Labels With Love

The general public isn't likely to get into a lather about a record label. And a film about this kind of thing isn't especially compelling. But if you focus the story around the characters who took part in that plastic crusade, then it stands a decent chance. Because running a small-time record label isn't the recourse of the sane or the pragmatic. It's a launch pad for the crackpots, the control freaks, the no-mates and the emotionally needy.

That's why it must be fun working on Upside Down - which will tell the story of Alan McGee and Creation records. That label was a grand folly, founded on the Jesus And Mary Chain, then succoured on Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine and Oasis. In the early days, Alan was pure fervour. When you met him at a gig, you could tell by the way he dressed what he'd been listening to that afternoon. And when he got the major label money and shifted his operation to Primrose Hill, it was more of a pharmacological experiment than a music label. But hey, that era gave us Kevin Rowland and 'My Beauty', so we should be glad.

Likewise with 24 Hour Party People and the Factory Records adventure. Tony Wilson was the man, but the legacy was the tunes. And as we've noted before, Belfast will get its version with the film Good Vibrations and the supreme blarney of Terri Hooley.

This attitude also informs the new Ian Dury film, Sex And Drugs And Rock And Roll, which you ought to see. The central character is played by Andy Serkis with infernal zest. The music is possibly more impressive now (who else would find the mystical channel between Max Wall and Ornette Coleman?) and it's delivered with proper respect.

Ian Dury could not have happened without Stiff Records, a label fronted by Dave Robinson. The Irish guy was a central force in the late '70s, releasing the first punk single 'New Rose' by The Damned and then impacting on artists such as Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Ian Dury, Madness and The Pogues. If you care to see the signs, Robinson gets his dues in the film.

Back in Belfast and Terri Hooley aims to start a new recording project, financed by the people. The premise is that thousands of well-wishers will each donate a pound, and will receive an online recognition of their help. This will establish a fighting fund to send fresh talent on its way. You might call it micro financing, but in Terri's mind, it's only rock and roll.