“Dear all who have left comments above - we have been asked to help The Lowry with an exhibition about dancing, and they are interested in talking to anyone who loved to dance at punk gigs. if you feel you'd like to help can you please contact the MDMarchive (orange 'contact us' link, top left of this website) and we'll forward your mail on to the Lowry... ta, Mat.”
"Fàc 9(cont): Also planned 'ln search of the lost chord' by Salem and Naylor. An SF sojourn through the mathematics of western tonal mathematics. Music by M.Hannett (partner and producer of 5,6,2a:2b,l0,l3,l4,Spiral scraaatches NB to NB on FàC 7 - 'sell some' - work on Lost Chord is held up for
understandable misgivings on the part of Miss Naylor on the question of this al1 pervading concept of 'product'. She wants to know when we're going to market toilet paper. Good question. next.
FAC 10: Joy Division; 'Unknown Pleasures'; 33 and a third LP... This was Joy Division's 4th outing on plastic; history includes two tracks on FàC 2, two tracks on 'Last night at the Circus' on Virgin and their own 12" 45 (also in 7" in plastic sleeve) called 'Ideal for Living' which contained four tracks. FàC 10 finally stirred the critic's hearts; the reticent foursome were soon loved; release was June '79.''This band has tears in its eyes. Their day is closing in.''(NME) Sounds backlash only took two weeks; is this a record. People ask about Joy Division, people like the people this is being churned out for. Ian Curtis is the singer and lyric writer; he's just starting to use a guitar onstage; his dancing style has been patented. Steve Morris plays drums (inc. Synar as on 'Insight and S.L.C') and doesn't like doing interviews if it means he's going to miss his tea. Peter Hook(Hookey) plays bass, shimmys a bit with a bent back stance and ts now driving a 'D' reg Jag Mark 10 (£55). He wants to do a Musical, like Oklahoma. Bernard Dickins plays guitar; he was a designer and is called Barney. Manager is Rob Gretton. of FAC 13
FAC 11: Exodus or An Exodus; English Black boys; exactly that and it's also the ti tle of the song; black youth anthem on 45 12inch. They come from Hulme/Moss /Range. Recorded at cargo Rochdale in June; still waiting for Producer, Denis Bovell to Mix it down; he's in the Bahamas this week, on holiday. Now he's got a reasonable economy...will be released....when Denis gets back....when?
FAC l2: The Distractions; 'Time goes by so slow' 7inch 45rpM B/W Pillow fight. Reminds the Managexent of AAustinTexas 66 but take your choice. 'lyrical, sophisticated, dynamic (NME)(who's paying this guy). Distractions are Manchester five piece who signed to island Records on Sep 18th '79, due to irresistible desire to play the game. This single has sold oùt its first 4,200 (2,000 labels went down at the Factory..youve got probleMs) reprint and press under way even now. First release on Sep lst '79. The boys and ? are evn now preparing to support the Undertones..thank you asgard, and will be passing everybody's way in late October
FAC 13: Joy Division; 'Transmission bw f Novelty'. ''Dance dance dance dance dance to the radio'' but will they. I.E. the radio one game. 0ut in Mid october, just in time to Miss(by days) Joy Divisions country wide tour supporting
Buzzcocks .All these supports/crutches/friends of Mine etc. 'Novelty' is just that being the first song they ever wrote two years ago. 'Transmission was premiered, showcased even, on BBC 2's 'Something else show on Sep 15th '79. Should Factory choose(that's another illusion) to play the
chart game with FAC13.....negotiations under way even now with big stall owners; J.Lydon:"we employ them.don't they understand". We're not sure they do:further instalment next Month.
FACT14 : The Durutti Column;12" LP 33 and a third. Instrumental album by (as in composed/played) Vinny Reilly and Gordon Smith guitar. Produced by Martin Hannett, to be issued in Mid october in sandpaper sleeve plus Flexi disc test card by M.zero. Confusacritic time.
FAC l5: 'Zoo Meets Factory half way': Leigh open air pop festival, Bank holiday Monday, Aug 27 '79. Poster and event. C.chaos,Distractions,AcRatio,Teardrop
OMITD, Echo and B.?Joy Division. 'A staggering even'(Se) 300 White on black posters; all put up.
FAc 16: A Certain Ratio; four track demonstration/seven tracks; featuring post- Modern funk classic,'Flight' For possible release(200) on cassette. Lateoct.
