Factory

by Mick Middles

Book Overview

Factory Records' fame and fortune were based on two bands - Joy Division and New Order - and one personality - that of its director, Tony Wilson. At the height of the label's success in the late 1980s, it ran its own club, the legendary Ha ienda, had a string of international hit records, and was admired and emulated around the world. But by the 1990s the story had changed. The back catalogue was sold off, top bands New Order and Happy Mondays...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0753518252
• ISBN13: 9780753518250
• Release Date: January 2009
• Publisher: Virgin Books
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.0" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

fun

this was a fun read even if structurally it's a little bizarre. probably not the best source on any of the bands featured, but interesting as an all-encompassing perspective on the time

Fair to Middles

At the start, I felt Mick was a bit of a sycophant. And he may well be. As things progress, I was able to put that aside and was quite fascinated with this slice of British music history. And really, being sycphantic is not a bad thing in context. Anyone who was around when the music came out, or anyone who loves electro pop, dance and DJ culture should enjoy this. Me, I always love the Brits and their writing. I enjoy the quiet humour. Does that sound sycophantic???

This is the story of a scene, not a simple rock biography.

It's true that if you go in expecting just another Joy Division story you'll be disappointed, but this is about the evolution of the Manchester scene centering on Factory Records and spiralling outwards.I thought the author was very astute and I would place the book alongside "England's Dreaming" and "Lipstick Traces" as a good example of the richness of music journalism. Definitely not the worst book you've ever read in your life.