6 of our favourite Factory Records bands 🎶
The legendary label was formed in Manchester in 1978
Factory Records was an independent record label formed in Manchester in 1978 by journalist and presenter Tony Wilson and actor Alan Erasmus.
The label created shockwaves through the industry and transformed the musical and cultural landscape not only in Manchester, but around the world.
They had a number of important acts signed to their roster over the years, including Joy Division, New Order, James, Happy Mondays and A Certain Ratio. Along with New Order, they also ran the pioneering nightclub The Haçienda from 1982 to 1997.
Factory were famous for their unique cataloguing system, as they treated all of the label's output, including musical releases, artwork, films and miscellaneous merchandise with it's own number.
Check out 6 of the biggest artists on Factory Records:
Joy Division
Formed in Salford in 1976, Joy Division changed music forever. The group consisted of lead vocalist Ian Curtis, guitarist and keyboardist Bernard Sumner, bassist Peter Hook and drummer Stephen Morris.
Sumner and Hook were inspired to form a band after attending a now-historic Sex Pistols concert at Manchester's Lesser Free Trade Hall in 1976. They were inspired by the early Punk movement and went on to become post-Punk pioneers with songs like 'Love Will Tear Us Apart', 'Disorder' and 'Transmission'.
New Order
New Order was born out of the demise of Joy Division, following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis in 1980. Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris continued to make music, before being joined by keyboardist Gillian Morris later that year.
They were the flagship band for Factory Records and the Hacienda nightclub. Their masterpiece 'Blue Monday' became the top-selling 12" single of all time and continues to be a favourite of music fans today. Although Peter Hook left the outfit in 2007, New Order continue to play shows to huge crowds.
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, or OMD, were formed in Merseyside in 1978 and signed to Tony Wilson's Factory Records in 1979 prior to the release of their debut single 'Electricity'.
The band created forward-thinking electronic music and were inspired by artists including Kraftwerk, David Bowie, Brian Eno and label-mates Joy Division. Their stand-out track 'Enola Gay' was released in September 1980.
Happy Mondays
Formed in Salford in 1980, the band's original line-up consisted of Shaun Ryder, Paul Ryder, Mark Day, Paul Davis and Gary Whelan, before Mark 'Bez' Berry joined shortly after the vocalist Rowetta joined the band in 1990.
Their music helped create a bridge between the UK's independent scene and the dance and rave culture which was emanating out of Manchester's legendary Hacienda nightclub.
They released a total of five studio albums, most notably 'Bummed' in 1988 and 'Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches' in 1990.
The Durutti Column
The Durutti Column formed in Manchester in 1978 and were one of the first acts to be signed to the Factory label.
Lead by guitarist Vini Reilly, he was also joined by Bruce Mitchell on drums and Keir Stewart on bass, keyboards and harmonica.
James
Although not officially signed to Factory, James released their first two singles 'Jimone' (1983) and 'James II' (1985) on the label, before signing with Sire Records.
They have had huge hits during their career including 'Come Home', 'Sit Down' and 'Laid'.
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