Youri McAnespie Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 (edited) We started venturing into Manchester during the Madchester era when I was barely into my teens, some mates not even that. It still had that seediness back then and some unbelievable record shops. Going in the bookshops on Shudehill and perusing the hardcore 'scan' mags. Corn Exchange had an army shop selling all manner of de-activated weapons - I used to wonder how many were bought and re-activated. After 'Powercuts' (Yank's) walking up to Johnny Roadhouse on Oxford Rd to 'play' the guitars. It's a fucking Bannatyne Spa now (Powercuts). Fuck me the end near the Odeon/Dutch Pancake House was seedy as fuck - especially that Arcade, I bet it was groomer central looking back. My younger relatives/mate's kids etc. don't believe us when we say "we used to get mugged at knifepoint on Saturday afternoons all the time here..." gesturing to the lower end of Market Street near the food court escalators. We soon learned 'the dance' - real money in our socks and about 23p in shrapnel in the pockets they'd rifle through. I'm sure these much older lads just did it to look 'gangster' in front of their mates, they never seemed particularly arsed about how meagre their 'taxings' off us were. After we'd got our vinyl on nice days we'd go to Shambles and I'd go in Sainsbury's for some cheap ale (I looked much older) and we'd sit on those concrete monstrosities openly supping and leering at girls/women. Maybe share a bag of Mexican Spice Wheelz from one of the many (Aleef?) Newsagents owned by the same family dotted throughout the city. If we were flush - a bag of chips from 'Skippers' chippy top end of the Arndale. Being from Bolton, at that age, it was like having NYC a number 25 ride away. I think everyone has fond memories of their youthful escapades. Edited January 5, 2021 by Youri McAnespie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmjhb Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, Mounts Kipper said: You’ve nailed it the buzz was something else nothing was sanitised, everything in full glorious technicolour, football, music, friends aplenty running wild playing out & family life was joyous, WTF happened! You got old Did you lot not go drinking or gigging in the 00s or something? Edited January 5, 2021 by jmjhb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Casino Posted January 6, 2021 Moderators Share Posted January 6, 2021 On 05/01/2021 at 10:57, Youri McAnespie said: We started venturing into Manchester during the Madchester era when I was barely into my teens, some mates not even that. It still had that seediness back then and some unbelievable record shops. Going in the bookshops on Shudehill and perusing the hardcore 'scan' mags. Corn Exchange had an army shop selling all manner of de-activated weapons - I used to wonder how many were bought and re-activated. After 'Powercuts' (Yank's) walking up to Johnny Roadhouse on Oxford Rd to 'play' the guitars. It's a fucking Bannatyne Spa now (Powercuts). Fuck me the end near the Odeon/Dutch Pancake House was seedy as fuck - especially that Arcade, I bet it was groomer central looking back. My younger relatives/mate's kids etc. don't believe us when we say "we used to get mugged at knifepoint on Saturday afternoons all the time here..." gesturing to the lower end of Market Street near the food court escalators. We soon learned 'the dance' - real money in our socks and about 23p in shrapnel in the pockets they'd rifle through. I'm sure these much older lads just did it to look 'gangster' in front of their mates, they never seemed particularly arsed about how meagre their 'taxings' off us were. After we'd got our vinyl on nice days we'd go to Shambles and I'd go in Sainsbury's for some cheap ale (I looked much older) and we'd sit on those concrete monstrosities openly supping and leering at girls/women. Maybe share a bag of Mexican Spice Wheelz from one of the many (Aleef?) Newsagents owned by the same family dotted throughout the city. If we were flush - a bag of chips from 'Skippers' chippy top end of the Arndale. Being from Bolton, at that age, it was like having NYC a number 25 ride away. I think everyone has fond memories of their youthful escapades. Mexican Spice Wheelz Wtf happened to them Used to get em from Presto (guess tesco ate them up) in Whitefield Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnworth white Posted January 6, 2021 Share Posted January 6, 2021 On 05/01/2021 at 08:45, Whitestar said: Who remembers the gig that never happened at Silverwell st? Think the Selector were headline act but never went on, loads of aggro on Manny rd. I remember the cancelled Selector gig. I think it was cancelled just as folk were arriving so it didn't go down too well, something to do with the stage not strong enough to pass Health and Safety iirc. Saw The Buzzcocks at Silverwell Street also around that time I