Latest news with #Madchester
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Oasis book sending Manchester publisher global
The Oasis effect is catapulting Manchester once again on to the global stage - and now a city-based book publisher is feeling the force of the big reunion of the Gallagher brothers. Backstage Books is the new publishing brand launched by Manchester fashion entrepreneur Anthony Donnelly, of GioGoi fame. It specialises in rock biographies, including the in-demand Oasis book featuring rare early photographs of the band by Roger Sargent and Jill Furmanovsky called Feeling Supersonic - From Madchester to Britpop. READ MORE: You can now apply to work as bar staff at the huge Oasis gigs at Heaton Park this summer READ MORE: Soho House confirm new Manchester opening date after years of delays The cover features an iconic Oasis shot that is said to be "Liam's favourite photo of himself", according to Anthony, and the book is decribed as a "love letter to Oasis and the bands, parties, clothes and city that made them". The book, written by Sunday Times bestseller Simon Spence, is split into two parts - one on the Madchester scene that defined Oasis and the second following the epic reformation of the Stone Roses and culminating with "Noel and Liam as never seen before". It features artists like Ian Brown, New Order, Reni, Happy Mondays, Pulp, Primal Scream, John Squire, and more cultural icons from the Manchester scene. The publishing firm also has books exploring a range of other music and culture icons including The Sex Pistols, Depeche Mode and artist Banksy among its ever-expanding roster of books. Now, they've signed a deal with Stateside literary agency The Rights Factory, who Donnelly says have big plans for the books, which are on sale here in the UK in a range of shops including HMV and Waterstones. Anthony says: "It's gone off like a rocket. To get a book deal off The Rights Factory in New York is major, they're taking the Oasis book worldwide and they're talking about films, documentaries, talks with Netflix." Anthony adds that the Oasis comeback tour this summer is placing Manchester on a world stage. He says: There's a real keen eye overseas looking at all things Manchester - we are the centre of the universe again. "Manchester is the accent at the moment, we're back in fashion." Nat Kimber from The Rights Factory said: "Backstage Books are the quintessential 21st century rock n roll publishers, turning the narrative of iconic history into manifestos for this moment "They're bringing something that we haven't seen in underground art since the punk new wave and house music revolutions. I am crazy about and proud to be part of this global Manc endeavour." While the book side of things are taking off, Anthony still owns the GioGoi brand synonymous with 90s and 00s Manc style. There are big plans afoot for that brand too - with a host of different GioGoi branded products for the first time including its first beverage line too. Anthony said: "Although selling clothes is still heavy on the agenda, given the popularity of the brand we are exploring perfumery and furniture also we will be introducing technology into the brand with a crypto coin GioGoin in discussion too." Feeling Supersonic: From Manchester to Britpop published by Backstage Books is on sale now from bookstores and online.
BBC News
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'Ullapool helps me recover from life in rock band James'
As a band they have partied through Madchester, experienced Britpop and watched streaming take over the music indie pop veterans James might never have made it that far without a supply of Scottish band's bassist Jim Glennie believes the group were encouraged to keep going in their early years because gigs in Scotland were so Jim, the group's only remaining original member, has another reason to feel fond of Scotland - as he has spent the past 25 years living in Ullapool, a place that provides a relaxing contrast to life on the road. "Outside of Manchester there's no place that's been as devoted to us as Scotland", reflects Jim."In the early days, when no-one was interested, it was amazing to come to play shows in Scotland and to have a boost of 'we must be doing something right, loads of people are coming to shows here and loving it!'"That fuelled us – Manchester and Scotland gave us a feeling we were doing the right thing so we should keep on going. "It was a long period to reach Sit Down [the band's No 2 hit in 1991], and there were a lot of conversations before then about whether to keep going and whether we were making progress." The band did keep on going, from early days that featured constant line-up changes and record label fallings-out to a 90s packed full of hits. After breaking up in 2002 and reforming five years later, the group have enjoyed a prolific second life, releasing several albums and last year enjoying their first ever chart-topper with their 18th record, Yummy."I was surprised how much it meant to me," says Jim. "I've got used to giving my runners-up speech over the years, I think we've had three, number three albums and four number two albums so getting to number one was a complete shock, a ridiculously pleasant surprise."It was a real joy to think that there are people we are still connecting with." Jim has had a long connection with Ullapool, starting when he visited the area on holiday with his the turn of the millennium he found himself the last James member still living in Manchester, and wondered about moving to Scotland for a spell. And 25 years later, he's still here."I love it as a contrast to the bonkers world of James. Often I'll travel from Inverness, and coming back into the airport after a tour feels like the weight coming off my shoulders."The drive to Ullapool is stunning and it's like therapy to me, like someone giving me a massage for half an hour. "Everything else just dissolves into unimportance at that point and a big smile comes on my face. It feeds both my physical and mental health." Despite the full-on nature of life in James, the group's desire to keep making new music is as strong as on a new album is already under way and Jim believes it's crucial the band stays fresh, rather than just relying on old familiar hits like Laid and Say Something."It's that buzz of going into a room and creating something from nothing and getting all excited about taking it into the big bad world", he says. "We want to keep being relevant and keep challenging ourselves. We also always want to change from album to album, so that's not the easiest path through the industry – but it's why we're still here. "You have to do what you need to do to survive and make this work. If you get dragged along by doing exactly what the industry wants then you'll just be destroyed."The band veered close to destruction on several occasions, including discovering they owed hundreds of thousands of unpaid tax in the mid-90s, and a period when Jim says "relationships were getting messed up"."We were being childish and silly and selfish, and were very close to messing the whole thing up," he recalls. "It's ridiculous when it's the best job on the planet pretty much, and to blow it through being childish is really shooting yourself in the foot. But good gigs remind you there is still something worth fighting for." Next on the group's gigging list is the Pavilion festival in Ayr - the event curated by local DJ Ewan McVivar that's now in its third it comes at a difficult time for festivals in general, as the music industry still recovers from a turbulent few years. "The industry's been battered with Covid and Brexit. There's huge pressure on festivals and people don't have an endless supply of money now. "There's so much uncertainty, which is a shame, because people need an uplift in their life, the collective joy they get from something like a festival or a football match. That shared experience can be something that's so euphoric." Give people hope For Jim, the creative arts need support from governments, to ensure that people can get involved - whether it's music, theatre or dance."It's a way out of people's problems and issues, and it can give them hope," he argues. "It can give a voice to people from disadvantaged backgrounds and right across the board, there is no support given to that. "There seems to be no recognition of the importance in that to society. Helping kids into music seems a no brainer to me and it seems to be ignored by government after government."Jim knows of what he speaks - last year he found himself onstage at Greece's legendary Acropolis theatre, performing a special James gig with a orchestra and gospel choir."We'd been trying for years as they only give so many permits a year. It was so hot they closed it three days later - but it was amazing to do, a real pinch me moment. I fancy the pyramids next."
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Happy Mondays are working on a new album
Happy Mondays dancer Bez has revealed that the Madchester legends are working on their first new album for 18 years.
