Local music legends honoured

Joy Division and John Peel are to be honoured in Rochdale through a series of blue plaques celebrating the town’s musical heritage.

The two blue plaques are being funded by Rochdale Council and are positioned in pivotal, commemorative areas within the borough.

The first plaque to be unveiled will be placed on the site of Tractor Sound Studios, Heywood. The late Radio 1 DJ John Peel financed the studios, which opened in 1973, after Mr Peel received a demo tape from the Rochdale based group Tractor.

The second plaque will be placed on the Kenion Street Music Building, formerly home to Cargo Studio and Suite 16 Studios, owned by the New Order bass player Peter Hook.

The building was in use from 1977 to 2001. It was featured in the cult-classic film ’24 Hour Party People’ and used as a recording studio by Joy Division.

Both plaques will be unveiled on 23 September with guests Peter Hook, Andy McCluskey and Clint Boon.

Heywood Library is due to hold a new exhibition showcasing the town’s musical history. In addition to the two studios, the exhibition will feature the Seven Stars venue and defunct label Imaginary Records which is said to have received an application form from the then unknown Kurt Cobain, who went on to front Nirvana.

Chris Hewitt of Ozit Morpheus Records who, with the support of David Pugh of Link4Life, lobbied the council for four years said: "I want to emphasise the sterling efforts of Julie Evans (Rochdale Development Agnecy), Councillor Colin Lambert, Councillor Greg Couzens, Tourism Officer Tim Nuttall, Peter McNulty and Council Chief Executive Roger Ellis.