Photographer Unknown.
The Northern Carnival against the Nazis, a rally and concert held on 15 July 1978 in Moss Side, Manchester, was a defining moment in establishing anti-racism in the city and beyond.
Dubbed the day it became cool to be anti-racist, the Carnival galvanised North West communities against racist groups, including the National Front. A rally of 15,000 people marched all the way from Strangeways prison to Alexandra Park joining a further 25,000 for an afternoon of music, dancing and unity.
Co-organised by Geoff Brown of the Anti-Nazi League (ANL) and Bernie Wilcox of Rock Against Racism (RAR), the Carnival featured incendiary live performances by pop-punk superstars Buzzcocks and Steel Pulse, the UK's leading reggae band of the period. Support came from Moss Side reggae band Exodus (later X-O-Dus) and China Street from Lancaster, who had released a single on EMI called Rock Against Racism.
This is a picture of Chris Priestley taken c.1978, not actually at the Carnival, featured in our online exhibition: Northern Carnival Against the Nazis, 1978:
www.mdmarchive.co.uk/exhibition/674/w...
Chris remembers helping out with security at the Graham Parker and The Rumour gig that took place on the Thursday night before the main Carnival on the Saturday. The Graham Parker gig, which attracted around 5,000 people, was described as a 'rehearsal', enabling the Carnival organisers to (just about) dodge council event regulations and squeeze an extra event into the Carnival programme. Parker was about to play at Blackbush Aerodrome in support of Bob Dylan, and wanted to try out his set on a huge stage beforehand.
Chris writes:
The Graham Parker and the Rumour thing was as follows: I was an art student at the Poly in 1978. I was waiting at a bus stop when a guy pulled up in a car and asked me if I wanted to earn some cash. I raised an eyebrow and he explained that he wanted a couple of people to act as security door Graham Parker and did I know anyone else. I did. I had a friend who worked at On The Eighth Day - a veggie restaurant near the college - a tall punk - and we went, picked him up, and then walked with Graham Parker (who is tiny) to the stage across the park. No one tried to molest him. I don’t think anyone knew who he was and besides, Manchester was too cool for that sort of thing.
We had to stand under the stage when he played - between the stage and the chain link fence - but didn’t actually have to do anything. There weren’t people throwing themselves at the stage. I can’t remember what we were paid. I remember it seemed like a lot - but that probably meant it was £20 or something.
As for the Carnival, weirdly all I can remember is the Buzzcocks jamming with Steel Pulse and how challenging Steve Diggle seemed to be finding that. Ha. I can’t remember what they were playing mind you - and now I’m wondering if I’ve invented it. It’s all a bit of a blur. I can’t imagine why. Good times though. It’s partly confused by the fact that I seemed to see the Buzzcocks so often because they were on all the time back then. They are the abiding memory of Manchester for me - them and Magazine. I was there from 76 to 80. Saw both bands countless times. I still have my Rock Against Racism badge somewhere
This is me back then (when I thought it was cool to smoke) - with the art college in the background.
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