The club was opened in 1982 as Fac 51 The Hacienda, created by Factory Records boss Tony Wilson and the label’s star act New Order. It first opened as a private member’s club and didn’t make any money, but was luckily kept afloat due to the chart success of Blue Monday.

It played host to a number of iconic gigs in the early 80s. In January 1984, Madonna’s first UK performance took place in the club which was broadcast live in the Channel 4 programme the Tube and bands such as the Smiths, Echo and the Bunnymen, James and the Stone Roses also performed.

Popularity of the club grew and by the late 1980s it was attracting large crowds to its various nights and was one of the first clubs to play house music.

The club was integral in the rise of the Madchester scene with many of the bands being inspired by the Hacienda’s innovative musical choices and the club’s community feeling. Former DJs have reminisced about musicians such as the Happy Mondays, Mark E Smith and Noel and Liam Gallagher hanging out amongst the regular clubbers just enjoying the good tunes and the atmosphere.

However, the club wasn’t without its problems and these, along with financial difficulties, eventually led to its demise. Security and drug use were major issues, with the first UK ecstasy related death happening in the venue and a number of shootings as gangs fought to control the flow of drugs. The DJs weren’t immune to the problems, with one former DJ speaking in later years about the time that he once had a gun pointed at him by a clubber who wanted his records.

Greater Manchester Police requested the closure of the club a few times, and the owners agreed to a voluntary shut down for a few months in 1991 to try and improve security. The club eventually closed down for good in 1997, where it remained derelict for years before being bought by a developer who knocked it down and replaced it with apartments. The apartments were allowed to use the Hacienda’s name by New Order bassist Peter Hook who owns the trademark, a decision which didn’t go down well with the club’s former clientele.

In 2002, the film 24 Hour Party People was released which told the story of the club portraying real events, urban legends, rumours and sometimes just the scriptwriter’s imagination. The filming in 2001 involved the producers building a temporary Hacienda in a local warehouse which was opened as a real nightclub as the filming took place, and allowed the regulars to say one last goodbye to the iconic club.

So what has been the club’s legacy? The Hacienda had a noted impact on the city of Manchester, playing its part in the development of the city’s nightlife and helping the city to grow and gain the reputation it still has today for a vibrant music scene unlike anything found elsewhere in the country. The music of the Madchester scene has also had a direct influence on a number of genres from the Britpop of the 90s to the current indie rock scene, and of course it influenced Saviour’s Hallelujah t shirt!  Not bad for a place owned by someone who later published a book called “How Not to Run a Club”.

And if you didn’t get a chance to visit the club, here’s your chance to see what the Hacienda was like in this video from 1990:

Gypsy John

After some serious scare tactics, including make-up and gas masks, skinhead John was the first to meet his maker – found slumped in a store cupboard with a bloody head wound. This got the ball rolling on Richard’s trail of revenge. George Newton played John, who went on to appear as Banjo in Shane Meadow’s hit film This Is England as well as the follow-up TV series, This Is England ’86. He also showed up in the brilliant Control, based on the life on Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis.

Sonny

One of the nastiest characters in the film, drug dealer Sonny is confronted by Richard and visibly unnerved about his lack of fear. Richard then kills Sonny by sneaking into his flat and lacing his kettle with drugs, before shooting him in the head. Formally a model and champion boxer before his role in Dead Man’s Shoes, playing nasty man got Gary Stretch nominated for a British Independent Film Award and a part alongside Angelina Jolie in Alexander.

Soz

Alongside Sonny, Soz becomes inebriated after drinking from the kettle laced with drugs. He is then killed in a particularly brutal way by Richard – by upward palm strike to the face. The character was played by Neil Bell, who is currently playing Billy in Coronation Street.

Tuff

Scared of Richard, Tuff runs off and leaves the other members of the gang at the petrol station. He isn’t seen alive again. Instead, Richard pulls out a suitcase containing his decapitated body to scare Herbie into telling him where to find Mark. Paul Sadot played the part and now works as an artistic director of a dance programme for young offenders.

Big Al

Instead of being killed by Richard, Big Al, played by Seamus O’Neill, is killed by one of his fellow gang members. He is sent into the farm where Richard is staying to flush him out as Sonny loads a rifle. Big Al is then accidentally shot when Sonny misses. O’Neill has gone on to have parts in two other of Meadows’ productions; the comedy Le Donk and Scor-zay-zee and the TV series This Is England ’86, as well as various parts in TV shows such as Coronation Street and Shameless.

