Morrissey's Manchester (Mass Market Paperback)

~ Phill Gatenby (Author) "Welcome to Morrissey's Manchester, your complete guide to ensuring that your visit to the home of 'The Smiths' is a truly unforgettable experience..." (more)
Key Phrases: city centre, Morrissey's Manchester, Kings Road, Free Trade Hall (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

'I came back to my old city... and I couldn't find my way back to the station, it's all changed', so complained Morrissey on 'Heir Apparent' and it's not surprising as Manchester has changed so much since The Smiths heyday of the mid 1980s.

Now Morrissey's Manchester, a publication devoted exclusively to the city that shaped the life and lyrics of The Smiths, has been produced so that fans of the group can visit many of the sights remaining, including Salford Lads Club, concert venues and Morrissey's old house in Kings Road, Stretford.

Musically Manchester has become a victim of its own success. While it hasn't produced figures as ubiquitous as 'The Fab Four' or 'The King', there isn't another city in the world that, for the past forty years, has consistently influenced the music scene so persuasively. In this guide is contained all the information needed to plan a visit to the home of one of the greatest British bands ever. Fans of The Smiths are obsessive about every detail regarding their heroes. So whilst some local guide books briefly mention places of musical interest concerning Manchester music in general; devotees of Morrissey can expect and demand more.

Included here are two comprehensive tours of the Manchester area. One which can be taken on foot in the city centre and the other stretching across the suburbs that affected the band's history.

In particular the guide relates to the places Morrissey wrote about or which formed an influential part of the group's history, such as concert venues, meeting places and sites captured on film.

About the Author

Although this is Phill Gatenby's first book, he has been involved with writing for various publications since 1988. A staunch supporter of Manchester City FC, he became one of the main contributors for 'Blue Print'; a fanzine dedicated to the strain and the pain of supporting City.

When ‘Blue Print' folded in 1992, he then produced his own fanzine entitled 'This Charming Fan', which ran for three years.

Since then, he has contributed articles for several football books including 'Survival Of The Fattest' (Volumes 1 and 2 in 1995 & 96), and Maine Road Voices (2002).

Away from football, Phill produced articles for the short lived independently produced Manchester 'What's On' guide magazine, 'Whatever' (1998), looking at local issues effecting local people and scrutinising council policy. He also has a short piece in The Smiths fans' book 'All Men Have Secrets' (1995).

Aged 39, Phill counts himself extremely fortunate to have seen The Smiths in concert five times. He lives in north Manchester and has two daughters, Rohannah and Leah, aged 10 and 8 respectively.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Empire Publications Ltd (June 2002)
• ISBN-10: 1901746283
• ISBN-13: 978-1901746280
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #487,696 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't go to Manchester without it!, January 17, 2003

By	"morrisseytour" (New York City, NY) - See all my reviews

Morrissey's Manchester begins with an intriguing and beautifully written narrative titled "Ghosts of Manchester" by Mick Middles, author of The Smiths - The Complete Story. The narrative's underlying theme and a subject appearing frequently in Gattenby's main text is that the Manchester of the 80's does not exist as we know it today.

Buildings have been torn down. Streets have been re-routed. Shops have closed, opened then closed again. The cynicism of the Thatcher years has faded. In essence, that magical period that Manchester experienced in the 80's will never be forgotten and cannot be replicated.

Gattenby is thorough in his approach to writing. He covers the essential sites, (i.e. Salford Lads Club, Strangeways Prison & the Cemetery Gates) as well as the more obscure places, (i.e. Anacoats, the Holy Name Church & Crazy Face.)

What's good:
Handy pocket size. Easy to handle. Small enough to fit in your back pocket. Light weight enough to carry with you and not feel bogged down. (Try doing that with the Lonely Planet Europe guide)

Thoroughly researched and clearly written. After having reading it I feel that I've had a fantastic new education on The Smiths.

The book is a complete guide to Manchester as well as the Smiths. The guide is fortified with extensive, bus, train and hotel information. It also provides specific walking directions and includes a fold out map.

The not-so-good
A topographical index would have been a great time-saving method of quickly finding specific places.

I do think it's important to include a historical basis for the city but I was a bit disappointed that the actual "tour" of Manchester doesn't start until the middle of the book. I was eager to jump into the tour from page one.

The Verdict:
I highly recommend this book. If you are visiting the UK (especially Manchester) this book is essential! Don't bother getting on the plane without it..

Even if you don't plan to visit the UK the book is still a great read and I guarantee you'll learn a lot about the Smiths in the process.