Dave Haslam
@davehaslam.bsky.social
Hacienda DJ, journalist (Guardian, LRB, etc), writer (recent books about Sylvia Plath, Keith Haring, Picasso). “An exceptional writer” - Olivia Laing.
Feb 4th #otd 1983, the Smiths played at the Hacienda for the first time. The show was recorded and tapes were made and sent out to a few people. #Morrissey added the address of the management to the letter accompanying the mail out…
February 4, 2026 at 5:42 PM
Feb 4th #otd 1983, the Smiths played at the Hacienda for the first time. The show was recorded and tapes were made and sent out to a few people. #Morrissey added the address of the management to the letter accompanying the mail out…
Feb 2nd. Happy birthday James Joyce, the greatest fiction writer who ever lived; shown here teaching himself to play the opening chords of Boston's 'More Than a Feeling'.
February 2, 2026 at 8:06 AM
Feb 2nd. Happy birthday James Joyce, the greatest fiction writer who ever lived; shown here teaching himself to play the opening chords of Boston's 'More Than a Feeling'.
Trackie McLeod. Artist. Born Glasgow, 1993.
Loved doing this interview - open.substack.com/pub/davehasl...
Loved doing this interview - open.substack.com/pub/davehasl...
January 27, 2026 at 7:50 AM
Trackie McLeod. Artist. Born Glasgow, 1993.
Loved doing this interview - open.substack.com/pub/davehasl...
Loved doing this interview - open.substack.com/pub/davehasl...
Eight years gone. But no chance of being forgotten.
Mark E Smith; 5th March 1957 - 24th January 2018.
Mark E Smith; 5th March 1957 - 24th January 2018.
January 24, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Eight years gone. But no chance of being forgotten.
Mark E Smith; 5th March 1957 - 24th January 2018.
Mark E Smith; 5th March 1957 - 24th January 2018.
Gramsci had great hair.
"The challenge of modernity is to live without illusions and without becoming disillusioned" Antonio Gramsci (born #otd 22nd January 1891, died 27th April 1937).
"The challenge of modernity is to live without illusions and without becoming disillusioned" Antonio Gramsci (born #otd 22nd January 1891, died 27th April 1937).
January 22, 2026 at 9:51 AM
Gramsci had great hair.
"The challenge of modernity is to live without illusions and without becoming disillusioned" Antonio Gramsci (born #otd 22nd January 1891, died 27th April 1937).
"The challenge of modernity is to live without illusions and without becoming disillusioned" Antonio Gramsci (born #otd 22nd January 1891, died 27th April 1937).
Tickets - www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Man...
Saturday 31st Jan, I'm DJing with Craig Charles and a bunch of other talents, all for an excellent breast cancer charity. Come down, bring yr dancing shoes, and support the cause!
Saturday 31st Jan, I'm DJing with Craig Charles and a bunch of other talents, all for an excellent breast cancer charity. Come down, bring yr dancing shoes, and support the cause!
January 20, 2026 at 7:38 PM
Tickets - www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Man...
Saturday 31st Jan, I'm DJing with Craig Charles and a bunch of other talents, all for an excellent breast cancer charity. Come down, bring yr dancing shoes, and support the cause!
Saturday 31st Jan, I'm DJing with Craig Charles and a bunch of other talents, all for an excellent breast cancer charity. Come down, bring yr dancing shoes, and support the cause!
A primary school teacher leading a group of children across a road, Manchester, 16th January 1956, 70 years ago today.
Photo by Bert Hardy, for the magazine Picture Post.
Photo by Bert Hardy, for the magazine Picture Post.
January 16, 2026 at 9:39 AM
A primary school teacher leading a group of children across a road, Manchester, 16th January 1956, 70 years ago today.
Photo by Bert Hardy, for the magazine Picture Post.
Photo by Bert Hardy, for the magazine Picture Post.
Today marks eight years since the untimely passing of Cyrille Regis 💙
Cyrille was more than a brilliant footballer. He was a pioneer who challenged prejudice, opened doors for others, and carried himself with humility, and grace.
He was also the first footballer to appear on the cover of NME.
Cyrille was more than a brilliant footballer. He was a pioneer who challenged prejudice, opened doors for others, and carried himself with humility, and grace.
He was also the first footballer to appear on the cover of NME.
January 14, 2026 at 12:48 PM
Today marks eight years since the untimely passing of Cyrille Regis 💙
Cyrille was more than a brilliant footballer. He was a pioneer who challenged prejudice, opened doors for others, and carried himself with humility, and grace.