Herbie

With Sonny and Soz, Herbie is also killed by Richard after being spiked with drugs. He watches the other gang members being killed and is also shown the body of Tuff to force him to tell him where to find the remaining member. He tells him and Richard pulls Herbie into a hug before stabbing him. The character is played by Stuart Wolfenden who has since had roles in Emmerdale and Heartbeat, with new projects currently in the production stages.

Mark

Mark was the final gang member Richard caught up, and unlike the other characters had reformed into a respectable family man. Richard allows him to live and instead begs for him to kill him to make him end his murderous ways, which he does at the film’s dramatic ending. Like many of the other actors, he’s had minor TV roles and recently played the lead in Salford based indie flick Poor Wee Me.

So that’s our catch up on the fortunes of the six men hunted to their death and the one who got away. Some have obviously been more successful than others, but their contribution to this iconic film has allowed them a place in cinema history as well as inspiring us to come up with the M65 Jacket.

Born in the Staffordshire town of Uttoxeter on 26 December 1972, he came from a normal working class family and dropped out of school before his O Levels. His restlessness led to him becoming a petty thief but soon decided that film making was much more to his taste, and started producing his own short films.

It wasn’t long before the film industry sat up and took notice and he soon received funding to create his first full length feature film Twentyfourseven which was released to critical acclaim. He followed this up with A Room For Romeo Brass and Once Upon A Time In the Midlands, but it was the dark thriller Dead Man’s Shoes which really got peoples’ attention – a film so good we based a jacket on it.

By now, Shane was becoming a household name in British movie circles and it was This Is England that cemented his place in film-making history.

This semi-autobiographical film told the story of a troubled young teenager named Shaun Field (we see what he’s done there) in the 1980s getting involved with a gang of skinheads who are eventually pulled apart by politics when hard man Combo returns from prison (played by Stephen Graham, who we profiled a few weeks ago). It was met with positive reviews, won a number of awards and left a noted impact on many viewers following its harrowing final scenes.

Shane isn’t afraid of venturing into the small screen, and This is England ’86, his four part sequel to the cult film, was broadcast in Autumn 2010 and gave viewers a chance to catch up on the lives of his characters a few years later.

The spin off was so successful that Shane is currently writing a feature length follow up meeting the cast again during Christmas 1988. This is due to be screened on Channel 4 over the festive period this year, with filming expected to start soon.

He’s recently dabbled in screenwriting for commercials, putting together this advert for Robinson’s which has his style written all over it and is a definitely a welcome break from the usual roundup of cheesy and just downright annoying adverts we’re usually treated to between programmes.

So can the man do any wrong? It seems not. Once Upon A Time In The Midlands was met with less positive reviews than some of his other work and not everyone was keen on his foray into TV, but he’s remained in the hearts of the critics throughout and no matter what people think of his work he always manages to get people talking and his influence is felt throughout the film world.

We salute a true British film legend.

Many albums which seem innovative and original quickly become dated. However, if you can make an album which still sounds fresh and modern two decades after its release you’re definitely onto a winner.

Massive Attack’s groundbreaking Blue Lines album was released this month back in 1991, but just one listen to this iconic CD and you wouldn’t think its 20 years old.

One of the album’s most recognisable songs is the haunting Unfinished Sympathy, which is often voted one of the best songs of all time in various polls and surveys. The song wasn’t just influential musically, its music video featuring vocalist Shara Nelson walking through Los Angeles was one of the earliest videos to use one continuous shot.

How to define Massive Attack’s music was something that music journos over the world struggled with, before eventually coining the phrase “trip-hop”, something the group hated according to Grant Marshall aka Daddy G. In an interview in 2006, he said: “You know, as far we were concerned, Massive Attack music was unique, so to put it in a box was to pigeonhole it and to say, ‘Right, we know where you guys are coming from.’ And we didn’t know where we were coming from half the time.”

Following Blue Lines, they band have continued to produce experimental albums, with various members of the group leaving at certain points and a mixture of guest vocalists helping to make their cutting edge sound. They’ve also continued to be at the forefront of coming up with unique music videos, one of the most memorable being the video for Teardrop from Mezzanine which features a singing foetus.

And their lasting influence? Any number of groups in various genres would cite Massive Attack as a key influence, and being able to produce innovative album after innovative album means that you never know what to expect from their next offering so they’re always keeping their fans on their toes.

