Gig Description

I got the date from the clip of the Madonna performance on the Channel 4 TV show 'The Tube' that is up on YouTube. 27th Jan 1984 was a Friday but I have it in my head that it was a Wednesday that I and my mate Peter saw her at the Hacienda. We were at a loose end (possibly after a late class at Openshaw Technical College) and went down to the club to see if there was anything on. We looked at the poster on the door and thought "Madonna, no idea who that is but we'll give her a try". I was into prog rock at that time: Gentle Giant, King Crimson, that sort of stuff. Long hair, jeans and a lumberjack shirt probably. Peter was the one who knew where he was and what was going on at the heart of the Manchester music scene, I was pretty clueless. It's funny reading the comments on the YT clip asking why none of the crowd are dancing. "Because they're vanilla and lame" is one explanation. I would dance my nipples off now at 56 but then I was intensely self conscious and shy. I thought she was fantastic though, especially her belly button. I later hitched a lift from a trucker who had worked on a Madonna tour and he said something to the effect that she was a heartless bitch. One of the other drivers had had an accident and all she cared about was her gear in the back, no concern for the injured driver. He said Tina Turner was an absolute sweetie though. I wish I'd hung on to the ticket stub and to my yellow and silver membership card. I'd love to hear from anyone else who was there and help fill in the gaps in my memory.

Here's the clip:

https://youtu.be/8OBkc3W62Jk