Clash correspondent John Robb is set to release a new book detailing thirty years in the life of a city with the publication of ‘The North Will Rise Again: Manchester Music City: 1978 – 2008’.
With some of the most important groups (and producers) of the last thirty years hailing from the Northern city, Manchester has emerged as one of the most potent cultural forces on the planet. Beginning with punk, and that famous gig by the Sex Pistols in the city, it seems that virtually every trend in youth culture has had its origin, or at least been incubated, in Manchester.
The new book details the city’s growth from a post-industrial outgrowth with a small music scene to the cultural behemoth we are familiar with today.
The story of Factory Records and Joy Division has become part of music industry myth, enshrined in two major films already. However Robb moves beyond this to tell the wider story of the city, taking in The Smiths, The Stone Roses, Oasis and much more.
“I’ve spoken to just about everybody. In fact, the biggest problem has been keeping it all down to a manageable size. The book is around 155,000 words long as it is and it could have been double that. Ian Brown gave me 30,000 words to work with!” Robb told the Manchester Evening News.
Amongst the figures interviewed for the book are Liam Gallagher, Mark E Smith, Johnny Marr and the late Factory founder Tony Wilson.
Taking its title from a song by The Fall, ‘The North Will Rise Again’ will be launched with a show at Manchester’s Urbis venue on May 5th.
