Madchester was a late 80’s and early 90’s phenomenon that gripped Manchester, England and changed the music landscape up til present day. Rising out of the acid fueled rave clubs from London to the Northwest, it not only took it a step further beyond the dance music of the 80’s. It combined it with the sounds of psychadelic pop American bands of the 60’s and funk groups from the 70’s. Bands such as The Stone Roses, The Charlatans, Inspiral Carpets, Happy Mondays, and many others that took dance and pop music to the threshhold while still maintaining creativity and underground status. Eventually as the middle of the 90’s grew near, the genre soon faded and gave rise to what is now known as Britpop which houses such names as Oasis and Blur as the heavyweights that continued til the end of the 90’s.
The Stone Roses - Waterfall
Happy Mondays - Stinkin’ Thinkin’
there is a book with all of the factory record covers and flyers and posters. I actually contemplated stealing it from the library in Elmhurst, il, but i realized i couldnt do that disservice to the public. “The united States of the hacienda” is my favorite flyer. Paul Oakenfold was in on it before he became the world’s biggest DJ.
How boring and sterile the world is becoming! Chicago and many other big cities lost their ways putting cameras everywhere. Now cincy is doing it. I lived with someone last year who was like 40 and burnt out but he was in on the House scene there in chicago in the 80s. He said he had like all of that factory records and NO and JD albums before he had to sell it. I was telling him how the world is becoming a police state and he agreed and said he remembered when chicago was like Madchester and fun. No more, its just like a giant sterile shopping mall. all the dingy creative art from post ww2 to madchester era are going away. I guess this is the post-industrial world.
I think I know what you’re talking about. I’ve seen a few with Saville’s work with Factory. The flyers are more interesting to me than the actual album artwork a lot of the time.
So true about the police state feeling, I’m in Cincinnati a lot due to family and a lot of good friends there. I’m in Chicago less, but visit at least once or twice a year. While both cities have a history of crime, it’s not hard to stay out of it as long as you have a good head on your shoulders. One of my good friends actually just moved to London from Wales and says it’s ridiuclous how there’s a camera on every corner and in every building. It’d be nice if there was a creative, artful scene that arose similiar to the scenes of the 80’s and early 90’s…I’d be there, however it doesn’t look to be heading down that road anytime soon.