Manchester Central Convention Complex, Windmill Street, M2 3GX

This impressive looking building, situated a short distance from the Free Trade Hall, was once Manchester Central Railway Station. It opened in 1880 and operated until 1969. It remained derelict before it became the Greater Manchester Exhibition and Event Centre, or G-MEX for short, in 1986. It’s now the Manchester Central Convention Complex though it will always be the G-MEX for me.

The Smiths have links to both its incarnations.  

In May 1983 photographer Paul Slattery and journalist Dave McCullough travelled to Manchester to interview The Smiths for Sounds. Some photos were taken at 70 Portland Street where their manager Joe Moss had his office. Afterwards they walked to the disused Central Railway Station for some more photographs. Morrissey holds a bunch of daffodils, Johnny looks as cool as ever in a leather jacket, dark glasses and a substantial quiff, Mike looks quite stern and Andy is wearing a sheepskin coat that was once owned by Simon Wolstencroft’s mum. They look great and the dilapidated station provides a great backdrop. Paul Slattery put a lot of his photographs in a book ‘The Smiths - The Early Years’ (Omnibus Press) which is well worth getting your hands on.

Work started in 1982 to redevelop the site and four years later G-MEX opened. The Smiths appeared here at the 'Festival of the Tenth Summer' in July that year. This was an event to commemorate ten years since that famous Sex Pistols gig at the Lesser Free Trade Hall. Organised by Factory Records it included art shows, exhibitions and concerts across the city. The highlight was a gig at G-MEX on the 19th of July. For the grand sum of thirteen pounds you got to see New Order, The Fall, Pete Shelley, A Certain Ratio, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, The Worst, Cabaret Voltaire, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders and… The Smiths. 

Like all Factory products the Festival was given a catalogue number, FAC151.

The photograph on the gatefold of the ‘Rank’ album of Smiths fans struggling to get a piece of Morrissey’s shirt was taken at this gig. 

There is another, more sinister link to this location. I imagine like a lot of fans I wasn’t the only one to read up on the Moors Murders having heard ‘Suffer Little Children’ on the debut album. Manchester Central Station was where, in 1965, Ian Brady and Myra Hindley picked up Edward Evans who became their final victim. Evidence linking them to other murders was subsequently found in left luggage lockers at the station.

If you pay a visit when an event isn’t being staged, and if you ask nicely, the staff on the door may let you in so you can take in the splendour of the main hall. It’s an impressive sight.