This is one argument I will not shy away from; no other city has produced as many great bands as Manchester.
Most Mancunians are proud of this. Some think it's a load of shite.
Take Paul, for example. The other night I heard him say that Manchester produces the best music in the world. I've been saying that my whole life, so I silently agreed with him. Later, I found out that he was taking the piss, and wasn't serious in the least bit.
Wait - what??
How can a city that's produced Oasis, the Smiths, the Hollies, the Stone Roses, Doves, Badly Drawn Boy, Autechre, Joy Division, The Verve, New Order and the Chemical Brothers be anything but the hub of modern guitar music?
This is what I was thinking as I moved through Salford, when I stopped short.
The Salford Lads Club. Right in front of my face.
This is amazing. Not only is this like the heart and soul of Salford, but it's where the Smiths shot their sleeve for The Queen is Dead.
OK, so not to be all fanboyish, but this is almost Abbey Road territory to me. For anybody who appreciates good tunes and a creative lyric, the Smiths are your band. Proof that the 1980's weren't all bad, they made a living out of preaching about the terrors of commercialism, the temerity of love, and the alienation of youth culture from modern culture and development.
A staff member sees me taking pictures out front and invites me in. He gives me a spiel about the history of the club, and shows me around to all the rooms. There are boxing rooms, snooker tables, ping pong tables (!), and a gymnasium. There is also a Smiths room where fanboys like me can leave messages for their guitar heroes.
Not that they would come round; they don't live here anymore, and they haven't been back in years. But it's just another testament to the significance of the area, and how you can't go five minutes walking around the city without seeing something that makes you think this:
Haven't I seen this before?
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