FAC 17 & 18 & 19 & 20 & 2l: see next issue. Fraternal greetings to Jean-pierre Turmel, the scala, City Fun, Final Solution,.Naylor's abrasives, KTIM SF,Greg Shaw,Jurgen Kramer,uncle SavagelMorley/penman/Gill/Middles/Bell and of course Uncle John,and Auntie Mary, and Andy Schwartz,printed Noise, Ed Bahlmann, Zercom/pacific/R.T./v.W./and everybody else without whose valiant efforts we would never have been able to hire a lawyer. the only alternative to the spectacle becomes the spectacle of the alternative. Discuss.”
FAC 1: original Factory Poster, designed by P Saville in yellow and black constructivist fashion ; used for opening of the Factory club in May,'78. Featuring Joy Division, the Durutti Column, the Tiller Boys, Cabaret Voltaire, Jilted John, Big in Japan, and Manicured Noise. Sold out'
FAC 2 : A Factory sample; double 7" EP; Joy Divisioh,Durutti Column,John Dowie, Cabaret Voltaire; 'devious,..to seduce and introduce (NME), 'I wonder what sort of pills he takes. I bet they all speak French too (RM). Design, silver paper in plastic, from Thailand cheaps albums: not cheapo this time... 5,000 in January and February 1979 released on Dec 24th. Sold out.
FA7 3: Second Factory poster; CV,JD, & TBfs. White on Black, simultaneous to Systems of Romance cover; 250, october '79, all put up. 0ne gig.
FAC 4: Third Factory poster covering December gigs. White on black drawn to left. All put up.
It would be amusing to reprint 1,2,3 & 4 ; should cash-flow or distribution (posters) permit it may happen, and theh again....
FAC 5: A Certain Ratio; 'àll night party': & 'The thin Boys 7" single; 'rudimentary skills with more panache and imagination than most since the Sex Pistols (MM), 'messy modern music (NME) 'dark'(CF). 5:000 in May '79.
Not sold out due to lack of response from the music press (ghouls). 0nly Savage of MM understood; and K Feeds for the prime reason that when ACR played the Acklam Hall he was the only person as incapably drunk as they were. A four (they look 'early piece they have now added a drummer, the funk direction and are apparently selling well in San Francisco. see FAC 16
FAc 6: Orchestral Manoevers in the Dark; 'Electricity' & 'Almost' 7" 45 rpm Cult hit, discos even. 5,000 in May '79 in blaçk on black thermographed sleeves. Sold out. Record now licensed to Dindisc, Virgin's new label; to engage in the chart game as of sep 28 '79. necessity for licensing 'the best example of this to date (NME) is regretted but the big stall holders seem to fill the squares (chart shops) and subletting is an enforced activity. news; OMITD , both of them are about to sign a major record contract, who with.... ask Cheater Valentino. That's OMITD manager/
Mixer: be has changed his name. The boys are support on the Tubeway Army tour. Thanks, Gary: huh
FAC 7: This is It; finished product will be thermographed grey on white onion skin paper, probably finished by 1981, maybe we can sell some. NB FAC 9
FAC 8: Factory egg timer; menstrual art, designed by Linder (secret Public, Ludus, orgasm addict montage). Still on drawing board; a four bar abacus; 7 beads to the row final five, blood soaked lint; looking for a ManuFACTORer.
Perhaps on sale in inaccessable places by Christmas.
PAC 9 : factory Flick; 8ml film, 12 minutes. Based on article in City Fun Fanzine by Liz Naylor, 'No city Fun' Music br Joy Division; FàC 9 also includes All Night Party, a three dilute Lelouch/popeye is erotic 30's poses voltage with music by ACR . plus Red Dress,a cartoon/nw4matton/unlive action 3 minuter to music by Ludus. These films were shown at the Scala Cinema, Tottenham Court Road,London on September 13th '79. A showing at the Manchester Factory is being planned; also shown at Scala was another 8ml film by Malcolm Whitehead (The first three are by Charles Salem) all about guess who.. JD.. includes live footage ot JD at the Bowdon Vale youth club doing Shadwoplay and She's Lost Control. FAC FLIK plans... tentattve..include an allspeaking film by Mr Whitehead and a spy/thriller/Joseph Conrad/suspense piece by Charles Salem featuring an ACR sound track.”
“this is guy being fixed up with a multi-camera holding device used for the video 'Buddha With Mace'. Joel Rock (chef to the stars) is fitting a homemade contraption that each holds a small camera. Guy then had to walk from Piccadilly Station to the bus station in the peak loony-hour of a saturday night, as drunken mayhem ensued around him (possibly hence the unhappy face!). quite nerve-wracking. filmed by Soup Collective... (i think it's on the Leaders...DVD)”
did this night attract 'named bands' or was it more of a local bands night?”