How good was the Hacienda?

[Didsbury Dave]

Not meaning to hijack but whilst on this topic has anybody read this...?

If so would you recommend?

Great book if you're still into the tunes because of all the set lists over the years.
I've downloaded a few mixes recorded from the dj booth, and they still dont quite capture it (in fact some sound really slow nowadays) - but you do get an impression of the massive range Pickering and Park played.
For me it was always about the Friday Nude nights; the saturdays and the indie Thursdays I could take or leave.
By 91 park and pickering were sticking with the soulful vocal stuff and I was following the harder tunes, so I mostly stopped going after 90 anyway.

The assumption was everyone in the place was doved up but I'm not sure. If plenty of others were then there was no need, so I never bothered - the atmosphere was so good anyway.
At the front of the stage to Strings of Life, Voodoo Ray, Rock to the Beat -hands in the air, strobe lights full-on; didnt get any better.
can remember those massive jugs of water on the bar - the takings must have been sweet fa!

Every single one of our 'posse' were dropping party smarties like they were going out of fashion ;-)

Totally agree about the music.

I moved to London in 1990 and like everyone else around me, was a full-on clubber at the time having been blown away by the after club raves as much as the clubs. This was the last year of the big warehouse parties and I spent the next year or two as a London clubber who came back to Mcr every couple of months for a party. I felt at that time that the Manchester dance scene lost its way musically. As you say, Pickering and park were playing garage and soulful house, the tacky clubs like Angels were playing cheesy crowd pleasing rave tunes. The music up here wasn't in the same league as the London clubs. Down there the 'in' DJs were playing progressive house, the likes of boys own, left field, underworld etc. Up here, with the exception of Justin Robertson at Most Excellent, the 'in' DJs were playing girl's music, shallow handbaggy grinding American type stuff. The scene was already splintered by then, with the original acid house crowd becoming more fashion conscious and looking down our nose at the newer, prole ravers with their dummies and glow sticks and hands in the air/ cheesy hardcore.

The scene's best days were already behind it, even by about 91. And the hac was filling with hairdressers and tourists whilst the original crowd had mostly moved on.

But as I said before, for two years, when it was still an underground scene, when the Es were New Yorkers and Doves and still blew you into a big loved up puppy, and the tunes were unselfconscious piano anthems, and the crowd was totally and utterly mixed, a melting pot, and there was always a warehouse party after. Boy it was special to have even been there.

I've seen music scenes come and go and been part of them. But it was a priveledge to be in the eye of the acid house storm when it broke. The best days of my life.

 

[andyhinch]

Quality mate!! Julian Cope at Int 1 and Pixies at Int 2 were particular stand outs for me. I was also one of the sheep that followed Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, James & Inspiral Carpets about everywhere. Saw PJ Harvey at the Boardwalk - phenomenal. Some lad ran on stage and put a City baseball cap on her head. Always loved her :))

Ever see johny dangerously at the boardwalk great times, Martin Stevenson and the dainties to, got them all pissed before a gig a gmex in the crown I think got them on stage about an hour late

Nah mate, think they might have been just about a year or two before I really started going out in town properly.

I'm an old fucker, he's recording again, ever see man from del monte or the men they couldn't hang? Like I say I'm a bit older so maybe not, Salford SU and Manchester Polly Su also had good stuff on

 

[Anonymous]

Ever see johny dangerously at the boardwalk great times, Martin Stevenson and the dainties to, got them all pissed before a gig a gmex in the crown I think got them on stage about an hour late

Nah mate, think they might have been just about a year or two before I really started going out in town properly.

I'm an old fucker, he's recording again, ever see man from del monte or the men they couldn't hang? Like I say I'm a bit older so maybe not, Salford SU and Manchester Polly Su also had good stuff on

Fair do's. I started out in town proper in about back end of '88 when I was 18. Only ever heard "The Colours" by TMTCH - loved it too. Started listening to Peel and discovered the joys of The Fall, Sonic Youth, Cud, That Petrol Emotion and such and such :)

 

[andyhinch]

Nah mate, think they might have been just about a year or two before I really started going out in town properly.

I'm an old fucker, he's recording again, ever see man from del monte or the men they couldn't hang? Like I say I'm a bit older so maybe not, Salford SU and Manchester Polly Su also had good stuff on

Fair do's. I started out in town proper in about back end of '88 when I was 18. Only ever heard "The Colours" by TMTCH - loved it too. Started listening to Peel and discovered the joys of The Fall, Sonic Youth, Cud, That Petrol Emotion and such and such :)

Only a few years, liked going on the piss with a few of the bands at the time, and probably had less money, never seen the fall, marks someone I can't work out, seen the buzzcocks a few times, something magical that I can't describe. But some bands do that for me, don't like main stream which my have something to do with 40 years of following city

 

[MikeF]

When it was good, it was fucking good but once Salford took over the door....

