11 Facts About Madchester

Madchester was a musical and cultural scene that developed in the English city of Manchester in the late 1980s, closely associated with the indie dance scene.

The term Madchester was coined by Factory Records' Tony Wilson, with the label popularised by the British music press in the early 1990s, and its most famous groups include the Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Inspiral Carpets, the Charlatans, James and 808 State.

Music scene in Manchester immediately before the Madchester era had been dominated by The Smiths, New Order, and The Fall, who were to become a significant influence on the Madchester scene.

Many Madchester bands had football casual fans and a number of bands even wore football shirts.

Madchester became something of an industry bandwagon from this time.

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Bands associated with the Madchester scene released material almost exclusively on indie records labels, with the significant exception of James, who signed to Fontana Records in 1989.

The main Madchester bands dominated the UK Indie Charts during late 1989 and much of 1990.

Outside the UK, the success of Madchester was limited, although some releases gained recognition in specialist charts around the world.

Immediate influence of Madchester was an inspiration to the wider baggy movement in the UK, with bands from various parts of the country producing music in the early 1990s heavily influenced by the main Madchester players.

Bands formed in Manchester during the Madchester era included the Chemical Brothers, The Verve, Sub Sub and Oasis.

Mushrooming of Manchester's nightlife during the Madchester period has had a long-term impact, particularly with the subsequent development of the Gay Village and Northern Quarter.