In this interview, DJ and record shop legend Russ Marland talks about his pivotal role in bringing House music to Manchester and DJing at the iconic Hacienda. Starting at Spin Inn Records in 1986, Russ shares how he was influenced by Mike Shaft’s radio show, where he discovered the sound of Electro and House music. He reminisces about queuing up for records and eventually landing a job at Spin Inn, just as House music was beginning to take over the city.
Russ tells the story of how he and his colleague Kenny started their own record shop, Manchester Underground, selling records directly from artists like LFO and Nightmares on Wax, and even making a fortune from the sale of Kangol Hats popular with Hip Hop fans. Russ talks about selling records to major Hacienda DJs like Mike Pickering and Graham Park, who trusted his taste in music.
Russ also shares how he got his start DJing at the Hacienda in 1991, warming up for Mike Pickering, and eventually taking over the main slot after Mike left in 1993. He reflects on the early days of the Manchester House music scene, his experience with Ecstasy, and the impact of iconic tracks like Adonis’ “No Way Back” and Lil Louis’ “French Kiss”.
We delve into his memories of working in Manchester’s vibrant club scene, including the legendary Void nights at the Hacienda and the unique, serendipitous way that music and culture collided in that era. Russ also shares his heartbreak over the 1996 IRA bomb, which destroyed his record shop, leading to its eventual closure, and how it impacted the city’s music businesses.
Join us as Russ takes us on a journey through Manchester’s rich musical history, from the golden era of House music to the lasting legacy of the Hacienda.
A very well researched hot take as the presenter explores (in his words) “what some might call cultural appropriation, but I’m just gonna call it intellectual property theft”
“Imagine a creative English pervert, reappropriating a Marxist art movement to guide him through ripping off African songs and rhythms, to create a product that would create cultural ripples for decades.”
Oh, I had such a big boy crush on her. Pop fact - she chose the name after seeing a man wearing a hat that read ”Cat Diesel Power". Could have gone the other way…
I love that woman and that record. One of my top 10 most listened to records to this day. She wasn’t in a great place mentally, then, but musically she was at the top of her game. I put that song (or something from that album) on pretty much every playlist I ever made for a girl.
An article in the guardian made me go and watch this again, a great performance then the band’s feminist fans giving Terry Christian some shit, Henry Rollins loving it, some fans thrown out, a remaining fan still going at Terry who offers him out before they cut away.
Wish they still had stuff like this on terrestrial tv.
