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The Manchester Chronicles: True Tales of Music, Madness and Mayhem 1976–2006
'This is the greatest rock and roll book ever written' GUY GARVEY, Elbow
'A brilliant storyteller, Clint has been there to see it all first-hand' TIM BURGESS, The Charlatans
'Clint writes like he speaks and plays; as one who knows' JOHNNY MARR, The Smiths
'Clint knows it all, has done it all' PETER HOOK, New Order
WITH A FOREWORD BY SHAUN RYDER
THE MANCHESTER CHRONICLES is an exhilarating and highly personal folk-telling of the Manchester music scene, as seen through the eyes and ears (and hair) of one of the city's favourite sons, Clint Boon from the iconic Inspiral Carpets. From early days of punk in the mid-1970s through the crucible of the 1980s indie and psychedelic scenes, the explosion of Madchester, Rave and then Brit Pop in the 1990s, this is an intimately told adventure of an extraordinary musical renaissance.
A born storyteller, Clint Boon pieces together a collage of often hilarious stories to give us a unique take on the city's coming of age alongside his own. At art school, rehearsal studios and sweaty gigs, we meet the movers and shakers of Manchester, often well before they were famous, as they came together to forge their identities and put the city on the map.
Be it a near-fatal tour bus crash, or suffering the ignominy of being on Top of The Pops one week and signing on the dole the next - while your former roadie, Noel, makes pop history - Clint entertainingly captures the mayhem of music, success and the city's extraordinary musical family.
Encountering bands like Buzzcocks, Joy Division, The Fall, New Order, the Smiths, James, the Stone Roses, the Happy Mondays, Elbow and Oasis, raconteur Clint tells the Manchester legend not as an exhaustive history, but as what it felt like to be there at the time, taking the trip of a lifetime.
'A brilliant storyteller, Clint has been there to see it all first-hand' TIM BURGESS, The Charlatans
'Clint writes like he speaks and plays; as one who knows' JOHNNY MARR, The Smiths
'Clint knows it all, has done it all' PETER HOOK, New Order
WITH A FOREWORD BY SHAUN RYDER
THE MANCHESTER CHRONICLES is an exhilarating and highly personal folk-telling of the Manchester music scene, as seen through the eyes and ears (and hair) of one of the city's favourite sons, Clint Boon from the iconic Inspiral Carpets. From early days of punk in the mid-1970s through the crucible of the 1980s indie and psychedelic scenes, the explosion of Madchester, Rave and then Brit Pop in the 1990s, this is an intimately told adventure of an extraordinary musical renaissance.
A born storyteller, Clint Boon pieces together a collage of often hilarious stories to give us a unique take on the city's coming of age alongside his own. At art school, rehearsal studios and sweaty gigs, we meet the movers and shakers of Manchester, often well before they were famous, as they came together to forge their identities and put the city on the map.
Be it a near-fatal tour bus crash, or suffering the ignominy of being on Top of The Pops one week and signing on the dole the next - while your former roadie, Noel, makes pop history - Clint entertainingly captures the mayhem of music, success and the city's extraordinary musical family.
Encountering bands like Buzzcocks, Joy Division, The Fall, New Order, the Smiths, James, the Stone Roses, the Happy Mondays, Elbow and Oasis, raconteur Clint tells the Manchester legend not as an exhaustive history, but as what it felt like to be there at the time, taking the trip of a lifetime.
- GenresMusic
367 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 11, 2026
A brilliant read, especially if you grew up around Manchester
Born in Oldham in 1975, I grew up loving the Manchester music scene and still do to this day. This book was right up my street.
It’s a brilliant mix of stories about the music, the characters, Clint’s own life and everything that was going on at the time. What made it even more enjoyable for me was how often Royton, my hometown, gets mentioned. I don’t think I’ve ever read another book that’s mentioned Royton so much!
A fantastic read, full of great stories and nostalgia. Thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.
Born in Oldham in 1975, I grew up loving the Manchester music scene and still do to this day. This book was right up my street.
It’s a brilliant mix of stories about the music, the characters, Clint’s own life and everything that was going on at the time. What made it even more enjoyable for me was how often Royton, my hometown, gets mentioned. I don’t think I’ve ever read another book that’s mentioned Royton so much!
A fantastic read, full of great stories and nostalgia. Thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.
October 5, 2026
Absolutely loved this book, as a massive Inspirals fan I would highly recommend
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews