The Middleton Scene
In the late 50s and early 60s the huge Langley Estate was built as a housing overspill for Manchester. The population of young people in the area rapidly expanded just when youth culture was just taking on an identity of its own. The movie Rock around the Clock was shown at the Victory Cinema in 1957 and, as in countless other towns, trouble erupted and police reinforcements had to be brought in. The youth of Middleton had been seduced by "the devil's music".
A strong influence was Lonnie Donegan who inspired an explosion of "skiffle" groups. Two of Middleton's more successful were The Rainmakers and The Startones. Teenage groups such as The Moonrakers and The Dominoes began to make their mark.
The first all-electric group in Middleton was Deke Bonner and The Tremors. Their lead guitarist Pete Cowap went on to form The Country Gentlemen in 1963 who played support to the Beatles and signed a recording contract with Decca.
The success of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones inspired many to form their own R & B groups such as The Nevadas and The Backbeats, who later changed their name to T.D. Backus and Powerhouse. Other Middleton bands of the time were Tom Rigg's, The Measles, Ivan's Meades and The Perfect Circle.
A new Act in 1965 allowed magistrates and police to close down any club they took a dislike to. The Middleton music scene was effectively killed off as new bands couldn�t find venues to play. Some survived by moving onto the cabaret circuit. Peter Cowap formed a band called The Bujjies before embarking on a solo career, then joined Herman's Hermits to replace Peter Noone.
Middleton rocked in the 60's and 70's and still does today with bands like The Mock Turtles and The Chameleons, who are featured later in the exhibition.
Middleton Scene
PowerHouse
Tremors
Backbeats
Country gents
Tom Rigg's
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