"I feel close to the rebelliousness and vigour of the youth here. Perhaps time will separate us, but nobody can deny that here, behind the windows of Manchester, there is an insane love of football, of celebration and of music." - Eric Cantona
I thought I would start this Blog with a bold fucking statement that I felt in some bizarre way related to myself (time will separate us) from one of the boldest characters to have passed through the city of Manchester back in the 1990s – and who still – to this day has such a great love for the city that returned that love (if you were a red of course) He was... and still very much a legend.
Although I am not going to dwell too much on that at the moment and should have waited to see what the outcome in a few weeks was before adding it. If you watched the match Wednesday night you will understand what I am talking about – if not – do not worry this is not a football related Blog... I’ll keep that for (hopefully, god willing, a later date.)
However – when I read it – it just reminded me of what we had not only whilst he was with us at Man. Utd – but also what we had in general back then. I think about Manchester God knows how many times a day – because for all the bad times I experienced there (not that I regret those times as they are a very important part of my life) – I will never. Ever forget all the good times that rolled along side of those horrendous rides.
That is because, they were, after all, the best days of my life running around thinking I had balls the size of water melons – popping pills like they were fucking smarties – snorting Chang (cocaine to you guys) like I had a permanent cold and it was merely Synex I was shoving up my nose to clear the airways – or going down that nightmare path I travelled down, climbing mountains upon mountains of that relentless rock face of stone (crack to you lot) that I smoked sat there wired out of my fucking mind, to the point that I could have been at the tip of bloody Everest I was so fuckin high at the time.
I mean you hear people say things like, "Oh he has got a 3 gram a week habit - it's a nightmare for him... He must be an addict who needs to get himself some help...."
Fuck that - 3 poxy grams a week (try more like an eigth to myself) which was a normal fucking night out. But it never stopped there... You see, when I hit the privacy of my home... well let's just say.... try a fucking habit which consists of going through ounces and ounces at a time in straight period. Like I have said in the past - with the colossal intake I was abusing myslef with...
Yes - that's right I really should be dead...
Throughout that period where I would have spent days upon days and nights upon nights at time locked away with a camping stove and an empty glass jar (usually Nescafe – not that I drink the shit) whilst riding a mental high through some of the most twisted and perverse fantasties one could ever imagine. I mean I am talking the kind of shit that would never - and I mean never - cross your mind whilst not so fucked up and twisted on mind bending drugs.
That was throughout what was, without a doubt, one of the most delirious times of my life...
I know what you’re thinking – we’ve all heard all this shit before...
But to be honest that is not what this is about. Because the one thing I remember above everything else... is not the drugs... and it is not even the football and those glorious years – No – the reason I actually threw Cantona’s comment in there earlier was that piece at the end – of celebration and of music.
If truth be told, this wasn’t the Blog I had planned. I have that Blog typed up and ready to rock. However, I am in two minds as to whether to post it or not. You know why – I got screwed over big time lately - in fact not just me – but lads close to me... and then to top that the same one who screwed me over then went and screwed over a family member of mine. Therefore I am in two minds what I really want to do about this fucking mongoloid...
I have already taken action... I am just thinking that after the confrontation and the blatant lies and denials to our faces – whether I should just bide my time and then post it. Not really for the mass public – but more for those close to these people who will hear these lies and think that in some way that I – and not only me was in the wrong, when in no whatsoever were we....
Anyway – give it a few weeks and I may post it then for all of you that I know will be more than a little intrigued as to find out what really went down. Especially after all the bullshit they will throw out there in the next couple of weeks trying to blame me and my team who have all left with me.
Anyway – where the hell was I???
Oh yeah – that was it, when the entire clubbing scene took off, we all started to neglect the fact we’d just gone through one of the city’s best ever times with that Madchester era. So why the hell would we blank the one great thing that we were right there with day in – night out.
God bless Manchester...
Okay – okay – for those of you that have read the book will be moaning that I said that Madchester, was for all the tourists. But truth be told – that was a great fucking era.
And look what happened through the likes of Happy Mondays and Primal Scream who totally got what that was going on with that style of music. They are still here today and still as strong as they were back then. Well, no offence Mr. Ryder – But I am talking more Bobby here than yourself. That is only down to the simple fact that everything I try to transgress here, hit you worse in the same way it hit all of us – in fact... so many of us... You probably more so than us with everything that surrounded you eh???
And to top that – look what then came along. That Britpop era. Fuck Britpop – That was the Rock and Roll we needed to bring us to our senses once again. I mean – Jeez – It had got to a stage where people were actually asking you what kind of dance music you liked?
Like, was it Techno – or Drum & Bass – Handbag – or.... Or fucking whatever!!!
Nonsense I tell you. It just totally lost the plot. In fact someone who will back me up here on this is an Old Skool DJ, Steve Williams – quality lad – and he was there back in the day and saw for himself how the times were changing. You can check out Steve at this awesome site that he regularly uses oldskoolathemz.com – he got in touch after the Terry Christian interview. He’s proper sound and even though, I know he doesn’t remember meeting me (Legendary all-nighter pal – I won’t say who I was with... or which brother you was with for that matter) and he knows what was what back then and how it all started to change.
Steve saw what was coming – didn’t you pal???
However – another thing I really have to throw in is the fact that through this period – we cannot forget what took place. And as much as a lot of people who slate Oasis (despite the fact they are the greatest fucking rock and roll band in the world) the one thing I love about this band – is the simple fact they came along and they broke that monotony of what the cycle everybody had fallen into with the clubbing scene – and that was simply dance music.
I mean Noel (who should be, rightfully the king of England) took us all by storm with nothing that was even that new. They reminded us all what attitude was – they reminded us of what it was to hear real instruments being played once again – but the best thing they did was the kept it so that no matter what you was into – you remained into it – yet at the same time – became all that more aware of the music we had out there.
