MTV To Crash Manchester This September

When it looks at Manchester's musical heritage I hope MTV will give extensive coverage to the forthcoming destruction of the site of the Twisted Wheel.

There isn't much left really is there? Hacienda gone, Free Trade Hall a hotel...

"Already a hotbed of ambitious events, this concert will add to Manchester’s reputation as one of the world’s most forward thinking destination cities, with arts and culture firmly at its heart.” ...

... with a backward thinking approach to preserving its cultural heritage and valued social amenities, willingly trampling over those interests to facilitate a property development opportunity.

So welcome indeed to Manchester, MTV, one time home to the Twisted Wheel, some brilliant alternative clubs, some evocative mid 19th century industrial architecture but sadly no more. Let's hope they don't come across the city's philistine elite whilst they're here.

The backward thinking people in this case are not the council,it's the old timers who expect the rest of us to pay to preserve the memories of their youth.If you want the Twisted Wheel preserved,then stop bleating and try raising the money yourself.After all you are always claiming its 'world famous,so you will have no trouble raising the money.Maybe you can ask Liam Gallagher as his shop is featuring Northen Soul inspired collection.

My God, you people are fucking pathetic. How miserable your lives must be. Bitter and depressing bastards.

AnonymousAugust 8th 2012.

What's depressing is some people's attitude to the less mainstream, organic, expressions of the city's culture and identity. All for the sake of another budget hotel.

I love Manchester and one of the reasons I love it is the aspects that make it different, make it distinctive in a way I can identify with. Developments like the destruction of valued clubs, distinctive architecture and important bits of its heritage make me fall out of love with the place.

David - typical attempt at being contrary. Yawn. Try harder!

Not really, Manchester is becoming a dull and depressing place. It's just a crap version of Birmingham nowadays.

Its people like you that are dull and depressing, move to Birmingham and do us all a favour. We don't deserve you blessing us with your glorious presence.

Manchester is culturally dead at the moment.
Was this city really so dependant on one man, the much missed Tony Wilson?

The "up and going" mob are truly back in charge - and nobody hates Manchester, once they get here, more than Americans.
In fact, barely a week goes by now without you reading about some journalist/presenter/actress/footballer etc etc expressing their hatred for boring, wet & cold, dismal Manchester! Yes it's hurtful, but as a city, we've got to wake up to this.

Hero

helen1984August 9th 2012.

what a load of rubbish you write. Culturally dead? Have you engaged with Manchester recently> this city boasts some of the finest music, theatre and art anywhere in Europe. Do you ever go and hear classical music or go the theatre? forgive me, but since when did what a footballer say about this city count towards out cultural offering? get out there and engage with what the city has to offer. If not then leave and quit moaning

SmittyAugust 13th 2012.

Agree Helen, Anonymous' rant is a load of old tosh. The problem is that the more often this kind of crap is repeated, the more people start believing it.

I get the whiff of a particularly stinky troll, Grumpy Anon. But rising to the bait.... have you been out recently? Are you blind? How could you miss the things going on in our fine city? Do you want a dome built over the city to keep "some journalist/presenter/actress/footballer" from moaning?

I had a visitor up this weekend and walking through town there was the beach at castlefield, the picnic in Piccadilly, dig the city, the cultural olympiad stuff going on in picadilly basin, lomo wall, a new park in ancoats, food and craft stalls in st anne's square... the place was buzzing. yes that is JUST the city centre.

The sun is shining today, why don't you get off the sofa, stop watching sh1t daytime telly and have a look around.

You, Mr Grumps, should wake up to this. Most of the rest of city are wide awake and making the best of it.

The beach closed down - only the sand remains...

Actually Mr Hyper Sensitive, I went for a good old stroll & look around across city centre on Saturday too. Yes, unlike most Sunday & weekday evenings (when post 6pm, the city centre often resembles a soulless ghost town), the place was buzzing - you're right. Amazing what difference a little bit of warmth and intermittent sunshine makes, eh? Manchester's chain bars & restaurants were really coining it in.

