FAC Finder

Factory records collector Colin Gibbins (pic. left) his to hold an exhibition of his FAC collection in a Manchester pub. Colin, 44, has been collecting the legendary FActory Records artefacts for the past 30 years and now that his collection is complete he will be showing it all off at the Ducie Bridge pub on Corporation Street, Manchester, on May 7th and 8th 2011. "I expect Factory fans from all over the world may take the pilgrimage to see this one off exhibition. It is going to be a really special event," says our Colin.

For those who don't know Manchester's independent Factory label, founded in 1978 by by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, was home to the likes of local bands Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, and later Happy Mondays. The label distinguished itself from the other independents not only with its unique FAC + number catalogue system but also with a special eye for design usually through friend and loclal lad Peter Saville.
The serial numbers also referred not only to records recorded by their bands but also artefacts such as posters, badges, T Shirts and famously the Factory nughtclub The Haçienda (FAC 51) which opened in MAy 1982. Famous FAC records include OMITD's Electricity (FAC 6), Joy Division's debut album Unknown Pleasures (FAC 10) and New Order's 12" only single Blue Monday (FAC 73).

Colin's exhibition (still to be FAC-ed?) will raise money for the Christie Hospital and is backed by Joy Division bassist Peter Hook and relatives of the band’s late singer Ian Curtis. Good on yer Colin.

Colin pic & source Oldham Advertiser
www.factoryrecords.net