A History Of Live Sound

At 80 years young, Bruce Mitchell is the bearing upon which gigs have turned in Manchester for more than half a century.  In part 2, he talks about his friend & business partner Martin Hannett, why soundchecks are doomed to suck, and how the worst gigs are often the best gigs.

Bruce Mitchell, otherwise known as Mr Manchester, has watched, performed, carried speakers, provided the lights and stage, or been a production manager for gigs for the last 65 years.

Heavily involved in Factory Records, working with bands from The Who to New Order and playing drums for The Durutti Column, he has worked on and performed at the smallest and biggest shows.

Find out what happened after gigs at The Cavern, and post gig drag racing down the M1 in the band's van!

In only his second interview in 25 years, the man who made Oasis loud - told Alan McGee to sign them - recorded their debut album - and then quit. 

 

Pt 3: Working in sync with the band - mixing in quad - saving 5% for the end - quitting the biggest gig in the country.

In only his second interview in 25 years, the man who made Oasis loud - told Alan McGee to sign them - recorded their debut album - and then quit. 

 

Pt2: No subs, more bass - Learning from Oz, New Order's legendary engineer - making the gig whoosh!

In only his second interview in 25 years, the man who made Oasis loud - told Alan McGee to sign them - recorded their debut album - and then quit. 

Pt 1: Mixing at the gig frontline - always with a hot soldering iron next to the desk.

Broadway, The Beatles, Hendrix: Abe Jacob has been at the forefront of Theatre sound for over 45 years. Before that he was on the sound team at The Beatles last public show in Candlestick Park, and also mixed Jimi Hendrix. He has seen it all! 

Presented by Chris Snow @bandwidthpdn

Executive Production @sparewomen

In 1989 a small company called Focusrite was insolvent. Phil was looking for a new challenge. How did he transform it from a struggling analogue company to a successful, cutting edge digital one?

 

Presented by Chris Snow @bandwidthpdn

Executive Production @sparewomen

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Steve Bedlam talks about Castlemorton Common, getting confiscated PA's back, starting Noise Control Audio, and his current work running the Refugee Crisis Kitchen.

Presented by Chris Snow @bandwidthpdn

Executive Production @sparewomen

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Steve Bedlam was one of the people behind Bedlam Sound System, and as he puts it "We never played anywhere that was legal". He and his friends in Spiral Tribe and other sound systems of the time provided the sound in warehouses and fields across the country. 

Presented by Chris Snow @bandwidthpdn

Executive Production @sparewomen

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Pete Russell started sound engineering when bands still owned the PA. Years later, he was Metallica's System Tech on the Justice For All tour, and PA was owned by PA companies. He has mixed Stiff Little Fingers & Thunder (amongst others) and worked as a project manger for SSE.

Pete explains how a cottage industry became a professional one.

Presented by Chris Snow @bandwidthpdn

Executive production @sparewomen