Manchester 1989. The Happy Mondays had just released their breakthrough album 'Bummed'. Five months later in May the Stone Roses would release their self-titled debut album and the Inspiral Carpets would release the single 'Joe'. The musical stars were beginning to align for this northern city and the world tipped it's ear to listen. By the end of the year the Mondays and Roses would appear on the same TOTP in an historic edition of the BBC music show. Manchester had conquered the UK and world domination was waiting. It was this tidal wave of Mancunia that Rig stepped out into.
Rig. The Boardwalk, Manchester. 22nd July 1989
They had started the year with a wiggle on. Busy writing, rehearsing and recording wherever they could. This demo of new song 'Humlah' recorded in Gorton College in March owed a lot to the Happy Mondays who had put the finishes touches to 'Bummed' at Strawberry Studios with Rig drummer Baz keeping a close watch. The song was recorded as for live and is a little rough around the edges, but it's choc full of baggy swagger and that Monday's influence.
Rig were also back in Strawberry Studios in May '89 to re-record the now shortened titled 'Hum' and another new song 'Dig'. They also joined forces with DJ Blue of P.Love and Blue, an emerging hip hop band to remix the two news songs with a view to having a dance flip-side to what would be their debut single.
Rig. The Boardwalk, Manchester. 22nd July 1989
Their recording efforts were catching the attention of Stockport-based Cut Deeps records. The label were already home to sonic compadres What?Noise and Dub Sex and Rig fitted the Cut Deep mould perfectly. So it wasn't a surprise when they agreed to sign and put out a single. It also it made sense to make their live debut alongside new label mates What?Noise on a Saturday night in July '89.
Homemade flyer. July 1989
The Boardwalk was a club and rehearsal rooms on Little Peter Street at the Castlefield end of town (Town - Central Manchester to non-locals). It had prospered since it's opening in 1986 and rode the wave of Madchester. It thrived and became one of the the area's most popular nightclubs. Rig never rehearsed there, although every other band to come from Manchester did. And every Manchester band also played their first gig at the Boardwalk, and to that rule Rig were no exception.
Homemade flyer. July 1989
Hulme band Flea were also on the bill and thirty years later Rig guitarist Darren and Flea main man Boz Hayward were introduced at mutual friend's party. They got on like a house on fire only to discover they were on the same bill at the Boardwalk back in the day. They remain firm friends.
Boardwalk flyer. July 1989
Manchester Evening News listing. July 1989
Whilst most young bands could enjoy learning their live trade under a banner of lowly support slots, this was Manchester, quickly turning MAD. There was no place to hide. Journalists descended on mass, trying to work out what had been put in the water of the ship canal to fuel this musical explosion. Subsequently the band's first three gigs were reviewed by the three major music papers of the time. Sounds, the New Musical Express and Melody Maker.
City Life article. July 1989
The first gig at the Boardwalk wasn't reviewed but was a raucous affair and an excellent time was had by all. The band were still learning their craft but they were serious about having fun, as this clip of the yet to be released single 'Dig' from that first gig demonstrates.
Next up was a headline slot at Isadora's, a small, sweaty basement club beneath the old Corn Exchange (now the soulless Triangle shopping centre) in central Manchester. Isadora's was popular with the indie crowd and successful club nights held at Isadora's included the popular 'Hangout' which meant it outlived Madchester before finally succumbing to the IRA bomb in 1996.
Rig. Homemade flyer. August 1989
In the previous week to the Rig gig, the venue had hosted a heavy metal night and the headliner band had brought in a real pigs head as prop for their stage show. Not being the most tidy of folk, they abandoned the pig's head under the stage and went on their merry way. A week later the young band Rig, sound checking for only their second gig traced the source of an unpleasant ordor to the grisly decomposing discovery under the stage. Removal and disposal was well beyond the remit of the house sound engineer “I’m fucked if I’m moving a pigs head”.
Rig. Isadora's. 4th August 1989
So there was something in the air that night, and it wasn't just Manchester music nobility coming out to play. In attendance were Gordon King and Tony Ogden from World of Twist and Clint Boon and Graham Lambert from the Inspiral Carpets, Graham later saying to drummer Baz it one of his favourite gigs ever.
Rig. Isadora's. 4th August 1989
And of course, John Robb (journalist and Membranes frontman) who would support the band whole heartedly throughout their career was there to make sure the band got their first review in Sounds music paper. And a mighty fine review it was too.
Sounds review. 19th August 1989
In August '89 Cut Deep records were a year old. And despite delays in getting the band's first single 'Dig' into the shops, it was time for a party. So the First birthday of Cut Deep records was celebrated with a return for the band to the Boardwalk. By now P.Love and Blue had also signed with Cut Deep and so joined the line-up.
Flyer. October 1989
Boardwalk ticket. 4th October 1989
An ambitious 'live' recreation of the recent remix collaboration was attempted as a segue way between the band's respective sets. This was only the band's third gig and they certainly weren't playing by any rules. A young Róisín Murphy was present to provide support from the sidelines and pull some shapes.
Rig. The Boardwalk, Manchester. 4th October 1989
Rig. The Boardwalk, Manchester. 4th October 1989
Rig. The Boardwalk, Manchester. 4th October 1989
Jack Barron of the NME didn't really take to the youngsters on show. But then he was responsible for one of the NME's biggest clangers in history with his luke-warm review of the Stone Roses seminal debut album a few months prior, so maybe Manchester (bands) wasn't his cup of tea.
NME review. 21st October 1989
Melody Maker weren't quite as harsh, but obviously sat on the same disgruntled train journey back to the capital with Mr Barron. The pair really didn't like Killing Joke.
Melody Maker review. 21st October 1989
Not that Rig gave a shit. They had just been invited to support the Inspiral Carpets on the northern leg of their biggest UK tour to date.
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