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On June 4, 1976, four young men took the stage of the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester and, in front of a handful of people, played one of the most important live sets of all time. Alongside Woodstock and Live Aid, the Sex Pistols' performance has been named by critics as one of the most pivotal performances in music history...not necessarily because of the quality of the music - but because of the effect the music had on the audience. The crowd were mesmerized by the power and possibilities of punk - and it inspired them to create their own music that would shape the sound of rock music for decades to come. Members of Joy Division and New Order, the Smiths, the Fall and Buzzcocks were there that night as well as Tony Wilson, a key player in the story of Factory records, the Hacienda, Madchester and beyond. This was truly a gig that changed the world. The truth behind that gig - plus the Pistols' repeat performance six weeks later and their first ever TV appearance - has been shrouded in mystery for thirty years. Until now, everyone's been happy to print the legend. For the first time, here's the truth. Featuring previously unpublished photos, interviews with key players and audience members, "I Swear I Was There" brings pop culture to life thirty years after the Summer of Punk.
From the Publisher
1. Publication ties in with the 30th anniversary of the gig – recently voted the third most important performance of all time in a Channel 4 survey, up there with Woodstock and Live Aid.
2. Improved, re-written and expanded version of the original book, which has been referenced in countless music books since. Features exclusive new photos and interviews.
3. Major media interest guaranteed on the subject in 2006, punk/s 30th anniversary – author is the acknowledged expert and will be interviewed on TV, radio and in print.
4. See Amazon for five star reviews of the first edition.
2. Improved, re-written and expanded version of the original book, which has been referenced in countless music books since. Features exclusive new photos and interviews.
3. Major media interest guaranteed on the subject in 2006, punk/s 30th anniversary – author is the acknowledged expert and will be interviewed on TV, radio and in print.
4. See Amazon for five star reviews of the first edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The first version of this book followed in the wake of the Granada Television documentary of the same name. This time around, version two digs deeper, provides more revelations and delves into the psyche of those who swear they were there.
So what is it all about? In a nutshell, two students would invite the Sex Pistols to Manchester, a move that would transform the local music scene in the city forever. The students in question would become better known as Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto, founder members of the Buzzcocks.
The television researchers pulled together an impressive array of participants who really were there. The book itself brings together original interview transcripts recorded for the show along with brand new interviews, all linked by informative and insightful explanations and information. In this respect, the book works well and is structured to allow the story to unfold in a documentary fashion.
Beginning with a forward by Howard Devoto, we get to hear of his trip to London with Pete Shelley in search of Malcolm McLaren's shop and the subsequent invitation they made to the Pistols to play in Manchester. This they would do twice, on 4th June and the 20th July 1976, both at the Lesser Free Trade Hall. If, however, Howard didn't have the use of a friend's car one particular weekend it's likely they would never have made it to London and the whole musical revolution in Manchester, if not throughout Britain, might never have happened.
The impact of the Pistols on Tony Wilson (then the presenter of 'So It Goes' on Granada) led in turn to the Pistols appearing on the show. One interesting snippet (which wasn't mentioned in the documentary) is the confirmation that the end of the Pistols' performance of Anarchy In The UK had been doctored prior to transmission, by the director, Peter Walker. Why? The reasons are all here.
A second edition of the book seemed inevitable. The documentary coupled with the first book led to more interest and more revelations. Important parts of the jigsaw have now been filled, with important additional input from Steve Diggle, John The Postman, and (thanks to www.sex-pistols.net), the elusive Solstice, the support band at the June 4th concert, who had hitherto been impossible to find.
Contributions from the likes of Glen Matlock, Jordan, Mick Rossi and Wayne Barrett (Slaughter And The Dogs), Tony Wilson, and many more involved at either the live shows or 'So It Goes', provide a sense of balance as the sea change caused by the Pistols' first appearance at the Lesser Free Trade Hall swept all before it, including the truth in some cases. Often highly amusing (Clive James gets a good trashing!) the book contains some stunning rare photographs that originally appeared in the long forgotten fanzine, Penetration. These pictures help bring the accounts of the night to life. Just check the cover shot - a crowd of confused and bemused punters look on bewildered as the Sex Pistols turn the world upside down.
With the subject being scrutinized like never before; no myth is taken for granted. An inspired piece of work that will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in the Sex Pistols, punk rock, or the birth of the Manchester music scene.
So what is it all about? In a nutshell, two students would invite the Sex Pistols to Manchester, a move that would transform the local music scene in the city forever. The students in question would become better known as Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto, founder members of the Buzzcocks.
The television researchers pulled together an impressive array of participants who really were there. The book itself brings together original interview transcripts recorded for the show along with brand new interviews, all linked by informative and insightful explanations and information. In this respect, the book works well and is structured to allow the story to unfold in a documentary fashion.
