Facts about 1970's/80's Glasgow I learned from this book:
- Rock music performances were banned by the city council. It happened in 1956 and ran until 1976, was made possible by centralised ownership of venues, and was in response to concerns about bands corrupting the city's youth. We know how this ends.
Also learned thanks to Allan Brown:
This meant fans of Elvis Costello or anyone else with an electric guitar had to travel to Paisley and - as a surprise result, art school indie-pop bands were able to develop their performance skills without the pressure of hoodlums who might listen to The Stranglers.
Further reading: http://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/aug/11/popandrock1
- Unscrupulous landlords avoided laws that required them to give a month's notice before changing the price of rent or evicting tenants by presenting themselves as Bed & Breakfasts instead of landlords. All they had to do to pull this one off was deliver boxes of Cornflakes to each flat's front door.
Withered Hand - because Cornflakes...
Also learned thanks to Allan Brown:
- David Fincher made a pitch to direct an early video for the Nile but was turned down as MTV weren't happy with his plan. It involved recreating the JFK assassination.
