Rockin' Rochdale - a history of popular music

Rockin rochdale

Which track on Sgt. Pepper's has a Rochdale connection?

Who once made a single with boxer Prince Naseem?

Which hit single was written by Alan Partridge's brother and where did Peter Hook meet PJ Proby?

Uncover the answers to these and many more questions in an exhibition that features everything from 18th century musical concerts via Gracie Fields to the Deeply Vale rock festival and beyond. Highlights include unseen footage of the Deeply Vale music festival on a big screen, some rare guitars hand built in Rochdale - one especially for Top of The Pops, unusual musical posters from the 1790s and memorabilia from the legendary Drake Street recording studios, Cargo and Suite 16, that hosted the likes of New Order and Teardrop Explodes.

As well as viewing an extensive range of musical memorabilia there will be the opportunity to listen to music from local bands and hear interviews with important contributors to Rochdale's musical heritage. For the first time John Brierley speaks about what it was like to work on the recording of the legendary single 'Atmosphere' with Joy Division and, from a different era, Heywood's famous band leader Eddy Hilton takes us back almost half a century to the great days of the dance halls. To prove that Touchstones is a museum like no other there'll also be a look in to the future with a section on local bands who might just be 'The Next Big Thing'!

Speaking about the exhibition, David Pugh, Museum Access Officer at Touchstones Rochdale said, "This exhibition brings together some of most memorable musical moments in the borough's history providing an exciting insight into the cultural life of Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton over the last 200 years."

It is also an exhibition that will continue to grow after its has opened as David explained " The history of popular music wasn't taken seriously by museums until recently and yet it is something that nearly everyone enjoys. Whilst researching this exhibition we've discovered just what a rich musical heritage our borough has. The public are bringing in new stories and donating new objects all the time. We are therefore designing part of the exhibition as a place where people can contribute their own musical memories and help to build up a unique history of the local music scene."

Owner of Ozit Morpheus Records Chris Hewitt, who has been one of the key researchers for the exhibition, added " I have crossed paths again with so many people intertwined in the Rochdale music scene whilst researching this exhibition.  In 1972 aged 17, I was promoting my first concerts in Rochdale and would use cut and paste artwork techniques for my concert flyers and then go to photocopy them at 5p each on the only public photocopier back then - in the building where Touchstones is holding the exhibition in 2005/6 - coincidence? That same year 1972 I teamed up with Jim Milne, Steve Clayton and John Brierley [Tractor] just before their album was released and got into the Radio Luxembourg rock charts. I still manage the band now 33 years later and their albums continue to sell.  Other things that contributed towards that creative scene back then were the Art College and the Technical College, the Rochdale Sculptors, Axis Poetry Magazine, Axis bookshop, Rochdale Alternative paper,  Henry and Eddie Kledjys with their Streetlife street theatre, the folk clubs of Rochdale, Jack and Mavis and Terry Christian, Tony Crabtree - and all of that exploded into Deeply Vale Festivals- the rest as they say is history."

Touchstones is open seven days a week, Monday to Friday 10am-5.30pm and Saturday and Sunday 11am-4.30pm. Entry is free. The Centre offers a museum, four art galleries, heritage gallery, Tourist Information Centre, Local Studies Library, café and shop with regular events and workshops.

For further information ring 01706 864986 or visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/touchstones.