
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Still going strong, punk band The
Fall reach no.40 with their 'Seminal Live'
album |
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On October 22nd 1989, Ewan
MacColl dies of complications following a
heart operation. He had just finished writing his autobiography,
'Journeyman', which was released after his death. [click
here to buy] |
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In November, 808 State
enjoy their first chart success with The
Hacienda classic 'Pacific State' (UK no.10),
recorded whilst Gerald Simpson
was still a member of the group. It's later included on
their non-charting 'Quadrastate' EP
[video] |
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The same month, Happy
Mondays also enjoy their first chart success
with their 'Madchester - Rave On EP' which, with its acid
house meets funk rock tones becomes a massive hit in The
Hacienda. Tracks include 'Hallelujah' and
'Rave On'. It reaches no.19 in the UK charts and labels
the whole era
[video]
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Despite neither song appearing
on the album, the success of The
Stone Roses double-A side single 'What The
World Is Waiting For' and 'Fools Gold' (no.8) pushes their
self-titled debut album back into the charts at no.19
in December
[video] |
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Sad Cafe disband
after their 'Whatever it Takes' album fails to chart.
Paul Young continues to work with Mike
& The Mechanics |
 |
Electronic |
| Getting
Away With It |
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New Order
frontman Bernard Sumner, former
Smiths
guitarist Johnny
Marr and Pet Shop Boys
singer Neil Tennant join forces
to create supergroup Electronic.
Their debut single, 'Getting Away With It' sells
over 250,00 copies, reaching UK no.12 (US #38) in
December [video] |
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