Beginning with a forward by Howard Devoto, we get to hear of his trip to London with Pete Shelley in search of Malcolm McLaren's shop and the subsequent invitation they made to the Pistols to play in Manchester. This they would do twice, on 4th June and the 20th July 1976, both at the Lesser Free Trade Hall. If, however, Howard didn't have the use of a friend's car one particular weekend it's likely they would never have made it to London and the whole musical revolution in Manchester, if not throughout Britain, might never have happened.
The impact of the Pistols on Tony Wilson (then the presenter of 'So It Goes' on Granada) led in turn to the Pistols appearing on the show. One interesting snippet (which wasn't mentioned in the documentary) is the confirmation that the end of the Pistols' performance of Anarchy In The UK had been doctored prior to transmission, by the director, Peter Walker. Why? The reasons are all here.
A second edition of the book seemed inevitable. The documentary coupled with the first book led to more interest and more revelations. Important parts of the jigsaw have now been filled, with important additional input from Steve Diggle, John The Postman, and (thanks to www.sex-pistols.net), the elusive Solstice, the support band at the June 4th concert, who had hitherto been impossible to find.
Contributions from the likes of Glen Matlock, Jordan, Mick Rossi and Wayne Barrett (Slaughter And The Dogs), Tony Wilson, and many more involved at either the live shows or 'So It Goes', provide a sense of balance as the sea change caused by the Pistols' first appearance at the Lesser Free Trade Hall swept all before it, including the truth in some cases. Often highly amusing (Clive James gets a good trashing!) the book contains some stunning rare photographs that originally appeared in the long forgotten fanzine, Penetration. These pictures help bring the accounts of the night to life. Just check the cover shot - a crowd of confused and bemused punters look on bewildered as the Sex Pistols turn the world upside down.
With the subject being scrutinized like never before; no myth is taken for granted. An inspired piece of work that will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in the Sex Pistols, punk rock, or the birth of the Manchester music scene.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Thus book is full of magnificent memories and quirky information about two nights that changed the folk history of Manchester. When the Sex Pistols visted the city in 1976 they inspired Joy Division, The Fall, The Smiths,the Hacienda nightclub, Factory Records, and every youth culture craze right up to Oasis. Their first night audience was small but David Nolan shows how almost everyone went on to form a band - and many of them became icons of popular culture. The style is easy and readable, the characters are painted in a grubby, safety-pinned technicolor, and there are some cracking one-liners. Take yourself back to 1976, kick yourself for missing the gigs, and learn enough detail to pretend you were there. The perfect stocking filler for a difficult 40-something.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The book follows in the wake of the Granada Television documentary of the same name. Where as the documentary was (initially) limited to the Granada region only, the book will enable those that were not lucky enough to see it, to understand why the subject matter was felt worthy of an hour-long feature.
So what is it all about? In a nutshell, two students would invite the Sex Pistols to Manchester, a move that would transform the local music scene in the city forever. The students in question would become better known as Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto, founder members of the Buzzcocks.
The television researchers pulled together an impressive array of participants that really were there! The book itself brings together the interview transcripts recorded for the show, linked by informative explanations and information. In this respect the book works well and is structured to allow the story to unfold in a straightforward yet entertaining manner.
Beginning with a forward by Howard Devoto we get to hear of his trip to London with Pete Shelley in search of Malcolm McLaren's shop and the subsequent invitation they made to the Pistols to play in Manchester. This they would do twice, on 4th June and the 20th July 1976, both at the Lesser Free Trade Hall. If however, Howard didn't have the use of a friend's car one particular weekend it's likely they would never have made it to London and the whole subsequent musical revolution in Manchester, if not throughout Britain, might never have happened!
The impact of the Pistols on Tony Wilson (then the presenter of 'So It Goes' on Granada) led in turn to the Pistols appearing on the show. One interesting snippet (which wasn't mentioned in the documentary) is the confirmation that the end of the Pistols performance of Anarchy In The UK had been doctored prior to transmission, by the director, Peter Walker. Why? The reasons are all here.
The book is full of new information from the likes of Glen Matlock, Jordan, Mick Rossi and Wayne Barrett (Slaughter And The Dogs), Tony Wilson, and many more involved at either the live shows or 'So It Goes'. Often highly amusing (Clive James gets a good trashing!) and containing material that didn't make it to the finished film plus some rare photographs, this book will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in the Sex Pistols, punk rock, or the birth of the Manchester music scene...
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A great read
A great account of the gig - just as I remember it. No, really, I swear I was there...
Published on 20 Nov 2008 by Mark the Milkman
Marvellous
This is a fantastic book that should be required reading for all those who want to understand Manchester music during the dawning of punk, and in the aftermath of the Pistols... Read more
Published on 20 Jun 2006 by Sean A
I wish I'd been there!
Unfortunately far too young at the time to witness this life changing event, but David Nolan's book made it all come alive for me. Read more
Published on 7 Jun 2006 by K. Macfarlane
Sex Pistols play Manchester & the aftershock it created
A spin-off from the Granada T.V. programme.This book gives you everything you need to know about the Sex Pistols early gigs in Manchester in 1976 and their first ever T.V. Read more
Published on 9 Aug 2001
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