Recording Studios
John Brierley must be one of the most important unsung musical heroes of his generation. His interest in music started at Balderstone School where he began recording school friends Jim Milne, Steve Clayton, Michael Slim Batsch and Alan Burgess who had formed a band called The Way We Live in the mid1960's. John set about recording Jim and Steve (by now the others had left) on a pair of two-track tape recorders. This was done in the attic and bedrooms of his parents' house on Edenfield Road, Rochdale. He then sent demos off to John Peel who was so impressed he immediately offered them a contract. Part of the money from that advance was used to buy new recording equipment for the bedroom studio which Peel named Dandelion Studios, Rochdale to tie in with his Dandelion Records label (see footage of bedroom studio on the big screen).
The Way We Live made their first album in 1971. The band then changed their name to Tractor and their first album made it into the charts. John Peel had an affection for Rochdale, having worked for a time at Townhead Mill. This, combined with his regard for Jim Milne's and Steve Clayton's musicianship and John Brierley's recording techniques, kick-started a Rochdale recording industry that played host to some of the biggest names in music.
�John Brierley was, we discovered, a BBC employee who had built a studio virtually from old washing machine parts right there in his bedroom and attic in Edenfield Road, Rochdale. If his mum and dad were up he used their bedroom for recording vocals- the acoustics were better.� John Peel
�Peel made great play of the fact that this Tractor sound had been created not in your regular recording studio, but in a Rochdale attic by the band�s old school friend John Brierley, obviously the new Joe Meek with attitude enough to reach the Moon!� Julian Cope
While working for Granada as a cameraman John Brierley moved to a house at 179 Drake St, where from 1974 he used two rooms on the first floor to found Cargo Recording Studios. He recorded the bands Tractor, Child's Play and Medium Theatre on two-track through a new Midas mixing desk.
In 1973 Chris Hewitt (Tractor's Manager), Alan Burgess, Jim Milne and Steve Clayton opened an attic studio at 2 Dawson Street, Heywood, known as Tractor Sound Studios. Others were to record there including Mike Spratt and Mike Huck, future directors of the Heywood sound company Wigwam. In 1977 Tractor Music set up a music and hire shop in Kenion St. off Drake St, and John Brierley opened his 16 track Cargo Recording Studios upstairs.
Cargo became a leading recording studio attracting both established names and new artists, including those from Factory Records owned by Brierley's colleague at Granada, Tony Wilson. Many of its recordings were immediately played by John Peel on Radio One. Over the eight years Cargo operated, hundreds of musicians passed through its doors, some of the most famous of which are listed on this wall.
In 1985 John Brierley decided to sell Cargo to Chris Hewitt and Peter Hook (bass player from New Order and Joy Division). Chris asked Tony Wilson for a suggestion for a new name and he suggested Suite Sixteen. So after a lick of paint (the late Bob Hollows, guitarist with local band Voltage, painted the sign) and some new effects in the control room, Suite Sixteen opened. At this point Tractor Music moved next door and the studio was enlarged to cover two floors. The studio was later taken over by former Stockholm Monster member Shan Hira and operated until recently.
Other studios included Vic's Place at Belfield Mill, set up by the band Victor Mature who later became Local Heroes. They recorded themselves and other local bands such as the Pranksters and Potential Victims. Studio Studio in Whitworth was set up by Pete Troughton of Civvy Street, another local band.
John Peels first place of employment Townhead Mill Rochdale
Suite 16 Studio's Rochdale
John Brierley at the helm with members of Tractor listening in
Dandelion Studio's Edenfield Rd
Cargo Studio's Business Card
Suite 16 Doorway Rochdale
Martin Hannett on a Transcendent with Bernard Sumner (New Order - Joy Division) playing Guitar
John Brierley Contemplates the concept of taking on another mix/recording session
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