If you haven’t already, check out our ‘paying homage’ piece to Massive Attack, a polo-shirt inspired by Blue Lines. http://saviour-online.com/shop/Day_Dreaming_Polo_shirt

They really are Fucking Arseholes to be fair.

Here’s a grand idea, let’s make 120,000 football fans travel south for FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley, along with all the other fans making trips to the capital (e.g. Liverpool visit Arsenal) and not to mention 200,000 taking part in the London Marathon. Genius.

But it’s what we’ve come to expect from the Feckless Arrogants, and maybe….just maybe…. it will take a bit of London brawling to convince the bigwigs that this can’t happen again in the future. The last thing they want is a couple of hundred thousand northerners causing mayhem in the city – hence the texts, emails and letters posted out all Mancunian ticket holders which states ‘You are ambassadors of Manchester’. Good luck with that one.

And so it’s been a logistical nightmare for the dibble, with British Transport Police launching their biggest-ever operation for a football match to deal with the mass exodus from the north and subsequent return – costing the tax payer God knows how much. With no segregation on trains and a meek directive to take ‘blue’ or ‘red’ motorway routes (you know, to avoid the temptation of gently nudging your neighbour at 90mph on the M6) it seems the BTP are simply throwing our money at pipedreams. Some lads have been waiting years for this, and a yellow flashing motorway signal isn’t going to stop them looking for trouble.

Football off the pitch might not be as chaotic as it was in the 70s or 80s but with late kick off times, old heads back for a final hurrah, boozing all day, and a hugely intense rivalry, it would be quite incredible if there wasn’t a shed load of bother over the weekend. That goes for the Manchester clubs of course, but don’t be thinking Stoke and Bolton fans will be angels on a big day out they rarely ever get.

And for building an eye-wateringly expensive, soul-less dome that requires as many events as possible at hawked prices to somehow justify its fee, the Football Abomination should be made to face the music.

Born in the Liverpool suburb of Kirkby in 1973, he had a range of small parts in TV shows including the Bill and Coronation Street before finally getting his big break when he won the role of Tommy in Guy Ritchie’s film Snatch.

The story goes that he didn’t even audition for the film. Accompanying a friend to an audition, Ritchie said “I like your face” and asked him to start work on Monday.

Following this, he was given a role in Steven Spielberg’s Band of Brothers TV series which has starred a number of British actors including Simon Pegg, James McAvoy and Tom Hardy. His next major film role was alongside Hollywood legend greats Leonard DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz in the Martin Scorsese epic Gangs of New York.

However, it was 2006’s This Is England where Graham started to receive the recognition he deserves when he was cast as the nationalistic skinhead Combo in Shane Meadows’ cult classic. Gritty, violent and based on the director’s experiences growing up in Thatcher’s England, the film was released to critical acclaim.

After this, his roles have included playing a football hooligan in Awaydays, a gangster in Public Enemies and starring as Leeds United’s ginger hatchet-man Billy Bremner in The Damned United. Though he hasn’t turned his back on TV, starring as legendary American mob boss Al Capone in Scorsese’s Boardwalk Empire.

He’s also featured in a number of music videos by Saviour playlist regulars Arctic Monkeys including When The Sun Goes Down, as well as the short film Scummy Man based on the song.

Off camera, Graham is nothing like the bad boys he plays. Married with two children, he describes himself as a nice guy, and makes a point of not taking his work home to keep his missus happy!

So what’s next? He’s just finished filming for the new Pirates of the Caribbean film where he plays a character called Scrum and has a number of other projects in production, so it definitely won’t be the last we’ll see of this Scouse hard man.

He formed the band Seymour with childhood friend Damon Albarn, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree in 1988, with the band changing their name to Blur at the request of their record company when they got signed by Food Records in 1990.

Together the band created iconic albums such as Modern Life is Rubbish, Parklife and The Great Escape which, along with the music from their Northern rivals Oasis, defined the Britpop era.  Later on the band reinvented their sound to produce albums such as their 1997 eponymous release and the critically acclaimed 13. The album featured Coffee and TV on which Coxon sung lead vocals and has become one of the band’s most popular radio hits.

The band went on hiatus after touring 13, with Coxon leaving the band in 2002. He then threw himself into his solo career, taking on a more folk influenced sound which allowed him to show off his now world-famous guitar skills and talent at creating striking melodies.

