Graham Massey and Graham Clark on 1970s Manchester, record shops, DIY culture, and the scenes that shaped the city before the headlines.
In this episode of Manchester Scene Stories, I sit down with Graham Clark and Graham Massey (808 State) for a deep, freewheeling conversation about Manchester’s music and counter-culture in the mid-1970s — long before it became a global brand.
They talk about recognising each other around town as early as 1975/76, spotting familiar faces at gigs at the Free Trade Hall, and what it meant to be a “freak” in Manchester back then — not as a look, but as a way of living.
There’s an unforgettable story involving a pickled onion rotating on a bobble hat, powered by heavy old household batteries — and the very real danger of trying to board the 192 bus with it.
The conversation opens up into the places that shaped Manchester’s alternative culture:
On the Eighth Day, Grassroots, and the city’s legendary record shops, including Yanks Records, where deleted U.S. albums — from Frank Zappa, Sun Ra, Can, Faust, and Gong — could be picked up cheaply, helping young people build tastes and scenes.
We also talk about early venues, BBC Radio Manchester as a crucial platform for local artists, and the realities of performing with experimental gear and early computers — from machines stopping mid-set to dry ice, moisture, and a very Manchester moment involving a can of Guinness smashing into equipment… and carrying on regardless.
It’s funny, detailed, and deeply Manc — a reminder that Manchester’s music history isn’t just headline bands, but the people, places, and strange moments that made the city what it is
Donate
Upload