Madchester in all it's glory! Black-and-white photos to be published in new book for the first time show partying musicians including Bez and Flowered Up during the hedonistic days of the 90s

 Gripping black and white photographs of musicians, music fans and actors have been published in a new book which captures the hedonistic days of the late 80s early and 90s dubbed Madchester.

Madchester was a musical and cultural scene in Manchester and was closely associated with the indie rave scene which saw artists merging indie music with elements of acid house psychedelia and 60s pop, and photographer Richard Davis was there to capture it all.Richard's pictures have now been published for the first time in a photo book entitled The Madchester Years 1989 - 91, which contains photographs including snaps of The Stone Roses, Clint Boon, Bez, Caroline Ahearne, A Certain Ratio, Northside, Steve Coogan, 808 State, Flowered Up, and Terry Christian.

The Madchester years are widely seen as being heavily influenced by drugs, especially ecstasy. At that time, the now infamous Hacienda nightclub was a major catalyst for the distinctive musical ethos in Manchester that became known as the second summer of love. 

Gripping black and white photographs of musicians, music fans and actors have been published in a new book which captures the hedonistic days of the late 80s early and 90s dubbed Madchester (pictured, Bez dancing on stage) 

Pictured: The band, Flowered Up at the legendary PSV Club in Hulme (formerly The Factory/The Russell Club) October 1990. Richard called them a 'great live band' but because they were from London they probably didn't get the press they should have

Music fans at Happy Mondays and The Farm gig at Elland Road in Leeds wearing Leo Stanley T-Shirts in June 1991

One of the photographs shows the band, Flowered Up at the legendary PSV Club in Hulme (formerly The Factory/The Russell Club) October 1990. 

Richard called them a 'great live band', adding: 'Because they were from London they probably didn't get the press they should have.

Meanwhile another snapshot, which is featured on the cover of the book, shows Bez dancing on stage.

Richard explained: 'Even in the present day, I still tend to think back and thank my lucky stars that I just happened to arrive in the City of Manchester during late 1988. 

Caroline Ahearne as her early character Sister Mary Immaculate in January 1991. Richard was the first person to do a portrait session with Caroline, taken in his flat in Hulme

Another of the black-and-white photographs in the book features Peter Hook and his daughter Heather, March 1991

'I had no idea then that I was just about to walk into the global phenomenon that the media called Madchester, talk about Right Place Right Time.

'Those years in Manchester were full of positive vibes and saw an incredible explosion of creativity across many art forms and it certainly wasn't just the music scene that benefitted. 

'If you're thinking Madchester only meant Happy Mondays & the Stone Roses then think again. 

'There were poets, comedians, designers, entrepreneurs, journalists, DJs and photographers.  

Hulme graffiti. James Anderton was chief of Greater Manchester Police back in the late 80's, HAPPY MONDAYS named a song "GOD'S COP" after him.

Record label owner and broadcaster Anthony H Wilson photographed in Manchester, July 1990. Richard praised Anthony for doing 'so much' for the City and 'it's promotion' on 'a global scale'

The Stone Roses at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court (March 1990) The band were charged with Criminal Damage to the offices of their former record label FM Revolver

Fans at the Happy Mondays/The Farm event which was an all day festival at Elland Road in Leeds in the summer of 1991

808 STATE backstage at a gig in Rotterdam the day after Man Utd beat Barcelona 2-1 in the Cup Winners Cup Final in May 1991

Clint Boon from the Inspiral Carpets, taken at the back of the Boardwalk Venue one Sunday Morning, July 1990

'In fact, artists of all description, as well as all round chancers that helped give the City an incredible buzz and ensuring the rest of the world was looking on with envy.

'As a photographer I was perfectly set up to cover what was developing. I'd set up my Photo Studio and Darkroom where I was living, which at the time was a squat in one of the four big crescents which dominated the district of Hulme.'

The Madchester Years 1989-91 by Richard Davis is published by Cafe Royal Books

Meanwhile the photographer explained: 'Squatting in Hulme was really convenient, not only did it mean all my money could go on photography but also meant I was walking distance to the centre of Manchester, where all the fun was.

'I couldn't help but get caught up in all the general mayhem, momentum and energy that these years provided.

'I remember at the time taking so much inspiration from seeing what others were doing in a creative sense, it definitely pushed me on.

'All negativity and fear had gone out the window, hedonism was the name of the game and the kids of Manchester took to this new positivity. 

'I've never known since such a Can Do Attitude as that which existed back then.'

'I was already obsessed with photography but that interest now went up to even higher levels. I became determined as much as possible to document what was going on around me.'

He continued: 'Looking back, what really struck was how easy it was to get access 30 years ago. I didn't work for anyone (music mags/local press etc) at the time.

'I didn't get a lot of sleep during Madchester. I was either out raving or stuck in a darkroom trying to print contact sheets for various Mancunians who were dying to see what I'd photographed......it was no wonder I burnt out and didn't get back into photography until 10 years later. 

'Despite that, they were without doubt the happiest days of my life!'  

Pictured: A group of fans at the Happy Mondays/The Farm event which was an all dayer at Elland Road in Leeds in the Summer of 1991

At that time, the now infamous Hacienda nightclub was a major catalyst for the distinctive musical ethos in Manchester that became known as the second summer of love (pictured, some graffiti of Hacienda)