Design 9

Design 9 were formed in the early 80s in a rehearsal room in Salford featuring: ex-Two Tone Pinks vocalist Haydn Rydings on lead vocals; ex-Fast Cars vocalist Steven Murray on guitar and backing vocals; ex-Magazine Martin Jackson (Billy Whizz) on drums, later to be part of Swing Out Sister. They released one single on ‘Quick Step Records’ entitled ‘Roulette’ written by Rydings & Murray. It was recorded and produced at Pennine studios in Oldham Lancs, and released summer of 1984. Steve and Haydn met each other when Fast Cars were rehearsing at the same practise studios in Hilton Street, Broughton, Salford along with other bands including Joy Division, A Certain Ratio etc. When Fast Cars and The Two Tone Pinks split in 1980, Steve joined most of the remaining "Pinks" to form a band called ‘The Thorns of Affliction’ later just ‘The Thorns’. Following that Steve & Haydn formed "Design 9". The single was play listed on Piccadilly Radio and received airplay nationally on BBC Radio One. They once performed on the back of a truck entertaining the crowd for the Manchester Marathon on behalf of Piccadilly. Other musicians involved with Design 9 included; Andy Connell (A Certain Ratio, Swing Out Sister) & Charlie Griffiths (The Mighty Wah!, Black)) The single can be found for sale occasionally on ebay.