I take my hat off to the likes of Noel and Liam. I seen these lads for the first time at Maine Road – and I have to say that you lads gave me the push I needed to try and do something with the book. I mean I couldn’t write lyrics or produce the kind of thing you lads did – and that is not what I am getting at to be honest.
What you did was instil the belief that any old Manc with the heart and desire could make a go of it. And for that – I will always be thankful.
I mean I have just starting listening to one of the greatest radio shows out there week nights – And I recommend any of you out there who love the music from back there and then and the music seeping through now – tune in (even if you’re Darn Sarf, as my Geordie pal, Paul puts it – or all the way out in New York, Sandy – or even bloody China lads... Daniel and Pengfei!!!)
Tune in online to XFM Manchester week nights to Clint Boon (of the legendary Inspiral Carpets from back then in the Madchester era) 7-10pm – he fucking rocks with the type of music he is playing and the added fact this guy plays so many unsigned bands it’s untrue.
Also – as I have mentioned before in a previous Blog, – 10pm-1am on those same nights – check out John Kennedy on the same show (London or Manchester) this guy plays some of the best music you’ll hear. No – you definitely won’t like all of it – however what you will like – you will like immensely and the lad is an utter genius when it comes to up and coming new music.
However – I also need to seriously throw a shout in here to the DJ I am listening to right now, as I do every Wednesday night 10-12 and that is Rachel Middleton on The Revolution, another quality station from Manchester – once again just tune in online if you’re not from the area. Now this is a Rock Show that plays everything from The Beastie Boys to AC-DC – to new lads who are rocking my world at the moment, Cage the Elephant... so you can’t go wrong. Also email her – she will play you what you want... No honestly – she will....
Quality!!!
I have this belief that what we saw back then is on its way back. And why is that you ask???
Because not only have we got the likes of Clint Boon banging out some of the best tunes out there covering the Manchester district and its surrounding boroughs – but we have the likes of The Courteeners who just released their debut album the other Monday – St. Jude – may not be recognised as all out classic through whatever backfire the media want to throw back at the lead singer (for saying whatever the fuck he wants to say and why the fuck not eh!!!) But I reckon we are looking at the new generation to have finally emerged from the ashes of Manchester...
Check out The Courteeners at www.thecourteeners.com or at myspace and register with them for some quality updates from the band. I am off to see them again very soon and can’t wait.
And no... that’s not all to say the least.
Another band who a lot of you will have heard of are the Ting Tings featuring the delightful Katie. Salford’s finest I think I have heard them described as by more than one person. I love the fact they are trying something different (and you know how much love I have for all kinds of music) Anyway – you can check these guys out at www.myspace.com/thetingtings
There is four tracks for you to download. Great music.
There is so much great music hitting us once again from the area. I could literally sit here for hours going on about it. However I won’t... But I feel that I have a couple you may not have heard of that are simply Class Fucking A in my mind and they are as follows...
We have The Maple State who you can check out at www.themaplestate.co.uk where you will find links to there MySpace page which is at www.myspace.com/themaplestate where you can download some of their tracks. There is one track that I believe to be one of the best I have heard all year which is titled Temperate Lives.
And we have another Manchester band (albeit they are actually from Macclesfield not Manchester – but hey c’mon it’s only fifteen minutes away –and it is a town very close to my heart for numerous reasons) They are Rambo and Leroy (god awful name that you will soon forget once you have listened to what it is they are all about.)
Seriously check them out at www.myspace.com/ramboandleroy and download the four tracks available. Especially the track that Mr. Boon described as life changing called Last One Standing
It happened before and two decades later as Cantona said, we have a deep love and celebration when it comes to the music of our glorious city – so this is the perfect time for the new generation of kids out there to take what we had back then...
Okay – you’ll never have it as good – but go on – have a bloody good crack at it. What have you got to lose at the end of the day???
Anyway – Before I sign off ... I have three very important words for you and they are:
KILL YOUR FIRENDS
No – that’s not me referring to the ones out there close to me who didn’t bother leaving me any reviews as requested!!!
It is because I have to tell you, whilst we are on the subject of Music, about a book I started and finished last night called Kill Your Friends by John Niven. I have to say that this is probably the most totally Politically Incorrect book I have ever – ever read – yet after only 70 pages my fucking jaw ached so fucking much from laughing out loud.
Seriously – it is very hard I think to laugh out loud when reading a book. Okay the odd chuckle here and there – but jeez – I started reading it on the bus and everybody just kept staring at me like I was a demented fucking idiot they had just let loose from the local Asylum.
‘It’s not Dog – Eat – Dog around here... It’s dog-gang-rapes-dog-then-tortures-him-for-five-days-before-burying-him-alive-and-taking-out-every-motherfucker-the-dog-has-ever-known.’
The story is set in 1997 and that Brit-pop era I mentioned earlier and follows the story of Steven Stelfox who is a twenty-seven-year-old A&R man. It is not only one of the best books I have ever read – but the realities of some of the twisted shit that he writes about was so close to the bone. All of it fuelled by greed and large – very large quantities of Chang, amongst the many other names as he refers to it.
I know for a fact that the stuff he wrote about – the really twisted shit that takes place when you are completely off your nut is so – so true and even though many a person would not admit it – I know for me, it exactly how it was.
It is an absolutely cracking read I swear it. Pure quality – Hilarious- Shocking – Outrageous – with some of the most despicable characters (some of whom I fucking loved by the way) is how I would describe it. So much so, that I have just ordered his first novel, Music for the Big Pink. I seriously could not put it down. You can check out Kill your Friends at Amazon.co.uk
Anyway – that is about it for now.
Take it easy as always...
Anwar