Ticket
A Certain Ratio
Free Trade Hall
1st December 1979

This was a good gig.I think The Human League were supposed to be the support but as I recall, the story was they got booted off the tour because they were going to be in the crowd and show a film...??I don't know if that's a complete fabrication of my imagination but anyway A Certain Ratio were the support,(I think it was this gig).If so apparently Mr. Topping ,the singer,was working for British Rail at the time and would have to travel from wherever he was to do the support (where do I get this stuff??).My Brother in Law,who used to be the Social Sec at M/c University told me he put Talking Heads on there around 1975 as well as quite a few other bands;I bet he'd have a few tales. I Should get onto him.
Right then, another thing I remember about The Free Trade is always drinking Newky Brown;maybe it was the only beer they had.Another memorable gig there was The Albertos with The Smirks and Devo as support.Devo had been on "What's On" on the Friday and I remember this guy with glasses dickin' about and some absurd American chit-chat.They were first up and their set started with a film, which is bound to make anyone restless,(flashback to Patti Smith doing a similar thing at The Apollo,must have been a quirk of the times).Anyway when they got going they were quite the crowd-pleaser,except when Mr. Mothersbrough jumped into the crowd ,wielding his guitar around and nearly causing head injuries to several punters;(being of the small persuasion I would often go to the upstairs at gigs so I could see what was going on).I think the guy used a "Gizmo" on his guitar,an invention of Stockport's finest,"Godley and Creme".The Albertos were a good laugh and Mog from The Smirks went onto join them, and later Simply Red.Now where did I leave my cup of tea...