He has continued to release solo albums unlike the other members of Blur who now pay the bills in a variety of ways including singing for a cartoon band (Albarn), practicing law (Rowntree) and even cheese making (James)!

The band reformed in 2009 for a series of festival appearances including headlining Glastonbury and released a limited edition single in 2010. However, Coxon has recently confirmed that the band have no current plans to record or play together in the near future.

However, it’s definitely not the last you’ll see of Coxon. A new single commissioned by Converse where he collaborates with kooky singer Paloma Faith and ex-Coral guitarist Bill Ryder-Jones is released later this month and he has also been confirmed to headline the Clash stage at this summer’s Truck Festival in Oxfordshire so his unique influence on the British music scene looks set to continue.

Glastonbury

Held each June at a farm in this historic Somerset town, Glasto is the ultimate festival experience. With a diverse range of musical acts playing each year, there’s bound to be someone worth watching. However, for every good band, there’s always an act that’s a bit more questionable. 2008 saw low ticket sales, reportedly due to Jay-Z headlining and this year sees Mrs Jay-Z, Beyonce, closing the festival. However, there are plenty of decent acts already confirmed including Primal Scream, Mumford and Sons and Friendly Fires, with more to be announced.

High security in recent years means it’s impossible to get tickets except from official outlets and as there is no festival being held in 2012, this year’s tickets sold out just hours after they were released back in October, so if you’re one of the lucky few who managed to get one, feel smug now.

T in the Park

Bonny Scotland’s most popular music festival is now in its 17th year and this year is headlined by Sheffield lads Arctic Monkeys, who are also joined by acts such as Pulp, Beady Eye, Manic Street Preachers, Primal Scream and White Lies. T in the Park is the ideal festival for people who don’t do festivals. A range of luxury accommodation is available, including pop-up boutique hotel rooms, yurts and even gypsy caravans; perfect if roughing it isn’t for you, Mr Metrosexual Man you.

Reading and Leeds

The line up leaked online a few hours before the official announcement was made last week, revealing that this year’s acts include the Strokes, Interpol, White Lies, Madness, the National and the recently reformed Pulp.

Leeds has a reputation for being the more rowdy of the two, following riots in 2002 and 2005, but security has improved with the Sunday night now generally passing off peacefully. However, the crowds at both Reading and Leeds aren’t afraid to show when they don’t like a band with various acts being bottled in recent years including 50 Cent, Good Charlotte and, probably quite deservedly, Daphne and Celeste. With a generally non-contentious line-up this year, looks like the organisers are hoping to keep the crowds happy. However, unlike previous years, tickets didn’t sell out instantly with weekend tickets still available, so maybe playing it safe hasn’t paid off?
Any others?

If none of these take your fancy, some other notable festivals we recommend you checking out in 2011 include the Isle of Wight Festival, Bestival, V, Latitude and Global Gathering. Or Benicassim to bring those freckles out.

Bluesy Berkshire trio Giant Steps are pretty new to our playlist and well worth checking out. The lads claim inspiration from Weller and like a lot of pub rock, punk and mod revival-era bands of the late 70s, they invoke great r’n'b artists as though by doing so they’ll absorb some of that renowned soul.

Top Track: Cut Me To Pieces

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/giantstepsmusic/

2) Cold War Kids

Prepare to hear about robbers, rapists and religion from Californian four-piece Cold War Kids – all through primitive beats, thumping drums and the distinctive, jagged yowls of lead singer Nathan Willett. Check out new album Mine Is Yours Mine for some palatable indie-rock filed alongside The White Stripes and Jeff Buckley.

Top Track: Bulldozer

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/coldwarkids

3) The Vaccines

This London quartet have probably been hyped a bit too much for our, and their, liking but it’s clear to say these chaps are living up to it. Many tracks seem to be little explosions of pleasure (no sniggers please), some even coming in at under the two-minute mark, and they deliver a sound that circulates a mix of poppy west coast and dour’n'dirty New York drone-rock which just…works.

Top Track: Wreckin’ Bar

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thevaccines/music

4) The Answering Machine

This Manchester trio have been simmering on our radar for a few years and still don’t seem to be getting the credit they deserve. They’re one of those bands that makes you want northern soul, too. Evident hints of The Undertones and some semblances of early Blur come across to us, and we’re endeared by their love of anoraks with toggles, frisbees and knitwear. It’s like 1985 all over again.

Top Track: It’s Over! It’s Over! It’s Over.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/theansweringmachine