Joy and Division Two

Was just reading a site on The Smiths - and noticed that I am down as having done the first solo interview with Morrissey.
http://www.passionsjustlikemine.com/smiths-m.htm
I remember it now, the Midland hotel in Manchester up from the Free Trade Hall, me and Mozza sharing a bottle of wine! In 1973 I saw my first concert at the Free Trade Hall...it was a lifechanging moment. David Bowie with the Aladdin Sane tour. Had a big effect on me, a young boy from Heywood who was shy and a bit fearful.

Which brings me to the movie Control. Have just seen it on DVD and wished I had seen it at the cinema.I can honestly say it is one of the best films I have ever seen -in the top 10. Sam Ryan is brilliant as the tortured genius who was Ian Curtis,and the music is stunning. I used to know the film's producer Anton Corbjin from my days as a music journalist - you have done good old mate. I think it is a much better film that 24 Hour Party People, much more realistic and challenging.

My favourite Joy Division song? Shadowplay.

I also have the distinction of naming a song for New Order - The Perfect Kiss.I did the first interview with the band backstage at the Hacienda in the early 80s and told Hooky that I really liked the song called The Perfect Kiss.He told me they had no song of that name - but knew the one I meant. On the album it was there in all its glory - and called The Perfect Kiss as Hooky and Bernard had liked my suggestion.

Ah, nothing like a bit of nostalgia, hey??!!

Back to the 70s...I see that there's a book coming out with the musings of Tommy Docherty's first wife Agnes. I loved the Doc and his style of football.I was just a youngster standing nervously on the Stretford End when he transformed the team from the dreg ends of the Busby era and established his own exciting team...from 6ft 2 eyes of blue, Big Jim Holton's after you to Gordon Hill's king of all cockneys. I know the Ferguson era has been the most successful but the era of the Doc remains my favourite. The bull in a china shop who blew away the cobwebs and laid the foundations of a new United.


To the centre of the city where all roads
meet looking for you
To the depths of the ocean
where all hopes sank searching for you
Moving through the silence without motion
waiting for you
In a room with no window in the corner,
I found truth




...thanks again Ian, and thanks Tommy, for some great memories.