I received a copy of the book ''The TJM Story'' a couple of weeks ago, it was self published by Tony Davidson in 2021, with a foreword by Mick Middles.
Davidson owned TJM Studios in central Manchester, where every punk / post punk band rehearsed in. If you've seen Joy Division's video for "Love Will Tear Us Apart'', it was filmed there. Davidson also ran a record label, TJM Records and promoted gigs.
The book tells's Davidson's story and has interviews with those musicians around at the time, including Billy Duffy.
Duffy had joined The Nosebleeds, which was formed from the ashes of Wythenshawe band Ed Banger & The Nosebleeds after Ed Banger left to join fellow Wythenshawe band Slaughter & The Dogs. Vini Riley was also in the original Nosebleeds line up, but he too did not join the new incarnation.
Once Duffy was in the Nosebleeds, he takes up the story.....
''At this time I was good mates with Morrissey as we both liked the New York Dolls and other early punk from that era. It was me who got him into The Nosebleeds as lead singer and I remember us both being turned away from a Talking Heads gig at Manchester Uni. You couldn't get in unless a student signed for you. I later became friends with Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads and he remembers walking in with us. Anyway, we needed a singer and the other guys asked if I knew anyone who may be suitable.
I told them about Morrissey, that he wrote lyrics. I didn't know if he could sing but he was an interesting character.
When he joined, we didn't do any Ed Banger & The Nosebleeds songs as Morrissey and I wrote a completely new set. We did loads of rehearsals but only two gigs. The first was for a Rabid Records party and the second was at The Ritz, supporting Magazine. We played six songs. As a band we were together for about six months''.
Duffy left The Nosebleeds to join Slaughter & The Dogs, ironically, as Ed Banger's short lived period as frontman ended.
''Through Rabid Records, I became friends with Mick Rossi. At that time Slaughter & The Dogs were a legitimate band and had played gigs in Europe and were punk rock legends to me. They had done a one off deal with TJM Records and had interest from a major label to form as the Studio Sweethearts. I brought Morrissey down to audition but he was considered not right for them even though I thought he had a lot to offer. I sat in at the audition and remember it clearly, it was quite surreal. He walked in with, with a definate presence about him. At first, he just narrated a few lyrics from a book, then sang a few songs. He was certainly different but I could see that he wasn't a right fit for them.''
Tony Davidson was also there at the audition.
''Slaughter had split up, Wayne (Barrett) went to France. Mick and Howard decided to form a new band. The line up was Mick Rossi, Howard Bates, Billy Duffy and Phil Rowland. There was an offer for the Studio Sweathearts to record a single with an album as a further option, however, the band needed a singer. The audition was held at TJM studios. Billy was very good friends with Steven Patrick Morrissey so he was invited to attend. I was very good friends with Mick and Howard so I was invited to sit in on rehearsals and give my opinion. Mick remembers that my first impression was that Morrissey was very introverted and shy.
Before any songs were played he began reading his lyrics out loud that he had from a book. We all listened respectfully. In all honesty, I didn't appreciate what brilliant lyrics they were and I didn't really understand them but respected his creativity. At the time the band needed an energetic frontman and he didn't fit the bill. He said he liked what he heard from the band and that the songs were good but Morrissey was at a stage where he was developing his singular style and looked upon the band as a stepping stone. We all chatted for a while and everyone agreed that he wasn't quite the fit needed. As an impartial witness to the event I could see that this was the kind of process bands go through in searching for the right blend."
Davidson owned TJM Studios in central Manchester, where every punk / post punk band rehearsed in. If you've seen Joy Division's video for "Love Will Tear Us Apart'', it was filmed there. Davidson also ran a record label, TJM Records and promoted gigs.
The book tells's Davidson's story and has interviews with those musicians around at the time, including Billy Duffy.
Duffy had joined The Nosebleeds, which was formed from the ashes of Wythenshawe band Ed Banger & The Nosebleeds after Ed Banger left to join fellow Wythenshawe band Slaughter & The Dogs. Vini Riley was also in the original Nosebleeds line up, but he too did not join the new incarnation.
Once Duffy was in the Nosebleeds, he takes up the story.....
''At this time I was good mates with Morrissey as we both liked the New York Dolls and other early punk from that era. It was me who got him into The Nosebleeds as lead singer and I remember us both being turned away from a Talking Heads gig at Manchester Uni. You couldn't get in unless a student signed for you. I later became friends with Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads and he remembers walking in with us. Anyway, we needed a singer and the other guys asked if I knew anyone who may be suitable.
I told them about Morrissey, that he wrote lyrics. I didn't know if he could sing but he was an interesting character.
When he joined, we didn't do any Ed Banger & The Nosebleeds songs as Morrissey and I wrote a completely new set. We did loads of rehearsals but only two gigs. The first was for a Rabid Records party and the second was at The Ritz, supporting Magazine. We played six songs. As a band we were together for about six months''.
Duffy left The Nosebleeds to join Slaughter & The Dogs, ironically, as Ed Banger's short lived period as frontman ended.
''Through Rabid Records, I became friends with Mick Rossi. At that time Slaughter & The Dogs were a legitimate band and had played gigs in Europe and were punk rock legends to me. They had done a one off deal with TJM Records and had interest from a major label to form as the Studio Sweethearts. I brought Morrissey down to audition but he was considered not right for them even though I thought he had a lot to offer. I sat in at the audition and remember it clearly, it was quite surreal. He walked in with, with a definate presence about him. At first, he just narrated a few lyrics from a book, then sang a few songs. He was certainly different but I could see that he wasn't a right fit for them.''
Tony Davidson was also there at the audition.
''Slaughter had split up, Wayne (Barrett) went to France. Mick and Howard decided to form a new band. The line up was Mick Rossi, Howard Bates, Billy Duffy and Phil Rowland. There was an offer for the Studio Sweathearts to record a single with an album as a further option, however, the band needed a singer. The audition was held at TJM studios. Billy was very good friends with Steven Patrick Morrissey so he was invited to attend. I was very good friends with Mick and Howard so I was invited to sit in on rehearsals and give my opinion. Mick remembers that my first impression was that Morrissey was very introverted and shy.
Before any songs were played he began reading his lyrics out loud that he had from a book. We all listened respectfully. In all honesty, I didn't appreciate what brilliant lyrics they were and I didn't really understand them but respected his creativity. At the time the band needed an energetic frontman and he didn't fit the bill. He said he liked what he heard from the band and that the songs were good but Morrissey was at a stage where he was developing his singular style and looked upon the band as a stepping stone. We all chatted for a while and everyone agreed that he wasn't quite the fit needed. As an impartial witness to the event I could see that this was the kind of process bands go through in searching for the right blend."
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I've always thought so since I read that in Smiths: Visual Documentary.