My favourite was probably Konspiracy though, just the rooms off here left, right n centre and the Jam MC's

Might go and blast out 'Slam' Phuture now as always reminds of the hac, that and Kenny Jammin' Jason 'Can you dance'

Oh, and Future FJP at the Thunderdome

Can I also mention the warehouse parties at Blackburn!

To be young again

 

[mancityvstoke]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNKLBwAcP04[/youtube]

Loved this song when it came out. Seem to remember another called VICTORIA or something?

My mistake. it was The Fall who covered this Kinks single.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4VdcMXVO_g[/youtube]

Was Mark E Smith a blue?

 

[chesterbells]

When it was good, it was fucking good but once Salford took over the door....

My favourite was probably Konspiracy though, just the rooms off here left, right n centre and the Jam MC's

Might go and blast out 'Slam' Phuture now as always reminds of the hac, that and Kenny Jammin' Jason 'Can you dance'

Oh, and Future FJP at the Thunderdome

Can I also mention the warehouse parties at Blackburn!

To be young again

FFS, Future FJP - now that really WAS a tune<br /><br />-- Sat Mar 16, 2013 12:04 am --<br /><br />

Not meaning to hijack but whilst on this topic has anybody read this...?

If so would you recommend?

Great book if you're still into the tunes because of all the set lists over the years.
I've downloaded a few mixes recorded from the dj booth, and they still dont quite capture it (in fact some sound really slow nowadays) - but you do get an impression of the massive range Pickering and Park played.
For me it was always about the Friday Nude nights; the saturdays and the indie Thursdays I could take or leave.
By 91 park and pickering were sticking with the soulful vocal stuff and I was following the harder tunes, so I mostly stopped going after 90 anyway.

The assumption was everyone in the place was doved up but I'm not sure. If plenty of others were then there was no need, so I never bothered - the atmosphere was so good anyway.
At the front of the stage to Strings of Life, Voodoo Ray, Rock to the Beat -hands in the air, strobe lights full-on; didnt get any better.
can remember those massive jugs of water on the bar - the takings must have been sweet fa!

Every single one of our 'posse' were dropping party smarties like they were going out of fashion ;-)

Totally agree about the music.

I moved to London in 1990 and like everyone else around me, was a full-on clubber at the time having been blown away by the after club raves as much as the clubs. This was the last year of the big warehouse parties and I spent the next year or two as a London clubber who came back to Mcr every couple of months for a party. I felt at that time that the Manchester dance scene lost its way musically. As you say, Pickering and park were playing garage and soulful house, the tacky clubs like Angels were playing cheesy crowd pleasing rave tunes. The music up here wasn't in the same league as the London clubs. Down there the 'in' DJs were playing progressive house, the likes of boys own, left field, underworld etc. Up here, with the exception of Justin Robertson at Most Excellent, the 'in' DJs were playing girl's music, shallow handbaggy grinding American type stuff. The scene was already splintered by then, with the original acid house crowd becoming more fashion conscious and looking down our nose at the newer, prole ravers with their dummies and glow sticks and hands in the air/ cheesy hardcore.

The scene's best days were already behind it, even by about 91. And the hac was filling with hairdressers and tourists whilst the original crowd had mostly moved on.

But as I said before, for two years, when it was still an underground scene, when the Es were New Yorkers and Doves and still blew you into a big loved up puppy, and the tunes were unselfconscious piano anthems, and the crowd was totally and utterly mixed, a melting pot, and there was always a warehouse party after. Boy it was special to have even been there.

I've seen music scenes come and go and been part of them. But it was a priveledge to be in the eye of the acid house storm when it broke. The best days of my life.

Great memories Dave. Enjoyed reading that post

 

[Didsbury Dave]

When it was good, it was fucking good but once Salford took over the door....

My favourite was probably Konspiracy though, just the rooms off here left, right n centre and the Jam MC's

Might go and blast out 'Slam' Phuture now as always reminds of the hac, that and Kenny Jammin' Jason 'Can you dance'

Oh, and Future FJP at the Thunderdome

Can I also mention the warehouse parties at Blackburn!

To be young again

The warehouse parties were madness. Big convoys of cars trekking through the Lancashire countryside, playing cat and mouse with the police.

I remember one rave in Warrington, 5000'people in a warehouse full of dry ice with no lights. I lost my mates for 6 hours and didn't even care.

