1977 — 1989
NME. Sounds. Manchester Evening News. Poly noticeboards.
For a decade and a half Manchester ran on classifieds. The Manchester Evening News small ads, the NME and Sounds back pages, college noticeboards — every Factory and Madchester band passed through them. Joy Division is in the British Weeklies wing; this room is for what came next. Magazine, the Smiths, the Stone Roses, the Inspiral Carpets, James — half of them found their way in through a four-line ad and a phone box.
1977
Sounds · Manchester
Vocalist (ex-Buzzcocks) seeks musicians for new band. Influences: Lou Reed, Bowie, Iggy. Manchester area.
Howard Devoto had quit Buzzcocks weeks earlier. The ad assembled Magazine — Barry Adamson on bass, John McGeoch on guitar, Bob Dickinson on keys, Martin Jackson on drums. 'Shot by Both Sides' arrived…
1981
Manchester Polytechnic noticeboard · Manchester
Dancer / singer wanted for new band. Open to anything strange. — Jim.
Tim Booth was a dance student. He answered the noticeboard ad placed by Jim Glennie and Gavan Whelan. James spent the rest of the decade as a sublime cult band on Factory and Sire before 'Sit Down'…
1982
Manchester Evening News · Manchester
Drummer wanted for new band. Original sound. Must rehearse weekly. — Johnny.
Mike Joyce answered. Marr had already met Morrissey and recruited Andy Rourke; Joyce completed the lineup that recorded the Smiths' debut single 'Hand in Glove' the following May. Five years and four…
1984
Sounds · Prestwich
Drummer required for established Manchester group. No timewasters. Must be ready for the work. Phone after 6pm.
The Fall had around sixty members across Mark E Smith's lifetime. Most cycled through within a few years; some lasted decades. The relentless turnover was part of the band's logic — Smith said the…
1984
Manchester Evening News · Manchester
Drummer wanted for the Stone Roses. Influences: 60s, soul, psychedelia. — Ian.
Alan 'Reni' Wren answered. His feel — a soul drummer dropped into psychedelic guitar pop — became the Roses' secret weapon, audible in every bar of 'I Wanna Be Adored' and 'Made of Stone.' The 1989…
1989
Manchester Evening News · Oldham
Singer wanted to replace departed vocalist. Established Manchester band. Must be able to tour. — Inspirals.
Tom Hingley answered, joined the Inspiral Carpets, and rode the Madchester wave through the early 90s — 'This Is How It Feels' (1990) was the band's first UK Top 20 hit. The Inspirals' merchandise…