Manchester Lesser Free Trade Hall

Manchester Lesser Free Trade Hall was a Victorian building formerly on a site near the G-Mex Conference Centre in the Castlefield area. On June 12 1976 it was the venue for a joint gig by both the Sex Pistols and The Buzzcocks. The gig has become legendary as a catalyst for both the second wave of Punk Rock and the New Wave Movement. There is a film record of part of the gig that makes it possible to confirm some of the audience which included:

• Tony Wilson (one of the founders of Factory Records, home to Joy Division, New Order and Happy Mondays, among others. Also was – with New Order and Factory – a founder of the seminal Manchester nightclub, The Haçienda.)
• Morrissey (The Smiths)
• Ian Curtis (Joy Division)
• Bernard Sumner (Joy Division, New Order and Electronic)
• Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order and Monaco)