think. Pete Shelley in that small bar before the gig with the fans having a good drink. Gig ended with the usual then drums/guitar getting demolished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 6, 2021 Share Posted January 6, 2021 32 minutes ago, farnworth white said: I remember the cancelled Selector gig. I think it was cancelled just as folk were arriving so it didn't go down too well, something to do with the stage not strong enough to pass Health and Safety iirc. Saw The Buzzcocks at Silverwell Street also around that time I think. Pete Shelley in that small bar before the gig with the fans having a good drink. Gig ended with the usual then drums/guitar getting demolished. There were no health and safety in them days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnworth white Posted January 6, 2021 Share Posted January 6, 2021 42 minutes ago, boltondiver said: There were no health and safety in them days! I'm sure there was, however I'm sure the reason for the cancellation is that the stage was supposedly not strong enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
embankment Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 On 01/01/2021 at 00:02, MancWanderer said: Maybe it’s rose tinted spectacles but late 70s was best time of my life by far Music - punk, ska, Motörhead at BIT, AC/DC at Manc Apollo just before Bon Scott carked it Footy - the Greaves era with my Dad. Beats the Allardyce era by a country mile. Frank at Ewood and OT. Not one of the European games comes close. It’s an age thing perhaps? Boozing in Bolton - Howcroft, Lower Nags, Sweet Green, Swan Cellar Tough times but nobody moaned. Nobody properly fell out. We were Bolton. We looked out for each other. Unless it was Saturday afternoon on the Town Hall Square when it was Mods vs Rockers 😀 Bloody hell , you must have spent the 70's stalking me. Dont forget the scuffles on Moor Lane . Carnage on Friday n Saturday nights. With the Casino muppets. And the gypsy lads who just wanted to fight anyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Site Supporter MickyD Posted January 7, 2021 Site Supporter Share Posted January 7, 2021 28 minutes ago, embankment said: Bloody hell , you must have spent the 70's stalking me. Dont forget the scuffles on Moor Lane . Carnage on Friday n Saturday nights. With the Casino muppets. And the gypsy lads who just wanted to fight anyone Have you actually read Traf’s “Be Kind” thread? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
embankment Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 Just now, MickyD said: Have you actually read Traf’s “Be Kind” thread? No Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youri McAnespie Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 17 hours ago, Casino said: Mexican Spice Wheelz Wtf happened to them Used to get em from Presto (guess tesco ate them up) in Whitefield They were done in by their generous bag sizes - I think it was 35p for a bag that could feed a family of four. Always wondered what a squirrel had to do with the price of fish? If there was a few of you then you could all chip in for two bags and mix and match - Mexican Spice AND Onion and Vinegar, you just don't get tart crisps like that today. Salt 'n' Vinegar Square crisps are very bland these days, in the eighties you could attach jumpleads to one if your battery was flat... Fucking EU bureaucrats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traf Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 Nibbit Wheelz were the best at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
embankment Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 On 05/01/2021 at 09:45, Whitestar said: Was still at school late 70s (left 1980) but as you say great days, had been a Swan cellar regular whilst 14-15 year old as were many others and i think Mick Quo was actually younger than me. Saw a lot of the gigs mentioned in earlier posts, AC/DC with bon Scott, scorpions at Free Trade Hall, Salford jets at the Aquarius, Bangin!. Great gigs and Crawshawbooth still has his ticket stub from AC/DC at the Free Trade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
embankment Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 On 05/01/2021 at 11:57, Youri McAnespie said: We started venturing into Manchester during the Madchester era when I was barely into my teens, some mates not even that. It still had that seediness back then and some unbelievable record shops. Going in the bookshops on Shudehill and perusing the hardcore 'scan' mags. Corn Exchange had an army shop selling all manner of de-activated weapons - I used to wonder how many were bought and re-activated. After 'Powercuts' (Yank's) walking up to Johnny Roadhouse on Oxford Rd to 'play' the guitars. It's a fucking Bannatyne Spa now (Powercuts). Fuck me the end near the Odeon/Dutch Pancake House was seedy as fuck - especially that Arcade, I bet it was groomer