"The Union is 33 years old this week! To celebrate we've got some smashing things lined up" leads this advert from October 1990 which includes a ballot, debates, socials, and a gig by New Fast Automatic Daffodils in the Academy.

It says that when you vote, you a get a sticker so that all the candidates will stop hassling you and gain access to birthday cake.

Taken from the Mancunion newspaper, written and edited by University of Manchester students. With thanks to James Peters at the University of Manchester Archives and Ben Ward at University of Manchester Students' Union.

A great retrospective of The Cellar Disco's first ten years of operation. A few notable mentions from the article. The Cellar has had its turntables controlled by CJ Macintosh and Dave Dorrell, part of the M/A/R/R/S team responsible for Pump Up The Volume. The Cellar Disco is where the band James first met and conservative estimates reckon close to three quarters of a million tickets have been sold to the many parties thus far.

The Cellar is now known as Club Academy.

Words: Jim Rothnie.

Taken from the Mancunion newspaper, written and edited by University of Manchester students. With thanks to James Peters at the University of Manchester Archives and Ben Ward at University of Manchester Students' Union.

Taken from Area News.

A big hometown gig for former Polytechnic students New Fast Automatic Daffodils.

For a brief period in 1990 the Academy was due to be renamed The Steven Shaw building in acknowledgement to the plight of a Manchester University student Steven Show who suffered months of police harassment following an incident during the final day's of the miner' strike in 1985.

Leon Brittan, the then Home Secretary was visiting the Union to address a meeting and a group of around 500 students gathered on the University steps for a loud and peaceful protest. A clash with police resulted in scores of arrests and a defence campaign was set up by Steven Shaw. Steven eventually fled the country due to claims of ongoing harassment from the police.

As we know, the name change never happened but this a fascinating read regardless.

Report credit: Paul Gardner

Taken from the Mancunion newspaper, written and edited by University of Manchester students. With thanks to James Peters at the University of Manchester Archives and Ben Ward at University of Manchester Students' Union.

Broadcaster and journalist Terry Christian (not verified) writes with his tongue planted firmly in cheek with a letter regarding the proposed name change of Manchester Academy. His suggestion is Amanda D'Academy in homage to his co-presenter from the brilliant Channel 4 TV show The Word (Amanda De Cadet).

Taken from the Mancunion newspaper, written and edited by University of Manchester students. With thanks to James Peters at the University of Manchester Archives and Ben Ward at University of Manchester Students' Union.

A reader's letter concerning the Council's decision to rename the Academy 'The Steven Shaw building'. Steven Shaw was a Manchester University student who suffered police harassment during the final days of the miners' strike and fled the country in 1985.

Taken from the Mancunion newspaper, written and edited by University of Manchester students. With thanks to James Peters at the University of Manchester Archives and Ben Ward at University of Manchester Students' Union.

Review of Middleton-born David Gedge and his band of indie janglers The Wedding Present by Nicol Batra.

David and The Weddos returned to the venue almost 25 years to the day as part of the Manchester Academy anniversary celebration gig series. 18.11.1990 / 11.11.2015

Taken from the Mancunion newspaper, written and edited by University of Manchester students. With thanks to James Peters at the University of Manchester Archives and Ben Ward at University of Manchester Students' Union.

A review of The La's visit to Academy 1 whilst they were riding a wave of popularity with the critically acclaimed self-titled debut album and chart bothering indie disco staple 'There She Goes'.

Words: Simon Epstein.

Taken from the Mancunion newspaper, written and edited by University of Manchester students. With thanks to James Peters at the University of Manchester Archives and Ben Ward at University of Manchester Students' Union.

Story by Matty:

Primus at Manchester University. Support was by my mate's band Metal Monkey Machine. I left this gig with a massive black eye, after a clash of heads in the moshpit.

Story by Dile:

Not sure why I took this, probably testing out a new camera I bought around that time. Taken from the top of Mobberly Tower, which used to be a student hall of residence above the refectory next to the Union building. It shows the area of land before the Academy 1 was built on it. The roof of the union building and Big Hands I think, if it was called that at the time! (I think it was a florist's.)

Taken from City Life.

Nick Cave does a reading of his novel 'And the Ass saw the Angel' in the splendid confines of the Whitworth Hall.

Best this was wonderful, with Nick at his most handsome!

Courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information & Archives. You can make an appointment to see this the City Life collection by emailing: archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk

Words: Jacqueline Harte

Taken from City Life.
Words: Jacqueline Harte.

Great little interview with Kim Gordon ahead of Sonic 'Ciccone' Youth's 1990 gig at MDH. Kim mentions that the band are bringing 20 (20!) guitars on tour with them.

Kim also reveals that she thinks The Fall's guitarist Brix Smith is a 'spoilt princess' because she went to a rival school!

Courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information & Archives. You can make an appointment to see this the City Life collection by emailing: archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk

Flyer for the ill fated Solstice '91 nights at the Academy. These nights were Saturdays in the University summer holidays, but problems on the door led to the nights being closed down at the Academy.

