The Distractions, Hulme, April 1980. Photo credit: Daniel Meadows.
Here's a couple of nice promo photos done for Island Records from Alex's personal collection. This one is more familiar to most of us at a 90ยบ angle. It was taken in Hulme Crescents in April 1980, the notorious flats where, as Alex describes: "Hulme at this time was an example of an urban planning disaster. A series of eight-storey semi-circular tower blocks linked by walkways. It was a robber's paradise. I used to regularly visit people who lived there and the thieves were really polite. They used to push notes under the door asking people to please leave their valuables outside to minimise the damage of a break-in. They did as well!"
Despite being a complete disaster for the council and town planners, the Crescents were an incredibly rich source of musical talent, with punks, poets, students and DJs moving in towards the end (along with many problem families and petty criminals). The famous PSV/Russell Club which hosted The Factory nights where The Distractions played was nearby.
The Factory, Russell Club, Hulme.
The second Island publicity shot was taken in the equally salubrious inner city area, Salford, not sure exactly where though. Same order in both - Mike, Steve, Pip, Adrian, Alex.
The Distractions, Salford, April 1980. Photo credit: Daniel Meadows.
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