I was once at a rave in Wigan and at one point in the night the whole warehouse lifted their hands in the air and held hands. Fuck me that was something to behold

 

[Anonymous]

I'm an old fucker, he's recording again, ever see man from del monte or the men they couldn't hang? Like I say I'm a bit older so maybe not, Salford SU and Manchester Polly Su also had good stuff on

Fair do's. I started out in town proper in about back end of '88 when I was 18. Only ever heard "The Colours" by TMTCH - loved it too. Started listening to Peel and discovered the joys of The Fall, Sonic Youth, Cud, That Petrol Emotion and such and such :)

Only a few years, liked going on the piss with a few of the bands at the time, and probably had less money, never seen the fall, marks someone I can't work out, seen the buzzcocks a few times, something magical that I can't describe. But some bands do that for me, don't like main stream which my have something to do with 40 years of following city

Quality mate. Saw the Buzzcocks but it was the reunion thing in the 90s at the Apollo. Mark's proper odd. Lyrical genius but cantankerous alcoholic - makes for interesting music, absolute drivel and a powder keg band set up.

I think you're right about music and City - I was never happier than listening to depressing stuff after yet another fucking defeat :D I remember my mate introducing me to Joy Division and the whole sound of Closer summed up City at the time!!<br /><br />-- Sat Mar 16, 2013 12:24 am --<br /><br />

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNKLBwAcP04[/youtube]

Loved this song when it came out. Seem to remember another called VICTORIA or something?

My mistake. it was The Fall who covered this Kinks single.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4VdcMXVO_g[/youtube]

Was Mark E Smith a blue?

Aye! That's the beast.

Mark E Smith is a blue indeed. Dunno if it is still on BBC iPlayer or on Youtube, but you can watch/listen to him reading the full time scores on Grandstand (I think it were Grandstand anyway)!!

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Thought cloud 9 was a gay club?

No, (not on a Saturday when I went, it was a punk / goth / indie place).
Opposite the Royal Exchange, think it's below the Halifax Bank now, on Cross Street.
The place was in the basement, lots of nooks and crannies!
The exit brought you out on Back Pool Street.

 

[MANC TRONIX]

It wasn`t as good as "The House" in piccadilly gardens with Jay Weardon :)

i thought you'd show up on this thread bazzer. ; )
agree - jay weardon @ the house. good times.

never really felt comfy in the hac, though went many times. too many salford pinheads off on one.
although did go in '88 for the 1st time when i was 17.
got turned away cos i was wearing a fucking suit. never worn one since.
stashed my tie and jacket by the canal at the back.
straight in. voodoo ray. absolute sweatbox.
all ages, all colours, all persuasions loved up to the fucking ceiling.
changed my life. (possibly for the worse)

had a bit of stu allan on unityfm tonight. top tuneage.

 

[Hartford]

Did anyone go in The Millionaire's off here, City's and utd's lads all talking bollocks where 6 months earlier they were chasing each other around town..

 

[MikeF]

When it was good, it was fucking good but once Salford took over the door....

My favourite was probably Konspiracy though, just the rooms off here left, right n centre and the Jam MC's

Might go and blast out 'Slam' Phuture now as always reminds of the hac, that and Kenny Jammin' Jason 'Can you dance'

Oh, and Future FJP at the Thunderdome

Can I also mention the warehouse parties at Blackburn!

To be young again

The warehouse parties were madness. Big convoys of cars trekking through the Lancashire countryside, playing cat and mouse with the police.

I remember one rave in Warrington, 5000'people in a warehouse full of dry ice with no lights. I lost my mates for 6 hours and didn't even care.

I was once at a rave in Wigan and at one point in the night the whole warehouse lifted their hands in the air and held hands. Fuck me that was something to behold

Blackburn was quite something else, words can't describe

I'd be here all night!

 

[bluehousemusic]

When it was good, it was fucking good but once Salford took over the door....

My favourite was probably Konspiracy though, just the rooms off here left, right n centre and the Jam MC's

Might go and blast out 'Slam' Phuture now as always reminds of the hac, that and Kenny Jammin' Jason 'Can you dance'

Oh, and Future FJP at the Thunderdome

Can I also mention the warehouse parties at Blackburn!

To be young again

The warehouse parties were madness. Big convoys of cars trekking through the Lancashire countryside, playing cat and mouse with the police.

I remember one rave in Warrington, 5000'people in a warehouse full of dry ice with no lights. I lost my mates for 6 hours and didn't even care.

I was once at a rave in Wigan and at one point in the night the whole warehouse lifted their hands in the air and held hands. Fuck me that was something to behold

Blackburn was quite something else, words can't describe

I'd be here all night!

