The Late 1980s to Early 1990s Manchester Music Scene

Undoubtedly the alternative Manchester music scene which occurred during the late 1980s to early 1990s was a great attribution to music and youth culture. Music is an individually expressive and interpretive form of art, and Madchester is a clear example of unity through a shared interpretation of this.

Prior to 1989, the Madchester music scene in Manchester, bands such as Joy Division, The Smiths and the fall were at the forefront of music culture. The Acid house scene had risen. This developed from DJ’s in Chicago and spread to England, where it took it’s home in Manchester. There is no doubt that this was newly innovative, and this can explain why it became so popular amongst the youth. The use of psychedelic drugs such as MDMA and LSD also became very common during this time, hence the name ‘Acid House’. With this scene, there was a sense of letting go, which was certainly freeing for the youth at the time, as they had never really experienced anything like this before.

The Opening of the Hacienda nightclub undoubtedly was the most important step in the creation of Madchester. Although the Hacienda actually opened in 1982, it predominantly housed pre-existing bands which were mentioned previously, and was on-board with the Acid house scene. However, it was the bands The Stone Roses and The Happy Mondays which formed this new scene of music. Their popularity grew due to playing at the Hacienda. Owner of the Hacienda Tony Wilson, also owned a record Label, Factor Records, in which Happy Mondays were signed to.

When thinking about the sounds of Madchester, the word ‘Baggy’ is predominantly used. What was particular unique about this sound was the fact that it was a combination of 60’s psychedelia, Indie Rock and rave. The combination of these sounds created something which was familiar, and unique at the same time. Alongside this, Madchester was not only about sound, but also about fashion, making it a cultural scene. The term ‘baggy’ also describes the fashion of the time, in which Ian Brown of the Stone Roses was a huge influence, and became a fashion icon for the youth. It was the combination of oversized t-shirts, baggy jeans and commonly, Adidas trainers which catered for that ‘care-free’ look. Madchester was a scene which took influence from pre-existing scenes and made it’s debut through that.

Below displays some classic aspects of Madchester fashion:

The popularity of the band’s T-shirts became a ‘licence to print money’. Fashion and slogans became a huge part of the Madchester movement. In Particular ‘T-shirts, above all else, became a key market, as Madchester became as much about the look as the music.’ For example, ‘Jobbling created two of the best slogans; ‘Madchester’ and ‘Just say no to London’. Alongside this, Leo Stanley, produced the ‘AND ON THE SIXTH DAY GOD CREATED MANchester’ T-shirt, and other variations at the identity shop, based in Afflecks palace. This shows that the music began to influence the fashion of the youth in Manchester, branching out to other cities. They became fashion icons, which came about through their music. Fashion is something else that falls under the youth culture category and is significant in its shaping. The fact that the Roses influenced fashion, is a clear sign of their cultural importance at the time, they weren’t only influencing people’s music taste, but also their fashion sense which is something to consider. (1)

‘The Stone Roses’ in 1989. It was not only the music itself that people became encapsulated in, but also the fashion. The Stone Roses had a prominent style of baggy blue jeans, loose-fitting graphic t-shirts and Adidas T-shirts. It was a look of being carefree and comfortable which the youth were drawn to. Simon Spence argues that Ian Brown was to become ‘the face of Manchester’ and that his street stance was widely imitated by the youth which idolised him. He further argues that ‘unlike his Mondays’ counterpart Shaun Ryder, Brown had the poster-boy looks and distinctive cartoonish style that, in the business of commercial pop, was paramount’. He further states that due to this, Brown was certainly ‘on his was to becoming an icon’. Taken from an interview with Brown, he states that ‘I’m not particularly keen but I’m aware it could happen, probably will happen’. He said ‘I’m aware there is people who will use my face to fill their wallets, who can suck me in, then, when they want to, shit me out again.’ (2)

What was it about Manchester as a city that allowed for such an impactful cultural scene to occur? From the late 1970s, Manchester had been already closely associated with a number of distinct types of indie music, with bands such as Joy Division, James and New Order emerging from the city. The existence of record labels and venues, in particular the Hacienda and Factory Records meant that these bands could develop within their own city, there was easy access, meaning that it was more likely to take place, as opposed to having to travel to London etc. Accessibility and convenience is a key factor in the development of a music cultural scene.

‘New music can go from cult to cliché in an instant, but Factory Records emerged in the shadows. It felt like a guerilla foothills opposition taking on the fortress of high culture, fighting to get heard and seen.’ The founding of Factory Records, by Tony Wilson was certainly the starting point of the Madchester scene, and without it, Madchester would not have been possible. Founded in 1978, Factory records situated upon a strange and powerful art. (3)

During the punk rock scene, anti-tory messages had been concealed throughout the music and the images of the musicians. The radicalistic stance was further reinforced by the outcome of the 1979 election. Therefore it is hardly surprising that rave culture became on the increase and twenty-four-hour warehouse parties, heavy and careless drug use along with the ‘tireless quest for an extended good time all coincided with the end of Thatcher’s government.’ This can be interpreted that it was almost a celebration and an exercise of liberation for the youth of Britain, especially in Manchester. ‘Musically, the shoegazing miserabilists of the indie guitar bands were replaced by buoyant, danceable pop groups and innovative, pioneering DJs, and this new sonic euphoria became the inadvertent blissful soundtrack for political liberation’.

And so the legacy of Madchester continues...

Although the Madchester scene took place during the late 1980s to 1990s, it was certainly a great influence on music culture and an inspiration. For example, bands such as Blur and Oasis were heavily influenced by the Madchester scene, and emerged because of this. They adopted that ‘baggy’ style, and have both become hugely successful bands int heir own right. Manchester University became one of the most popular universities in the country due to the lasting effects of the Madchester scene on night life and youth culture. Undoubtedly the legacy of this scene remains present throughout music culture and Manchester itself, and remains a prominent part of musical development.