( Rob with Laura and Benedict)

Manchester District Music Archive remembers Rob Gretton, who died 10 years ago today - 15th May 1999.

Richard Witts sent in this recollection of Rob. You can read more here:

In the late 1970s Rob was the only man on the music scene I trusted who had a beard.

Rob came along to a few meetings of the Manchester Musicians' Collective, asked me how it was going, took a genuine interest. And those around the Collective appreciated that very much, because Rob recognised that it was attempting to be constructive, however naïve it was considered to be by some others around him.

I was very grateful to Rob on many occasions, mainly for taking me as I was, being down-to-earth and friendly, even though I was well aware that we toiled in a culture where people like me were considered university-educated prats with romantic agendas.

He also booked the band I was in to support Joy Division, including the fateful night in Bristol when Ian collapsed, and I can't recall any trouble for us over the gigs Rob managed. In those empty hours before gigs, his wonderfully dry humour kept spirits up – mainly vodka in my case. He was strong in protecting musicians from the idiots and sharks that hung around gigs; the word 'surly' springs to mind.

I remember Rob's physicality, the way he came up to me and held my shoulder when he told me of Ian's death, and when we were together in his car one night in Whalley Range buying something-or-other – when I pointed out the cop car tailing us – how he laughed and gripped my arm and told me, 'Don't worry about them fuckers. They want to know where we go, not what we've got'.

I also remember to this day Rob's vivid earthy voice, a kind of scratchy rasp, one that Paddy Considine caught so well in '24 Party People'. I often said he should have been the singer after Ian, instead of Barney. He could have outclassed Tom Waits.

Richard Witts