Strangely enough, considering this weeks "The Good, The Standard, The Ugly" article, I even stood on Victoria Bridge and looked out onto the back of Dial House (with its vile outlet pipe) - and took in the "sheer ugliness" of the place too. That city centre river-scape from Victoria Bridge - what a total lack of imagination, missed opportunity & such an abysmal sight, eh?
Didn't make it onto Great Ancoats Street - while I think the new Co-op building looks great, the very sight of the Green Quarter so depresses me.

I like Manchester, I'm just not "so insecure as some" to say what I don't like about the place too.

AnonymousAugust 8th 2012.

Hoo-flipping-ra. At last. Seems as soon as you dare criticise any aspect of the city somebody jumps down your throat. It is ugly, it's probably the only European City this side of the old Eastern block that has an international reputation for being ugly. It's fair enough that it wasn't planned like other cities or that chunks were bombed in the war or torn down in the aftermath but the recent City centre developments have mostly been pretty dire, admit it, accept it and try and stop it continuing.

AnonymousAugust 10th 2012.

What I don't understand are the people, like the two neggy anons here, who have detest where they live yet continue to reside there. You might not be such miserable twats if you find a perfect magical place that suits you and hopefully cheers you up.

SmittyAugust 13th 2012.

Again, saying the city is a ghost town after 6 and on Sundays is just sheer, pure and total crap. Saying that it is just chainbars is bullshit. The only chain bar I generally go to is the Waterhouse because it's cheap. All the other places I go to are independents. And I drink. A lot.

Bangkok has no planning,extremely ugly buildings,and no heritage except for the odd Royal Palace.Yet it has huge numbers of tourists.Its a totally myth that having lots of old buildings and heritage is going to make a city popular.

AnonymousAugust 8th 2012.

David - yawn. Try harder.

AnonymousAugust 9th 2012.

David - not the best try. Bangkok has a -ancient- historical heritage as a major port for centuries and a cracking reputation wif-waf derived sport.

AnonymousAugust 10th 2012.

I hope you not suggesting we compete with Bankok's sex tourist trade??????

Anon says “recent city centre developments have been mostly dire”

Civil Justice Centre – not dire. Bridgewater Hall – not dire, and with superb acoustics. Beetham Tower - divides opinion, but hardly dire. Addition to John Rylands library – not dire, and even sells Manchester Tart. Link from Manchester Art Gallery to the building behind – flooded with non-dire light. Urbis – definitely undire [not that there is such a word] My apartment – perhaps a little dreary outside, but a wonderful place to live.

Are you talking about one of the other Manchesters?

SmittyAugust 13th 2012.

Anonymous you can't win with these people. They are blind to anything that goes against "the only thing you get in Manchester are chain bars and shit architecture" and I really do struggle to understand why they are here if it's all so crap. I would find work elsewhere if I hated my city so much.

But, can I add, the rather amazing Chethams School of Music, People's History Museum, Co-Op HQ and the new 42nd street as further bits of "non-dire". Even stuff like the Armani building in Spinningfields is reasonably pleasant to look at. No idea what it's like inside, mind you...

Fantastic idea. We need to do more to celebrate Manchester's musical heritage!

AnonymousAugust 9th 2012.

Were you not bothered about making a representation about the twisted wheel application, as ward councillor Kevin? Whiff of hypocrisy here.

@Have you been out recently? - A Dome is a great idea!

@Kevin Peel

Funny you were't saying that about Twisted Wheel

It's been a week. Any news? When's it happnin? I can't contain myself!

Hero

Lynda MoyoAugust 29th 2012.

More news on this expected next week....

is it true that it's alicia keys, at the cathederal

...never has an event had such a misnomer. Alicia Keys 'crashes' Manchester? Jesus. Memo to MTV -must try harder...