Cargo Studios
Encyclopedia
Cargo Studios was a recording studio
located in the Kenion Street Music Building, off Drake Street, Rochdale
, Greater Manchester
, England, on the first floor above Tractor Music's Pro Audio shop. It was opened in 1977 by John Brierley (who had gained notoriety in the early 1970s as producer of Tractor's first two albums) and lasted in its first incarnation until 1984, when it was taken over by Peter Hook
(from New Order
) and Chris Hewitt. Renamed as Suite 16 (a name suggested by Factory Records
' Tony Wilson
), the studio continued until 2001.
The studio is synonymous with the rise of the post-punk music scene in the North of England and as the incubator of many bands that would go on to make their mark in the UK and worldwide, including Joy Division
, The Fall, The Teardrop Explodes
, Blue Orchids, Echo and the Bunnymen and Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
.
One of the best known songs recorded at the studio is Joy Division's ”Atmosphere"
.
On the 23rd Sept 2009, a “Blue Plaque” was placed on the building in recognition of the role it played in the British music scene.
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
located in the Kenion Street Music Building, off Drake Street, Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England, on the first floor above Tractor Music's Pro Audio shop. It was opened in 1977 by John Brierley (who had gained notoriety in the early 1970s as producer of Tractor's first two albums) and lasted in its first incarnation until 1984, when it was taken over by Peter Hook
Peter Hook
Peter Hook is an English bass player, musician and author.He was a co-founder of the post-punk band Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner in the mid-1970s. Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reformed as New Order, and Hook played bass with them throughout their career until...
(from New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
) and Chris Hewitt. Renamed as Suite 16 (a name suggested by Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
' Tony Wilson
Tony Wilson
Anthony Howard Wilson, commonly known as Tony Wilson , was an English record label owner, radio presenter, TV show host, nightclub manager, impresario and journalist for Granada Television and the BBC....
), the studio continued until 2001.
The studio is synonymous with the rise of the post-punk music scene in the North of England and as the incubator of many bands that would go on to make their mark in the UK and worldwide, including Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
, The Fall, The Teardrop Explodes
The Teardrop Explodes
The Teardrop Explodes were an English post-punk/neo-psychedelic band formed in Liverpool in 1978. Best known for their Top Ten UK single "Reward" the group originated as a key band in the emerging Liverpool post-punk scene of the late 1970s, the group also launched the career of group frontman...
, Blue Orchids, Echo and the Bunnymen and Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark are a synthpop group whose founding members are originally from the Wirral Peninsula, England...
.
One of the best known songs recorded at the studio is Joy Division's ”Atmosphere"
Atmosphere (Joy Division song)
"Atmosphere" is a song by the band Joy Division. It was originally released in 1980 as a France-only single under the title Licht und Blindheit with "Dead Souls" as the B-side....
.
On the 23rd Sept 2009, a “Blue Plaque” was placed on the building in recognition of the role it played in the British music scene.
External links
- Cargo studios - official site
- “Blue Plaque” unveiling, 2009
- Cargo Studios, Rochdale - JoyDivisionCentral.com