During his time at Manchester’s “City Life” magazine in the late 1980s, photographer Peter J. Walsh was in the right place at the right time. He became immersed in Manchester’s revolutionary acid house, club, and rave scene, documenting many hedonistic nights at the Hacienda.
Acid House
Peter documented the early years of the UK’s acid house explosion in the city. He captured the various faces and colorful fashions that adorned The Hacienda dancefloor as the city became a cultural mecca and global hub for music and fashion.
Photo © Peter J Walsh.
Documentary Photography
Peter “I began working as a photographer for a documentary Co-op in Manchester in the mid eighties. I learned how to process films, make contact sheets and black and white printing. The photographers in the Co-op worked individually but would meet once a month to compare and critique each others work and printing skills.
The training I received in all aspects of documentary photography during this time would prove invaluable to me as the rave scene hit Manchester just a few years later.”
Photo © Peter J Walsh.
The Haçienda
“Around the same time that I began shooting for City Life, Manchester’s equivalent of Time Out in London, I was photographing the burgeoning club scene at The Haçienda and other clubs in the city. After photographing the Happy Mondays gig on Granada TV’s The Other Side of Midnight which was hosted by Tony Wilson, I was asked to work for the NME, covering the North of England. I also began working regularly for The Face, ID, and Mixmag.”
Photo © Peter J Walsh.
Temperance Club
As a photographer, Peter used to go out into the city and document what was happening around Manchester. Nights at The Haçienda, including ‘Hot’ and ‘The Temperance Club’ – a student night on Thursdays with DJ Dave Haslam, which fused indie, disco, and house music.
Photo © Peter J Walsh.
Cultural Movement
“As acid house exploded, Peter knew that Manchester and The Haçienda, in particular, were at the epicenter of a cultural movement. Aside from documenting club culture in the city, he also took photos of the numerous bands and DJs that helped shape and define the music scene that came out of the city.”
Photo © Peter J Walsh.
“The Rave Generation, Madchester, whatever you want to call it, was a revolutionary time in musical and British cultural history. On the back of a grim, economically challenging decade under Thatcher, and the last era before mobile phones and the rise of the internet, it united a generation.”
Photo © Peter J Walsh.
Ecstasy
Ecstasy and music brought young people together, from single mums and students, to council workers and football hooligans. Lifelong friendships were forged and ideas were created that would continue to shape the cultural landscape to this day.
Gallery
Photo © Peter J Walsh.
Photo © Peter J Walsh.
Photo © Peter J Walsh.
Photo © Peter J Walsh.
Photo © Peter J Walsh.
Photo © Peter J Walsh.
Photo © Peter J Walsh.
Photo © Peter J Walsh.
All images © Peter J Walsh, all rights reserved.
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- Article first published
- November 28, 2018
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