Flyer for the ill fated Solstice '91 nights at the Academy. These nights were Saturdays in the University summer holidays, but problems on the door led to the nights being closed down at the Academy.

This advert promises readers a 'A plethora of delight; a multitude of musical magic' for gigs coming up in early March 1991. I wholeheartedly agree with this statement - just look at some of the names who are playing ... Jane's Addiction imploding on their magnificent Ritual De Lo Habitual tour, Ride returning for another show on the Nowhere tour as well The La's and JTQ.

Taken from the Mancunion newspaper, written and edited by University of Manchester students. With thanks to James Peters at the University of Manchester Archives and Ben Ward at University of Manchester Students' Union.

Story by Rod:

Review of Ride with support from Slowdive at the Academy. At the time of uploading (summer 2016) both bands are selling out much bigger shows on the shoegaze revival circuit and in hindsight this line up is a bit of a classic in the making.

The review mentions that Ride's best known songs were greeted rapturously by a polite and surprising restrained audience. Typical Shoegazers.

Taken from the Mancunion newspaper, written and edited by University of Manchester students. With thanks to James Peters at the University of Manchester Archives and Ben Ward at University of Manchester Students' Union.

Words: Davidson.

Gig ticket for Jane's Addiction, not long before their first drug-fuelled implosion.

Apparently Perry Farrell shared a bottle of wine with the audience before starting the show.

Story by Rod:

I love this review of the Jane's Addiction and Primus (Primos) show at the Academy.

Jane's 'Ritual De Lo Habitual' has been a constant in my life since its release in 1991 and I'm gutted I chose to watch Little Angels play in Bradford instead of coming here. The band imploded not long afterwards and didn't visit Manchester again until 2003.

Three things I missed by not being here:

1. Primus arriving onstage in a pair of thermal long johns.
2. A stage littered with flowers, fairly lights and ethnic dolls.
3. Perry Farrell sharing a bottle of wine with the audience before starting the show.

Taken from the Mancunion newspaper, written and edited by University of Manchester students. With thanks to James Peters at the University of Manchester Archives and Ben Ward at University of Manchester Students' Union.

Words: Matthew Savage.

Source: YouTube
User: Martin Coogan

A wonderful capture of The Mock Turtles performing at the Academy whilst their Can You Dig It? single was riding high in the UK charts. The video features recordings of the soundcheck, the bands' performance and post show footage around various locations of the Academy, plus a snapshot of the fashions and trends of Manchester life in 1991. Watch out for an appearance by Steve Coogan, brother of vocalist Martin, working the merch stall at 1h28m.

Story by Rod:

The Shamen brought their Synergy show to the Academy on a Thursday night in April 1991 and achieved something magical by performing house music live - that's no mean feat and they did it brilliantly, whilst transforming the Academy into a throbbing nightclub with the aid of decoration and carnival stalls.

Taken from the Mancunion newspaper, written and edited by University of Manchester students. With thanks to James Peters at the University of Manchester Archives and Ben Ward at University of Manchester Students' Union.

Words: Jonathan Wilson.

Taken from City Life.

Billy Bragg was riding high at this point on the back of his hit September hit 'Sexuality' co-written with Johnny Marr.

This advert marks the beginning of Solstice '91, the Academy's hugely successful dance night.

Courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information & Archives. You can make an appointment to see this the City Life collection by emailing: archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk

Story by Rod:

I remember this gig being a huge whirlwind of energy, I couldn't keep up with the band or crowd and had make my way stage right to watch from the sidelines. Everything was right for this show, the vocals, musicianship, pure energy, the injection of bme audience members, unity and an exhausting journey through thrash metal, funk rock, jazz, hardcore and some more.

Support for this show was by Derby prog-thrashers The Beyond who confused most of the audience but stole my heart and keep hold of it until this day.

Taken from the Mancunion newspaper, written and edited by University of Manchester students. With thanks to James Peters at the University of Manchester Archives and Ben Ward at University of Manchester Students' Union.

Words: Tim Allen.

John Ellis remembers:

Great full colour ticket. Fairly sure PM Dawn supported.

'Groove is in the Heart' must've gone off that night!

Not wishing to be left out of the Madchester rave boom, the Academy launched its Solstice club night, with resident DJ Dave Booth at the helm.

Former Academy manager and booker Sean Morgan described the night recently as 'the best atmosphere we ever had at the Academy'.

The security at Academy club nights were run by the same company as the Hacienda and experienced similar problems, as mentioned in this press article where gang members from Moss Side were involved in an incident on 27 July during one of the venue's Solstice events.

The programme of supposed summer-long raves were cancelled and eventually moved to 42nd Street whilst the Academy remained open for gigs as usual.

Taken from the Mancunion newspaper, written and edited by University of Manchester students. With thanks to James Peters at the University of Manchester Archives and Ben Ward at University of Manchester Students' Union.