Manchester must dance

Mike Pickering began his career at Factory Records in the early 1980s as an A&R man. He booked artists at the Haçienda from its opening he also DJed there. He later co-founded Deconstruction Records, one of the UK’s first dance labels. In the 1990s he achieved a new level of success with his band M People, winning two Brit Awards and the Mercury Prize. As A&R at Columbia Records Mike signed Calvin Harris, Kasabian, Gossip and The Ting Tings. Mike continues to DJ today.Paul Morley is a writer, broadcaster and cultural critic who has written about music since the 1970s. A founder member of Art of Noise and Art of This, his books include From Manchester with Love: The Life and Opinions of Tony Wilson, The North and Joy Division: Piece by Piece. He also collaborated with Grace Jones and Island Records' Chris Blackwell on their memoirs.

‘Already my essential music book of the year. Mike Pickering is an unassuming God of popular culture, and nobody is better placed to tell the story of Manchester's ascent from post-industrial dereliction to the artistic fulcrum of these islands.’Irvine Welsh‘Mike Pickering should be given a knighthood for services to clubbing.’Noel Gallagher‘Like a musical Zelig, Pickering was there for fucking everything.’John Niven, author of Kill Your Friends‘A playful, picaresque, impossible-to-put-down memoir that could only have come from one of Manchester's best-loved DJs.’Audrey Golden, author of I Thought I Heard You Speak: Women at Factory Records‘The other side of Manchester: its dance culture. Mike Pickering was there, and he tells a great story.’Jon Savage, author of The Secret Public‘Haçienda legend Mike Pickering sends postcards from his pioneering post-punk career. With highlights including Happy Mondays, James, the Mercury Prize and Brit Award-winning M People, Kasabian, Calvin Harris and Gossip (with a few spicy lowlights for contrast), shapeshifter Pickering reveals an extraordinary life making and playing music. If his mission was to change things and add to Manchester history, Anthony H. Wilson would have said Audaces fortuna juvat (fortune favours the bold). To that we can add “mission accomplished”. I was in awe before and am more so now.’DJ Paulette, author of Welcome to the club‘From the joyful mayhem of a Beatles show to youth culture’s death-by-big-tech, Mike Pickering’s life encompasses the era when pop music cracked open the sky to offer new horizons of mobility and meaning. He has spent it discovering, shaping and sharing the sounds that made the planet spin, and his tale is told with wit, honesty and revelation.’Andy Spinoza, author of Manchester unspun‘Not sure I could get close to achieving what Mike Pickering has if I lived ten lifetimes. The man is an icon. If you need convincing of it then read this extraordinary memoir!’Nihal Arthanayake, author, broadcaster, podcaster‘A true blue soul boy with a gift for enthusiasm and a Mancunian disregard for hyperbole’Mark Cooper, MOJO'A hugely important addition to our understanding of British club culture.'DJ Greg Wilson'One of THE music books of the last few years.'Andy Thomas, Faith Fanzine'There are DJ memoirs that chronicle careers, and there are DJ memoirs that chronicle cultures. Mike Pickering’s Manchester must dance sits firmly in the latter camp.' Damion Pell, Decoded Magazine'It’s a must for anyone who was there and an illuminating read for those, like me, who weren’t.'Chris Charlesworth, author of Just Backdated'He recounts it all with verve, good humour and a wealth of fascinating insights.'Duncan Seaman, Yorkshire Post

• Forewords by Martin Fry, Johnny Marr, Noel Gallagher and Calvin HarrisPart I: Learning1 A different world2 A northern soul3 A new thing4 A team for life5 A close call6 A blessed relief 7 A matter of life and death8 A contribution from Martin Fry9 A European10 A change in the air11 A record label12 A girl with dyed red hair13 A new orderPart II: Playing14 A caper15 A pale, elusive metallic blue colour16 A sound effect17 A love tempo18 A New York anglophile19 A loud guy in a loud world20 A revelation21 A tax bill22 A right booker 23 A lost soul24 A famous guitarist25 A contribution from Johnny Marr26 A culture clash27 A challenge28 A new generation29 A house is built30 A meeting of minds31 A decoy or two32 A scam and a racket33 A rock group you can dance to34 A rave 35 A contribution from Noel Gallagher36 A ride on time37 A fake me38 Aglow39 A spontaneous decision40 A police raidPart III: Working41 A cliched crime drama42 A temporary contemporary table43 A super club44 A song writing project45 A son of god remix46 A pair of Woolworths ears47 A Rob by any other name48 A loss and a victory49 A fresh start50 A contribution from Calvin Harris51 A new cityIndex