Paul Ryder

Manchester, 1976. Tony Wilson is an ambitious but frustrated local TV news reporter looking for a way to make his mark. After witnessing a life-changing concert by a band known as the Sex Pistols, he persuades his station to televise one of their performances, and soon Manchester's punk groups are clamoring for him to manage them. Riding the wave of a musical revolution, Wilson and his friends create the legendary Factory Records label and The Hacienda club.

Described by Bono as 'the Noel Coward of our generation’, the singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl would have turned 65 this year had her life not been tragically cut short in December 2000. Signed at the age of just 19 after being the backing singer for a failed punk band, Kirsty went on to write and record songs that spanned genres, including rockabilly, pop and South American. She had hits like A New England and Days and sang a key part in one of the nation’s favourite Christmas songs, Fairytale of New York. Respected by those who worked alongside her, including Billy Bragg, Johnny Marr, Jools Holland and many others, she has left a legacy that is still valued today. This programme brings together performances that highlight the wit and intelligence of this unique performer

Documentary celebrating the triumph, tragedy and human comedy that was Manchester record company, Factory. Started by the late Tony Wilson, Alan Erasmus, Peter Saville and Martin Hannett in the late 1970s, it became known as the home of Joy Divsion, New Order and Happy Mondays and for creating the Hacienda club. The label pioneered Britain's independent pop culture, creating a new Manchester and blowing a shed-load of money. Includes interviews with all the main players in the Factory story.

At Manchesters late 88's early clocking we agreed to shoot, me 'n' mental genius Shaun Ryder, but like most other events of our lives filming started late. Four years late, Jun '93: what should've been the Happy Mondays is over. X is sour .No Band, No Deal, No Dollar. No Film. Xcept: Didsbury, just off Barlow Moor, March 23rd. Jamming in X's 13' by 10 gaff, music addict Mr Ryder, brother Paul ex Ruthless Rap Assasin Kermit Bez and drummer Ged line up "Walking the Dog" for a piss on the past. "Kermit sounds shit" says Paul. "No, just out of key, I think it sounds great man", says Shaun. Its great when you're Straight later, no e's exclusively Stupid Stupid Stupid for you in The Grape Tapes. Hang with Shaun and Black Grape round the World through 5 years of brown, pollinated, green scripted, rattling, X-rated groovy gigs, kick offs, trips, rock n roll workds, riffs, licks and jellied bullshit bras gouching rhymes.

A portrait of Tony Wilson the visionary, provocateur, and self-styled cultural revolutionary who put Manchester on the world map. From his days as a Granada TV presenter to founding Factory Records and the legendary Haçienda nightclub, Wilson reshaped a post-industrial city into a global capital of music and style. Loved and loathed in equal measure, Wilson’s story is told here through candid interviews, archive footage, and reflections from friends, critics, and collaborators. Pretentious? Perhaps. Unforgettable? Absolutely.

A documentary focused on rock 'n' roll super fans Dennis and Lois and their journey over 40 years.

During their first U.S. tour (to promote their hit album "Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches"), British alternative rockers Happy Mondays bring down the house in this 1990 concert at New York City's Sound Factory.