Isn't it about time someone penned the definitive Noo Order biography? Previous books have had their pros and cons (though I'm a big fan of "An Ideal For Living"), but what I'd like to see is something anecdotal and gossipy, like Mick Middles Factory book, which I think at least gives you an impressionistic glimpse into the day-to-day world of the band and other Facsters. I can't see any of the band being patient enough to sit down for interviews, and from what I can see their memories are all fucked to high heaven anyway, but there's plenty of people on the skirts of the Factory/Order scene who I'm sure would be reliable and less censorious. Y'know, IS Barney's todger as big as the M1? Is Hooky the Sexual Athlete he'd have us believe? Has Steve Morris drunk from the fountain of, er, Always Loooking Like He Did In 1978? Is Gillian really the key member of the band, and are the rest just robots at her command? Did Rob Gretton write all the songs? Tony Wilson: God or Git? Add your own queries....
Kind of on the same topic, did people catch the documentary made by Paul Morley's sister a while back called "Manchester: The Alcohol Years"? It was great, full of people with great tales of getting pissed with NO, travelling down to London during the recording of Low-Life etc. I imagine some of the Elder Statesmen that frequent this forum probably know some of the characters featured (including Alan Wise aka Huntsman). I didn't tape it, but you could always nag C4 till they repeat it on E4....
More topically, if proposed book did get written, how would it judge the post-98 "comeback" in the context of their career?
