It’s dEAD deAD gooD
A Rock ‘n’ Roll memoir by Steve Harrison
25 th April 2025
At seven years of age, Steve Harrison bought his first record;
Hermans Hermits ‘I’m into something Good’ with his Christmas money.
He told Mum and Dad that he was going to have a record shop when he was big.
Steve began selling Northern Soul records in 1982 at a Morecambe All-Nighter in 1982 In March 1983 he realised his dream and opened a tiny 100 sq. ft. specialist record shop record in Winsford, Cheshire. By 1985 he had established what would be the iconic 70 Witton Street store in his hometown of Northwich in the south Manchester commuter belt.
From here Steve expanded the model to include stores across the
North-West region, in Altrincham, Crewe, Macclesfield, a larger
Witton Walk store in Northwich with an HQ and warehouse, Wigan and a new town centre store in Winsford.
He launched the Dead Dead Good Record label and management company in 1989 and later the Transworld Dance label.
He talks about his friendships with the likes of Tony Wilson
(Factory Records), Peter Grant (Led Zeppelin), Ian Brown, Noel
Gallagher, and working with industry icons such as Seymour Stein, and Martin Mills. Labels such as Sire, Island, Parlophone, Polydor, Def America, Atlantic and Beggars Banquet. Working with the USA. booking agents of the Doors and the Jefferson Aeroplane and selling out the likes of the iconic Filmore in San Franscico reinventing psychedelic lighting designer Captain Wizzo from the 1960’s across the world.
The studios, the tours, venues, fans, advising and placing music in films, sponsorships, festivals the bootleggers, the ticket touts and the logistics of global touring operations.
His love for Manchester City, riding motorcycles, and scooters.
DDG supported the careers of many artists over the next twenty-years working with the likes of Alfa 9, Alfie, Mark Burgess, Chameleons, Charlatans, Dario G, Digital Orgasm, Peter Hook (Joy Division / New Order / Monaco), Mantaray, Northside, Oceanic, Orange Deluxe, Relish, Rhythm Eternity, Rig, Sussed, That Uncertain Feeling, Venus Beads, Jez Williams (Doves).
DDG engaged in the release of over seventy-five albums and two-
hundred singles, including Number One albums and singles across the world... Our first Million Seller being Oceanic ‘Insanity.’
Steve avoided what appeared and inevitable sale to would be suitors such as Richard Branson, RCA Records and retained his independence and loyalty to Northwich and Didsbury, Manchester. The Transworld record sleeves celebrated the town with ‘Made in Northwich’ on every release.
He oversaw the period which saw the imprisonment of Charlatans
songwriter and keyboard player Rob Collins, and then and his tragic death. Steve has the subject of a huge fraud by his accountant, rebuilt and is now ready to tell his story...
A story of a passion of music, record shops, of community,
investment, the industry, deal-making, success, loss, tragedy, highs and lows, creative souls and lots of other worldly stuff.
Forwards by Peter Hook (Joy Division/New Order/Monaco) and the best- selling author Mark Hodkinson (No One Round Here Reads Tolstoy)
“That my darling Steve, is because you and I know better and the rest of them are all cunts” – Tony Wilson (Factory Records/Broadcaster)
“We’d meet outside Horners scooter shop in Old Trafford and head off on the runs
with Steve Harrison (DDG) and attend soul all-nighters” – Ian Brown (Stone Roses)
“Through retail, labels, management, promotion and tireless enthusiasm, Steve has lots of wisdom to impart and stories to tell. He has done so much for the North-West and has music pumping through his veins” – Mark Radcliffe
(Broadcaster/Author/Musician)
Tickets £5 from the bar and seetickets. Taking place in Tiny Grayston.
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