Anyone at the one when the pigs raided the gaff, came flying through the side shutters, sending probably about 5000 people steaming towards the back shutters, which at the time were down, people were getting crushed and little polly bags were flying everywhere. We all then heard a massive crash as they trucheoned the decks. The shutters popped up at the back, preventing what could have been a disaster, only to be met my the old bill swinging their clubs at us. Some of the more disorder happy ravers then enagaged in a brick battle with the cops. Was in Nelson I think about mid 1990. Quite unsettling at the time.

Someone on here must have been at Joy about August 4th 1989, then there was another one about a month later also in fields, organized by a different mob but still banging, all the tribes were there.

As Didsbury Dave says, apart from having my little girl and May 13th 2012, Gillingham, Lokeren and the FA Cup Final, best days of my life.

Respect to the Thunderdome crew, we went there a few times, and it was certainly rawer, not intimidating, but could see how it spooked the odd head. But for us it was always the Hac, every friday, same few spots, back to the same gaffs after.

For me Konspiracy was ok, but that was the beginning of the end for the Manchester scene, I was spending more time in London then, going the MOS when it first opened, the 4 aces (labyrinth) in Dalston which was like London's Thunderdome. Credit should also be given to B2B and the Warehouse in Leeds, a lot of people started going that Shelleys in Stoke, too many tracksuits for me, and too much Sasha music, much prefered Park and Pickering, Boys Own Todd Terry stuff.

The Hacienda Must Be Built

 

[Mike N]

I was a member of the Hacienda when it opened (82?), not because I was particularly with it but that a mate sorted it out. We both lived in Hulme and could walk down to it in about 10 minutes.

Many a cold night was spent in there when a crowd never turned up, sound familiar? I was at six form college at the time, Loreto in Moss Side, and a mate used to work behind the bar. Many a time we used to say hello to Tony Wilson as our mate served us. Funny how many bottles of Woodpecker we seemed to get from a fiver and change as well!

Saw some great bands in their over the next few years, including The Smiths, Grandmaster Flash and Curtis Blow. Also had some great funk nights in there.

I went a few times when it got really popular and took a friend in there when it was at its most famous. They loved it but I didnt like the atmosphere at all, it wasnt long after that the trouble started.

 

[cockneycarparkm32]

It was` nt all that the Hac . Saw some great live acts and Dj`s , Smiths , Mantronix,joyce sims ,madonna ,ACR . Used to plot up in the cafe until a few bodies came in ,if they bothered . I went to a few student nights in the early days they were always good fun I still remember about 85 having to wear pants and shoes to get in on a soul night . Had one of my 1st little un in the Hac and met some great people in there , it was okayish for a short while . And yes I too can remember queing for ages getting K.B.`d at the door and rejoiningg half way down and getting straight in ,the door was shit and kept being shit for years . Glad when I got a guestlist but never went out of my way to pay a tenner on saturday to be surrounded by tourists ,Wednesday / Thursday/Friday it was full of Mancs . The flesh night we used to get in by the canal at one of the fire escapes . It went all Gio -goi and was full on posers and half wits , hardly ever went after that. PSV , hippo`s , thunderdome , manalive,Boardwalk for yellow , House Konspiracy,limit,strawberries,millionare club,sacha`s,No.1, felt more like home . Sadly manchester has not had a decent nightclub in 20 years they went all shiny , went to that placy mill near the swamp before christmas . Fuck me I feel sorry for the kids . Pump it up Hacienda , long live the Russell .

 

[the kippax wall]

The biggest factor in the demise of the Hacienda was who controlled it inside. When Cheetham Hill controlled it you never saw the levels of violence doled out to innocent clubbers that happened once they got locked up. Firms of scruffy bullies selling shit drugs and claiming alcoves drove the original crowd to other clubs Paradise, Equinox, Home etc.
But when it was good.................

 

[BlueRob01]

Did anyone go in The Millionaire's off here, City's and utd's lads all talking bollocks where 6 months earlier they were chasing each other around town..

Wasn't that re-named the Wiggly Worm at the time as far as I remember?
One shady place. As all the best ones were..

 

[Aphex]

Re: How good was the Hacienda?o

I was around 14 (1990) around this time. I remember buying 808 state 1 in 10 single remix which was always on there.. Alas I was to non street smart for it and never made it there.

Deserves a track tho

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpZVPSCv79U[/youtube]

 

[DT King of all Geordies]

I used to go on thursday nights from 1988/1989 and it were marvellous. Never had any trouble getting in or saw any trouble. Went off to Poly and came back a few times but it was pretty ropey by 1992.

Downside was the playing of that blinkin ravey music interupting the lovely stone roses or the pixies for half hour or so.