PRS for Music Honour James and The Haçienda
Iconic Manchester indie band – James, is to be honoured by a PRS for Music Heritage Award on Tuesday 1 November in their home city. A special black plaque is to be erected in Manchester where the original group, Jim Glennie, Paul Gilbertson, Gavan Whelan and Tim Booth, played their first official gig as James, at Fac 51 Haçienda club on 17 November 1982.
Labelled the most famous club in the world by Newsweek magazine, The Haçienda provided a musical platform for some of the 20th century’s most important and influential artists. Owned by Factory records and New Order, The Haç is credited with being the pivotal club in acid house and the development of dance music in the UK in the late Eighties but prior to that was also a well respected live venue.
James’ first performance at the club in November 1982 as a support act to Big Country but they went onto play the club another four times up until 1985 including supporting The Smiths at their November 1983 concert which many regard as of the finest Manchester gigs ever.
James also released their debut single with Factory Records, Jimone the same month as The Smiths gig and UK tour and then turned in the appropriately named anthem Hymn From A Village on Jimtwo, FAC 119 in 1985 which gave them a springboard for their wide reaching success in the late Eighties and throughout the Ninteties.
PRS for Music set up the Heritage Award in 2009 to recognise the unusual ‘performance birthplaces’ of famous bands and artists. James is the ninth band to be given the honour of receiving the permanent plaque.
The band and its members Tim Booth, Jim Glennie, Larry Gott, Saul Davies, Mark Hunter and David Baynton-Power, together with Peter Hook of Joy Division/New Order fame will be there to see the plaque unveiled.
PRS for Music Deputy Chair, Paulette Long said: ‘Celebrating the birthplaces of our country’s musical heritage is a really well deserved thing to do and I’m absolutely delighted to announce a PRS for Music Heritage Award to James. The UK has given the world fantastic songwriters and performers which have enriched our lives and provided us with music we all love and appreciate. Congratulations to both James and the Haçienda for this well deserved honour. Although the heyday of the Haçienda was in the eighties and nineties its legacy lives on.’
James said: ‘It’s fantastic to be recognised by PRS for Music in this way, and to have a plaque on the site of The Haçienda is a true honour. Gigs have always been the mainstay of this band’s existence and without the support and encouragement of the people of Manchester we would have never got started in the first place. Yet here we are, 29 years later.’
Peter Hook said: ‘When things like this happen it makes me realise how much impact Factory Records and The Haçienda have had on the world of music! I loved James’ first record on Factory and was truly sorry when they left. The fact they want to celebrate their first gig with The Haçienda and their relationship Factory is wonderful and I’m very proud of the role both have played in giving the world a truly great band.’
James has had numerous hits including Come Home, Sit Down and She’s a Star and have sold more than 25 million albums worldwide.
UB40 were given a PRS for Music Heritage Award in October 2011. You can find out more here.
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