Customer Reviews

24 Hour Party People: What the Sleeve Notes Never Tell You

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Anyone who has seen the excellent movie that this novelisation is based on will know that the film script took quite a few liberties (i.e., made up) a number of events in the movie. While this (and changing the timing of events) has, undoubtably, improved the narrative flow of the movie from the film-makers point of view it is slightly disappointing to those of us who want to know the true story. Unfortunately, you're not going to find it here as - which is a pity as it really is an interesting story.

Tony Wilson has essentially rewritten the movie script, adding a few small snippets here and there, expanding on other aspects and, very occasionally, replacing the movie version with the truth. Having said that, it is still an enjoyable read, but if you have seen the DVD and have watched the directors' and Tony Wilsons commentaries you won't learn much new here.

Factory records was one of the more important post-punk labels. It provided us with JoyDivision, New Order, Happy Mondays and quite a few more (ACR, The Durutti Column). This book retraces parts of this history in a very special and very incomplete but also very entertainning way. Indeed, it was written by the founder Tony Wilson himself, who was quite a figure in Manchester. The bok will retrace the initial inspiration by punk which led to the foundation of the record label, the opening of the famous Hacienda club and finally to bancrupcy.It does make a quite sensational read even if it does not allways make complete sense but you do get a sense of the athmosphere and enthusiasm of Tony Wilson for the music scene he helped create. The movie is not bad as a companion to it but you should really try and listen to the wonderful Palatine box set while you read: indeed, JoyDivision/new Order were only a very small part of why his record label was such a success back then. Tony Wilson regretfully passed away a few days ago but he has left a wonderful legacy that still lives on.