Mike Pickering: The Godfather of Dance Music on the Hacienda's Legendary Heyday
Mike Pickering, widely hailed as the godfather of dance music, has opened up in an exclusive interview about his pivotal role at Manchester's legendary Hacienda nightclub. With a career spanning decades, Pickering won the Mercury Prize as part of M People, signed global superstar Calvin Harris, and was instrumental in shaping the acid house movement that defined a generation.
The Hacienda's Transformation into a Dance Music Cathedral
When Mike Pickering became the resident DJ at the Hacienda in Manchester, it was initially an arts venue hosting poetry readings and gigs. However, he played a key part in transforming it into what he describes as a "cathedral of the acid house movement." The club, packed to its iconic black and yellow pillars with sweaty, ecstatic ravers, became a beacon of the dance revolution in the late 1980s.
Reflecting on the venue's peak years, Pickering, now 72, says: "88, 89, those were the two years for me: it was fantastic, historical. It went from a multi-purpose art venue to a club that kickstarted the dance revolution." He emphasizes the inclusive spirit of the Hacienda, attracting everyone from brick layers and clothes designers to doctors and bin men, all united on the dance floor.
He recalls that the magic began to fade on New Year's Eve 1989, when the secret society of ravers was exposed on the 10pm news, bursting the bubble of anonymity that had shielded the club from police scrutiny over ecstasy use.
Booking Acts and Shaping Manchester's Music Scene
In the early days of the Hacienda, Pickering was responsible for booking acts and also worked at Factory Records, where he signed bands like Happy Mondays and James. The venue hosted an impressive array of artists, including Curtis Mayfield, Eurythmics, The Smiths, Erasure, Culture Club, and Nick Cave.
Pickering credits the Hacienda with helping to regenerate Manchester, transforming it from a "grey and miserable" city into the vibrant hub it is today. He notes that Johnny Marr of The Smiths often remarked, "There was nothing to do, we had to make it better for ourselves," echoing the sentiment of Joy Division and New Order manager Rob Gretton, who built the Hacienda simply because "we needed somewhere to go."
From Beatlemania to Punk: The Roots of a Music Vision
Pickering's passion for music was ignited at age eight in 1963, when his mother took him to see The Beatles at the Apollo. The experience, despite the screaming crowds, showed him a world beyond conventional jobs. He says, "From that moment on I didn't want a proper job in a bank or a factory." This inspiration was later fueled by the DIY ethos of punk in 1977, which made a career in music seem attainable.
He formed the band Quando Quango in the early 1980s, but despite a hit with Love Tempo, the group struggled, with one memorable gig in Leeds attracting only 12 people, eight of whom were from a travelling circus performing pyramids on the dance floor.
Signing Calvin Harris and Success with M People
Pickering's career took a significant turn when he worked for Sony Records, signing artists like Kasabian, Gossip, and Calvin Harris. He recalls meeting Harris in London's Victoria Station, where he convinced the young shelf-stacker from Dumfries to sign a deal on the spot. Pickering says, "We've been together ever since," highlighting Harris's rise to become one of the world's biggest artists.
His personal success came with M People, who sold 11 million records, won the Mercury Prize, and headlined Glastonbury. Pickering notes that dance music was once seen as inferior, with snobbery surrounding their Mercury win, but today, it dominates the charts, outselling rock genres.
Friendships and Feuds: Noel Gallagher and Madonna
Pickering's friendship with Noel Gallagher is well-documented, with Gallagher even suggesting he deserves a knighthood for services to clubbing. Pickering supported Oasis's comeback tour, marveling at the nationwide excitement, particularly in Manchester during their Heaton Park shows.
In contrast, his encounter with Madonna was less cordial. When introduced before her Hacienda performance, she dismissed his work with Quando Quango as "dross." Pickering laughs off the incident, debunking the myth that she once slept in his porch in Chorlton, stating firmly, "I didn't have a porch, and she's never been near my house."
Mike Pickering's memoir, Manchester Must Dance, is set for release on April 28, offering further insights into his legendary career and the enduring legacy of the Hacienda.
