By Patrick Christys & Steven Brown
A ‘love letter to Manchester’ is how Spike Island screenwriter and actor Chris Coghill described his work in a Q&A session to mark the DVD launch of the film at Band on the Wall last week.
The film follows and aspiring in aspiring indie band who set out on a journey to see The Stone Roses at their legendary gig at Spike Island in 1990.
Coghill, 35, spoke of how the film was an ode to the city, youth and music at the Q&A session which was attended by fellow star Adam Long.
The event also featured music from Manchester bands The Minx and the Quangos.
During the Q&A Coghill said: “I was 15, in my second to last year at school when I was introduced to The Roses.
“I was desperate to go to Spike Island just as much as the guys in the film.
“I was promised a ticket by a guy named Lee but the day before he said he didn’t have one, so the film was quite cathartic for me.”
Coghill described making the full length feature film as the ‘time of his life’.
The screenwriter was extremely modest and told MM that he ‘doesn’t see himself as being famous’ and that it is a ‘transient thing being an actor’.
He added: “The film and the script and everything about it is my love letter to Manchester, The Stone Roses and being 16.
“Rebellion and defiance is something that Manchester has always been associated with.”
The evening was complimented by the turnout of an eclectic range of people from different generations and with contrasting styles.
The various styles on display gave the event an air of nostalgia as Coghill remembered Manchester in the late 80’s and early 90’s and Britain under Tory control.
“If you look back at Manchester then the whole thing is about social and economic depression all over the county and class war and the Tories and now they are back in power, these things go round in circles,” he added.
Image courtesy of fiberfib, with thanks
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