central looking back. My younger relatives/mate's kids etc. don't believe us when we say "we used to get mugged at knifepoint on Saturday afternoons all the time here..." gesturing to the lower end of Market Street near the food court escalators. We soon learned 'the dance' - real money in our socks and about 23p in shrapnel in the pockets they'd rifle through. I'm sure these much older lads just did it to look 'gangster' in front of their mates, they never seemed particularly arsed about how meagre their 'taxings' off us were. After we'd got our vinyl on nice days we'd go to Shambles and I'd go in Sainsbury's for some cheap ale (I looked much older) and we'd sit on those concrete monstrosities openly supping and leering at girls/women. Maybe share a bag of Mexican Spice Wheelz from one of the many (Aleef?) Newsagents owned by the same family dotted throughout the city. If we were flush - a bag of chips from 'Skippers' chippy top end of the Arndale. Being from Bolton, at that age, it was like having NYC a number 25 ride away. I think everyone has fond memories of their youthful escapades. Yanks was great. Got my Afgan from the underground market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
embankment Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 On 05/01/2021 at 09:49, Whitestar said: Forgot, B I T on a Friday night. Mild 21.5p Bitter 23.5p. And both weak as piss. Floor was swimming in the stuff. Ale was crap. Even Lemmy commented on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
embankment Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 On 05/01/2021 at 09:19, bolty58 said: '69 - '75 it was Mods/Skins v Rockers/Greasers/Grebo's everywhere and anywhere! Moor Lane, Astley Bridge, Harwood, Bradshaw, up Rivvy - basically everywhere we encountered each other. Other than that, everything else in the above is correct. Some might know Alfie C who was always with us and in the thick of the action on the terraces wearing that god awful fringed leather jacket and other diabolical paraphernalia that those strange fuckers perceived as 'style'. Grand lad though - just don't tell him I said that! My fringe Jacket was knocking about then. Swearblind , a scuffy mod , wearing an " i love Australia" badge asked me where he could get one. I wonder if our paths crossed one night at Rivi. When some bright spark put on a gig with 3 bands. 1 - Punk 1- Mod 1- Rock. Carnage again !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimron Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 1 hour ago, embankment said: Great gigs and Crawshawbooth still has his ticket stub from AC/DC at the Free Trade. I've got a Free Trade Hall ticket stub somewhere Deep Purple Stalls 37.5p / 7s6d Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent_white Posted January 7, 2021 Share Posted January 7, 2021 On 05/01/2021 at 08:59, Mounts Kipper said: You’ve nailed it the buzz was something else nothing was sanitised, everything in full glorious technicolour, football, music, friends aplenty running wild playing out & family life was joyous, WTF happened! You lot got old and then imposed restrictions meaning us lot couldn't have as much fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bolty58 Posted January 8, 2021 Members Share Posted January 8, 2021 11 hours ago, embankment said: Swearblind , a scuffy mod , wearing an " i love Australia" badge asked me where he could get one. Swear blind drunk more like. Just FYI, in my case I had never even considered moving overseas until mid '87 and even then it was Canada (Edmonton) or Benoni (RSA). Australia not even on my radar even though my brother had been here since '79. Too fucking hot for the likes of me (an opinion which hasn't changed). No self respecting Mod would be seen dead wearing such a badge as well you know you little tinker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youri McAnespie Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 18 hours ago, embankment said: Yanks was great. Got my Afgan from the underground market. I got my leather biker jacket from a shop on the arcade above the market - just up from Piccadilly Box Office... I'd finally hit my target (£85) midweek and couldn't wait 'til Saturday so ventured in after school on a dark midwinter afternoon. As mentioned before it was moody as fuck, though my money was relatively safe down my sock I went 'tooled up' in case of a very thorough group of muggers. I'd have had no hesitation fighting back this time, eighty five quid represented a lot of dinnerless schooldays, and I'd been wearing a leather about three sizes too small bought second hand - on my (then) gangly frame I looked ridiculous. Nowt was coming between me and a new one that actually fit - still does as it happens, still in good nick too, Tyler Durden was reet. I can't imagine anyone but a 60s hash dealing King's Road hippy in an Afghan coat - probably accessorised with