Shadowplayers
Encyclopedia
Shadowplayers is a documentary oral history film produced and directed by James Nice of LTM
Recordings, released on DVD in May 2006. Tracing the detailed history of Factory Records
and the Manchester post-punk music scene between 1978-1981, the extended film features interviews with 22 key participants.
Interviewees include director Anthony H. Wilson and designer Peter Saville, as well as a host of musicians including Peter Hook
(Joy Division
/New Order
), Simon Topping (A Certain Ratio
), Vini Reilly
(Durutti Column), Larry and Vin Cassidy (Section 25
) and Howard Devoto (Buzzcocks
/Magazine
). Other featured artists include members of Cabaret Voltaire
, Crispy Ambulance
, Biting Tongues
, Minny Pops
, The Names
, Swamp Children, Thick Pigeon and Killing Joke
, as well as contributions from Richard Boon, Annik Honoré, Lindsay Reade and Richard Jobson
.
Shadowplayers runs for 2 hours and 15 minutes and is divided into 19 chapters, covering subjects such as the Factory Club, sleeve art and graphic design, producer Martin Hannett
, the riot at Joy Division
's concert at The Derby Hall, Bury in April 1980, Factory Benelux and connections with Les Disques du Crepuscule and the Plan K venue in Brussels, the suicide of Ian Curtis
, the beginnings of New Order
, and the decline of post-punk culture after 1981.
Based exclusively on first-person narrative, Shadowplayers features soundtrack music by Section 25
and New Order
, as well as rare images and graphics, and a cover design based on the first Factory poster (Fac 1) by Peter Saville.
Shadowplayers is also the title of a music history book written by James Nice and published by Aurum in May 2010. The book tells the story of Factory Records
from its early beginnings up until its demise in 1992. The book was launched at the record shop, Rough Trade East in London by the author and included a short live PA by Blurt
and a guest speech by designer Peter Saville.
LTM
LTM Recordings is an independent record label founded in Britain in 1983, and best known for high quality, well-packaged reissues of artists and music from 1978 to the present day, as well as modern classical and avant garde composition...
Recordings, released on DVD in May 2006. Tracing the detailed history of Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
and the Manchester post-punk music scene between 1978-1981, the extended film features interviews with 22 key participants.
Interviewees include director Anthony H. Wilson and designer Peter Saville, as well as a host of musicians including Peter Hook
Peter Hook
Peter Hook is an English bass player, musician and author.He was a co-founder of the post-punk band Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner in the mid-1970s. Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reformed as New Order, and Hook played bass with them throughout their career until...
(Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
/New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
), Simon Topping (A Certain Ratio
A Certain Ratio
A Certain Ratio are a Post-punk band formed in 1977 in Manchester, England. While originally part of the punk rock movement, they soon added funk and dance elements to their sound. They are sometimes referred to as "post punk funk"...
), Vini Reilly
Vini Reilly
Vincent "Vini" Gerard Reilly is an English musician and leader of the post-punk group The Durutti Column.-Biography:...
(Durutti Column), Larry and Vin Cassidy (Section 25
Section 25
Section 25 is an English post-punk band, best known for its single "Looking from a Hilltop" and its association with the Manchester record-label, Factory Records.-Early recordings 1977 - 1982 :...
) and Howard Devoto (Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
/Magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
). Other featured artists include members of Cabaret Voltaire
Cabaret Voltaire (band)
Cabaret Voltaire were a British music group from Sheffield, England.Initially composed of Stephen Mallinder, Richard H. Kirk and Chris Watson, the group was named after the Cabaret Voltaire, a nightclub in Zürich, Switzerland that was a centre for the early Dada movement.Their earliest performances...
, Crispy Ambulance
Crispy Ambulance
Crispy Ambulance were an English rock band, formed in Manchester, United Kingdom in late 1977 by Alan Hempsall , Keith Darbyshire , Gary Madeley and Robert Davenport...
, Biting Tongues
Biting Tongues
Biting Tongues were a post-punk band formed in Manchester, England in 1979, whose members went on to join Simply Red, Yargo, and 808 State.-History:...
, Minny Pops
Minny Pops
Minny Pops were an Amsterdam-based new wave/electronic/art punk band, associated with the Ultra post-punk movement in the Netherlands and the Factory Records label in the UK....
, The Names
The Names
The Names is the seventh novel written by the American novelist Don DeLillo, first published in 1982. The novel, set mostly in Greece, is primarily a series of character studies, interwoven with a plot about a mysterious "language cult" that is behind a number of unexplained murders...
, Swamp Children, Thick Pigeon and Killing Joke
Killing Joke
Killing Joke are an English post-punk band formed in October 1978 in Notting Hill, London, England; other sources report the band formed in early 1979.Related news articles: Founding members Jaz Coleman and Geordie Walker have been the only constant members.A key influence on industrial rock,...
, as well as contributions from Richard Boon, Annik Honoré, Lindsay Reade and Richard Jobson
Richard Jobson (television presenter)
Richard Jobson is a Scottish singer-songwriter and film-maker, best known as a television presenter, film director, producer and screenwriter.-Early life:...
.
Shadowplayers runs for 2 hours and 15 minutes and is divided into 19 chapters, covering subjects such as the Factory Club, sleeve art and graphic design, producer Martin Hannett
Martin Hannett
Martin Hannett , sometimes credited as Martin Zero, was a record producer and an original partner in Factory Records with Tony Wilson...
, the riot at Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
's concert at The Derby Hall, Bury in April 1980, Factory Benelux and connections with Les Disques du Crepuscule and the Plan K venue in Brussels, the suicide of Ian Curtis
Ian Curtis
Ian Kevin Curtis was an English singer and lyricist, famous for leading the post-punk band Joy Division. Joy Division released their debut album, Unknown Pleasures, in 1979 and recorded their follow-up, Closer, in 1980...
, the beginnings of New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
, and the decline of post-punk culture after 1981.
Based exclusively on first-person narrative, Shadowplayers features soundtrack music by Section 25
Section 25
Section 25 is an English post-punk band, best known for its single "Looking from a Hilltop" and its association with the Manchester record-label, Factory Records.-Early recordings 1977 - 1982 :...
and New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
, as well as rare images and graphics, and a cover design based on the first Factory poster (Fac 1) by Peter Saville.
Shadowplayers is also the title of a music history book written by James Nice and published by Aurum in May 2010. The book tells the story of Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
from its early beginnings up until its demise in 1992. The book was launched at the record shop, Rough Trade East in London by the author and included a short live PA by Blurt
Blurt
Blurt is a British musical group founded by the poet, saxophonist and puppeteer Ted Milton in 1979 in Stroud, Gloucestershire; with Milton's brother Jake Milton, formerly of psychedelic group Quintessence, on drums and Peter Creese on guitar...
and a guest speech by designer Peter Saville.