Where does one start to write about Alan Wise? Long term off and on manager of John Cooper Clarke, long time off and on promoter of The Fall, mainstay in Nico's Broughton stay, in at the start of the Russell Club and Factory Records, depicted in books and a play...a larger than life legend who had Salford running through his being.
All was about to be exposed in what Alan called an "extreme autobiography", first called 30 Years On Valium, then 40 Years On Valium...then 50 Years On Valium...which he wanted the Salford Star to serialise this year.
"It's about Manchester and Salford of the late 60s to 2000" he told us "A story very unlikely, essentially true, to be published by instalments like an adventure story with drama and romance. It's not a dirty book, far from it – it's spiritual in a way and uplifting. The message is `Nothing really changes and we must know the past is alive in us to know our future'...
"It's about a city, two cities, asleep, drugged out on valium, and the people like that too, they are anaesthetised" he explained "and some interesting bohemian characters based there in the late 80s; all well known mainly Salford people plus Gregory Corso and Nico, as well as Clarke etc...Young men shaped by an old city.
"It's an attempt at literature influenced by Henry Miller and Isaac Singer" he added "It's a story of Manchester/Salford and how these places created people not vice versa, and how it's changed..."
Unfortunately before the first chapters – and, of course, the film he was planning - happened, Alan passed away this week, aged 63. Over the last decade, we chatted loads on Facebook, via email and in person, about every subject under the sun, much of it raunchy, personal and spiritual; and much of it, well, libellous...
Far from his comedy characterisation in a book and a play, which he despised, Alan revealed himself to be incredibly well read, philosophical, theological and political, predicting General Election results of Tory rule... "I am a Socialist but with Christian Pantheistic leanings" he explained.
But most of all we talked about Salford...from his old aunty falling off a bus on Agecroft Road, to Friedrich Engels' place in the city, to, of course, the Salford Star and our battles with Salford Council, and to keep the magazine in print...
"If the Labour Council was interested in democracy it should fund a local, radical, critical press as the Evening News Group has destroyed the papers that were fulfilling that role" he wrote "...I am willing to use any influence I have ...none...or write to whoever you like to help you... You are the only intelligent printed matter..."
In turn, the Salford Star loved Alan Wise – he did things differently, carefree. If you weren't one of his creditors you were no-one, and each year he held a Creditors Ball, with proud invites sent to those out of pocket. He owed a lot. And Salford and Manchester owed Alan Wise a lot too. An eternally young man `shaped by an old city'... "spiritual in a way and uplifting..."
Stephen Kingston
Editor
Salford Star
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