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In the last 30 days the archive has grown by 58 new artefacts, 13 new members, 4 new people and places.
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2 Apr 2025

Artefact of the day

Badge
1978
Added 5th June 2007
by mat
A badge for Manchester's pop-punk chart botherers headed by Chris Sievey, later to be the brains behind (and inside!) Frank Sidebottom.

This week's video

The Peter Saville Show, Urbis, April 2004

Manchester's design legend returned home as Urbis hosted the first large-scale Peter Saville exhibition in the city which launched his legendary career. Saville, one of the most influential graphic designers of our time returned to Manchester with The Peter Saville Show, a retrospective of his life's work.

Spanning three decades to present day, this landmark exhibition contained over 500 items documenting his inspirations and tracing his thought processes, from conception through to finished work. At the time of the show, the designer stated; "Philosophically, it's rewarding to be asked back to show work in the city where its spirit belongs -- and after all these years I'm intrigued to know what Manchester makes of it."

Projects

Latest Artefacts

Latest Discussion

“I'm pretty sure whiteout didn't make the gig at Sheffield”
25 Mar
“I am David Plumb's daughter”
20 Mar
“Joy Division's gig was chaotic indeed, aka: the Bury Riot. Ian was deemed unfit to perform, but turned up after some persuasion from Rob (Gretton) Alan Hempsall (Crispy Ambulance's vocalist) was due to take Ian's place and did indeed sing the first three or four songs of a very short set, Ian then appeared on stage and sang 'Decades' (then titled 'Europop') and 'The Eternal' with everyone joining in on 'Sister Ray' - and that's when the fun started. Someone threw a pint pot at the stage - bedlam broke out. A gang of skinheads had also been present at the gig, that was their cue to join in.”
02 Mar
“dellydee is entirely correct: this would have been in 1996. Still a DCSK legend, mind.”
27 Feb
“Went there as a weekly pilgrimage every Friday. We called it The Arts College but it was really the Mcr Poly Union. Saw a number of great acts there close up and personal. I remember talking to Roy Woods sat at one end of the bar after his act and seeing the likes of Focus for 25p paid on the door. The routine was Jillys (the original on Gore Street) midweek, Arts College on Fridays, The University Students Union (Now the Academy) on Saturdays and UMIST on a Sunday. The Arts College was also famous for its sticky carpets, cheap bar and poor decor, you got what you paid for but the place was legend”
22 Feb
“I'm sure I still have the cassette from the steamer at the haćienda”
21 Feb
“How do I upload the full PDF”
19 Feb
“Defo not 1990! We was still writing on walls and listening to cassettes in '90. Don't even think Johnny had a record : ) Plus The Score album (not Ready or Not) dropped in 1996”
16 Feb
“I'm interested in buying this ticket or the flyer to this particular show. If anyone has, plz contact me on IG / twitter "bitvargen" or email me tsmith@bloodcompany.net thank you”
04 Feb
“Thanks Bladesy1! You're absolutely right. I've amended the date accordingly.”
19 Jan

Latest People & Places

Simon Wolsterncroft - Band / Artist PaulBSceneStories 05 Mar
Jeff The Chef - Person PaulBSceneStories 05 Mar
Crumsall - Band / Artist Bladesy1 02 Mar
Exhibit A - Band / Artist Bladesy1 02 Mar
Sounds - Place Georgia Davenport 17 Feb
Sockethead - Band / Artist Eddy Mark Edwards 12 Feb
Nts - Record Label Eddy Mark Edwards 12 Feb
Slowthai - Band / Artist Eddy Mark Edwards 12 Feb
Hmd - Band / Artist Eddy Mark Edwards 12 Feb
Aliyah Hussain - Band / Artist Eddy Mark Edwards 12 Feb
Engine House - Place Eddy Mark Edwards 12 Feb
Morville - Place MDMAshley 07 Feb
Wotgodforgot - Person Eddy Mark Edwards 31 Jan
Stop Making Sense - DJ Eddy Mark Edwards 31 Jan
John Powell-jones - Band / Artist Eddy Mark Edwards 31 Jan

News

Manchester Histories Festival 11 May 22
Help Shape Our Future-Complete our Survey 05 Jan 21
MDMArchive in city-wide 50 Windows of Creativity exhibition 26 Oct 20
Abigail Ward steps down 10 Sep 20
CP Lee 1950-2020 26 Jul 20
Suffragette City raised £5300 for local women's charities 17 Mar 20
2 Apr 2025

On this day in history