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Sunday May 23rd is the date for a night of live music and performance dedicated to the memory of a man pivotal to the Mancunian music scene - Rob Gretton. Going under the name ‘and you, forgotten?’ and given the Factory catalogue number FAC 511 this event is a celebration of the life of the man who changed and shaped the Manchester music scene to such an extent that the past is now legend and the present still an ongoing part of the legacy. Rob Gretton is best remembered in a professional capacity as the manager of Joy Division/ New Order, a directing force behind Factory Records and later Rob’s Records. A shy character that wouldn’t back down, he represents a side of the Mancunian spirit that will always be with us in the city. Taking place at The Ritz on Whitworth Street West this evening pulls together many of the talents who were nurtured and developed by Gretton until his untimely death five years ago.
A few details on the acts performing: Doves were initially signed by Rob to Rob’s Records under their previous guise as Sub Sub. When they took a dramatic musical about face to become Doves (and in doing so one of the country’s most important rock bands) they stayed with Rob in their crucial early days before signing to Heavenly Records. They will be performing an exclusive acoustic set. A Certain Ratio were of course signed to Factory Records, releasing a body of work that has since become a benchmark for funk experimentation that informs so much popular and dance-infused culture. After the demise of Factory such was Rob’s interest in the group that they were signed to Rob’s Records whose office was also located on Whitworth Street West. Mr Scruff of course is another true talent who was picked up at an early stage by Rob’s Records. Scruff has gone on since then to become a world renowned DJ and producer thrilling crowds with his extensive DJ sets. Graeme Park and Mike Pickering are two names that when uttered together represent wholly the musical ethos of The Hacienda as nightclub in its acid house heyday. They haven’t played on the same bill for many years. Pickering (the guiding force behind M People and Factory signing Quando Quango) and Rob first met in a rose bush in Nottingham as Manchester City fans along way from home. This was an uncharacteristic tactical retreat for Rob but a valuable friendship was born of it. Jon DaSilva is a legend of the dancefloor at The Hacienda and a producer of some note. He is very much an ambassador of the house sound of Manchester. DJ and manager Dave Rofe has a long history with Rob and Factory first meeting him while acting as a drum roadie for ACR. He now DJs and is manager for Doves. Anthony Wilson, of course, is a long-standing friend and business partner of Rob’s. Their various projects together (Factory, Joy Division, The Hacienda, New Order) require no qualification. Wilson wants to say a few words.
Sunday May 23rd 2004 All proceeds from this event will go to Manchester Kids for distribution to local children’s charities |
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