Morrissey's Manchester: The Essential Smiths Tour

Lyrically unique, Morrissey saw post-industrial Manchester differently. Where most recognised the derelict remains of a Victorian powerhouse, he saw humour, where others saw post-industrial squalor, he felt the frisson of romance. As a result Manchester became as much a part of The Smiths output as the guitars, drums and vocals. As their fame grew, strangers in far away lands wondered about the location of the Cemetry Gates or the setting of Vicar in a Tutu . Unusually, these places still exist and provide the devotee with places of pilgramage - could Manchester offer anything else? In the fi rst edition of this guidebook, Phill Gatenby set out three tours covering 20 or more sites that either featured in The Smiths music or were fundamental to their development as a band - from early rehearsal spaces to the scene of their most memorable gigs. Now updated, Morrissey s Manchester has added new places to visit, more lyrical references and more background information on one of the world's most infl uential bands. However the most fundamental change any reader/visitor will notice are the continual changes to Manchester itself - a city in perpetual fl ux. Since the fi rst edition venues have either been demolished, refurbished or shorn of their identity - hence the need for an update. Now containing 40 new images, an improved layout, a revised map of the city centre, Morrissey's Manchester has been fully updated.

Phill Gatenby was born in Lancashire in 1963. Educated at Manchester Polytechnic, he also graduated from the world of football fanzines, contributing to Blue Print (1988-92) then producing his own This Charming Fan between 1992 - 96. Having contributed to several football compilation books in the 1990s, Morrissey s Manchester became Phill s fi rst book (2002) and followed this up in 2007 with Panic On The Streets - The Smiths & Morrissey UK Location Guide (Reynolds & Hearn Ltd). In 2008, he was the ghost writer for Sully (Empire Publications). He works alongside Inspiral Carpets drummer, Craig Gill, with Manchester Music Tours . Phill and Craig are currently writing the defi nitive Manchester music guide , which should be out soon. Phill is also writing a complete guide to the Madchester scene that may also be published soon, with about three or four other books in his head that keep him awake at night! He lives in north Manchester and has two daughters, Rohannah and Leah and one grand daughter, Phoebe. He saw The Smiths five times and his latest Morrissey count is thirty-six!