coloured John Lennon specs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youri McAnespie Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 (edited) The annual Powercuts sale - what an event... Queue to get in snaking up bk Chepstow Street up to the McDonalds on Oxford Road and beyond... We'd have a ritual - we'd get pissed up on the mean streets of G/L and Farnworth Friday night and before we went our separate ways home we'd stick a load of 'dear milkman, please leave a pint of orange juice, thanks' notes in well spaced out doorstep's milk bottles. We'd then steal them to drink on the 25 when we met back up again very early Saturday to get to the sale... Great Lever scum. Edited January 8, 2021 by Youri McAnespie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
embankment Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 Just now, Youri McAnespie said: I got my leather biker jacket from a shop on the arcade above the market - just up from Piccadilly Box Office... I'd finally hit my target (£85) midweek and couldn't wait 'til Saturday so ventured in after school on a dark midwinter afternoon. As mentioned before it was moody as fuck, though my money was relatively safe down my sock I went 'tooled up' in case of a very thorough group of muggers. I'd have had no hesitation fighting back this time, eighty five quid represented a lot of dinnerless schooldays, and I'd been wearing a leather about three sizes too small bought second hand - on my (then) gangly frame I looked ridiculous. Nowt was coming between me and a new one that actually fit - still does as it happens, still in good nick too, Tyler Durden was reet. I can't imagine anyone but a 60s hash dealing King's Road hippy in an Afghan coat - probably accessorised with coloured John Lennon specs... I was at Openshaw Tech , coming from the quaint little hamlet of Ladybridge , mc/r was a massive eye opener. Went to my first gig. Van Der Graph Generator at the Free Trade Hall. Found Yanks - Tommy Ducks - Under Ground Market - Jillys - Phoenix. Even when i got my first bike and fringed leather , i still used to get the train on Fridays . So i could go to pub gigs and on to Jillys. Don't think that Afgan ever got washed. It was lived in. It ended up a dog bed sometime in the 90's. One day i will tell you all about my Sheep Skin jacket. Proper Dell Boy style. Now that did save my life . One drunken snowy night . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
embankment Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 Just now, Youri McAnespie said: The annual Powercuts sale - what an event... Queue to get in snaking up bk Chepstow Street up to the McDonalds on Oxford Road and beyond... We'd have a ritual - we'd get pissed up on the mean streets of G/L and Farnworth Friday night and before we went our separate ways home we'd stick a load of 'dear milkman, please leave a pint of orange juice, thanks' notes in well spaced out doorstep's milk bottles. We'd then steal them to drink on the 25 when we met back up again very early Saturday to get to the sale... Great Lever scum. Don't remember Powercuts , Enlighten me . Must have been near Yanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
embankment Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 Just now, embankment said: So power cuts was Yanks . Right . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youri McAnespie Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 @embankment I can sympathise - spent many a cold night on Piccadilly Station or Lime Street waiting for the first train. Usually to my regular drinking buddy pissed upply dawdling when we should've been legging it for the last one. That jacket prevented death from exposure often - £85 well spent. Going back to 1st impressions think Manchester seemed like a Metropolis to most from Bolton. Going over the crest of the hill at Irlam 'o the Heights on the 25 and Manchester is revealed...it was like flying over Manhattan 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youri McAnespie Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 3 minutes ago, embankment said: Yanks was before my time - I think it was called that because a yank was proprietor and it was very much stocked with import cut/clipped LPs (and later CDs) from America. Think it was renamed Powercuts when they started selling predominantly metal (heavy, death, thrash/speed, grindcore etc.) Used to make a few quid buying and selling stuff and putting a few pence of commision on each item - shipping it to poor souls in places like Orkney or Barrow - who's local record shop might have a Whitesnake LP and a couple of Uriah Heep tapes. Powercuts had even underground stuff like Relapse 7"s - we were spoiled. Vinyl Exchange was good an' all. Reducing stock prices every week sommat went unsold... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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