Photograph
Manchester Polytechnic Mandela Building
1983

“Same,same.Definitely not like the old poly.The old poly was a bit of a dump and had "character" whereas this was a brand newbie with 'eavy 'eavy bouncers to keep out the riff raff and oi polloi, therefore if you weren't a student you had to go through the rigmarole of getting some student type from darn sarf or wherever to kindly sign you in...like they'd always done at the university union, but hadn't bothered with at The Cavendish.It definitely changed the atmosphere because there was nowhere near the mixed bag of people and the occasional nutter to spice it up.They did put on good bands though.....and cheap beer;usually in plastic glasses though and sometimes those horrible wobbly ones.
Oh yeah, Yukio Tani...I remember them...In fact if memory serves, for some very odd reason the guitarist in the band asked me would I like to be the singer as the previous one, a certain Muppet, ex Armed Force frontman and general man about town, had done one and the band were obviously desperate as I could barely whistle in the bath,never mind hold a choon,especially such Armed Force classics as "Moss Side My Home Town", "Cancer Ward" and newer ditties I had to try and learn.The practice rooms were called U Turn Studios beneath an old swimming baths in Hyde I think....? Anyway I remember it was f#@kin' freezing!Well after a couple of rehearsals I thought I was getting to grips with this singing in a band malarky and reckoned it was only a matter of time before The Albert Hall and a Royal Variety show beckoned. But I was wrong!Things didn't work out, due to "musical differences" as I recall i.e not being able to sing, as well as trying to throw in the odd Gary Glitter classic double-take look, with a bit of Alvin Stardust's beckoning black glove to add to the flavour....
And so I did the walk of shame and I may or may not have heard a slow hand clap....Well at least I gave it a "red hot go"as the say round these here parts .But it was you Abdom, it was you...I coulda been a contender,I coulda been somebody...etc.
Well I'm sure I didn't make all of it up?Then again......
I'll post up a flyer for Yukio Tani at the Dancing Weasel, don't think it's up here yet....? (Haven't been on here for ages and I've still managed to crap on!No change there then...)”

“There were definitely still some nutters there. I remember going to the Friday night discos and a group of skinheads regularly visited and caused mayhem.
From my memory this venue opened around spring 1982 (I lived in Loxford tower virtually opposite at that time).
I saw The Mightly Wah, Bow Wow Wow and a few other bands. Also from memory Culture Club appeared around Christmas 1982 and although they were booked as an unknown act, by the time they appeared they'd had their massive hit and the place was heaving.”

“Hey. I’m currently a student at MMU; at the end of this month we are opening an exhibition about the history of the polytechnic. I’m focusing on the role of the union and the events which were held there. If you’d be interested or willing to given any further accounts of your time spent in bands and at the union feel free to get in touch. Twitter @FunkyESmiles”