He was also the first footballer to appear on the cover of NME.
Cyrille was more than a brilliant footballer. He was a pioneer who challenged prejudice, opened doors for others, and carried himself with humility, and grace.
He was also the first footballer to appear on the cover of NME.
Had a superb day onstage interviewing several great folks as part of the Merch Market organised by @tim-burgess.bsky.social - this is me with Dave Rowntree talking about his book of Blur photos. Dozens of merch stalls, lots of old and new friends. Let’s do it again!
January 12, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Had a superb day onstage interviewing several great folks as part of the Merch Market organised by @tim-burgess.bsky.social - this is me with Dave Rowntree talking about his book of Blur photos. Dozens of merch stalls, lots of old and new friends. Let’s do it again!
Birthday today. Same day as Rod Stewart and Barbara Hepworth. A nice mix of art and showbiz.
January 10, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Birthday today. Same day as Rod Stewart and Barbara Hepworth. A nice mix of art and showbiz.
Great question, have been thinking about this. Feb 1982 Crazy Face and X Clothes next to each other. Art and Furniture was slighly up the hill I think, at no. 19.
January 6, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Great question, have been thinking about this. Feb 1982 Crazy Face and X Clothes next to each other. Art and Furniture was slighly up the hill I think, at no. 19.
Ian Curtis & David Hockney.
Loved writing this; open.substack.com/pub/davehasl...
From a Wimpy Bar in Bradford (maybe), to a boutique in Manchester. And then through miles of pure wool, a wedding, a club called the ‘Glory Hole’, a sculpture called Alice, and an old mill close to the River Aire...
Loved writing this; open.substack.com/pub/davehasl...
From a Wimpy Bar in Bradford (maybe), to a boutique in Manchester. And then through miles of pure wool, a wedding, a club called the ‘Glory Hole’, a sculpture called Alice, and an old mill close to the River Aire...
January 5, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Ian Curtis & David Hockney.
Loved writing this; open.substack.com/pub/davehasl...
From a Wimpy Bar in Bradford (maybe), to a boutique in Manchester. And then through miles of pure wool, a wedding, a club called the ‘Glory Hole’, a sculpture called Alice, and an old mill close to the River Aire...
Loved writing this; open.substack.com/pub/davehasl...
From a Wimpy Bar in Bradford (maybe), to a boutique in Manchester. And then through miles of pure wool, a wedding, a club called the ‘Glory Hole’, a sculpture called Alice, and an old mill close to the River Aire...
Happy Birthday Bernard Sumner (born 4 Jan 1956). Wonderful, innovative, musician; contributor to three of the best bands ever; very genuine guy; and great company. Here I am wearing his coat (also he is on tiptoes).
January 4, 2026 at 9:03 AM
Happy Birthday Bernard Sumner (born 4 Jan 1956). Wonderful, innovative, musician; contributor to three of the best bands ever; very genuine guy; and great company. Here I am wearing his coat (also he is on tiptoes).
Anyone lost anything in Ludlow?
December 28, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Anyone lost anything in Ludlow?
Happy Christmas everyone.
December 25, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Happy Christmas everyone.
Sending love to everyone who finds the Christmas period an uphill climb. There are a hundred very valid and totally understandable reasons for this. Whether you reach out for help, or hunker down in your cave, good luck. We’ll get through this.
December 23, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Sending love to everyone who finds the Christmas period an uphill climb. There are a hundred very valid and totally understandable reasons for this. Whether you reach out for help, or hunker down in your cave, good luck. We’ll get through this.
Ian Curtis on stage with Joy Division at the Bains Douches, Paris. 18th December #otd in 1979 #JoyDivision #IanCurtis Photo by Danny Dupic.
December 18, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Ian Curtis on stage with Joy Division at the Bains Douches, Paris. 18th December #otd in 1979 #JoyDivision #IanCurtis Photo by Danny Dupic.
Don Van Vliet aka Captain Beefheart died #otd 17th Dec 2010. He's pictured outside the Bluecoat gallery in Liverpool at the opening of an exhibition of his paintings in 1972. Beefheart's connection with Liverpool grew via his friendship with DJ/promoter Roger Eagle.
December 17, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Don Van Vliet aka Captain Beefheart died #otd 17th Dec 2010. He's pictured outside the Bluecoat gallery in Liverpool at the opening of an exhibition of his paintings in 1972. Beefheart's connection with Liverpool grew via his friendship with DJ/promoter Roger Eagle.
Disco star, the great singer-songwriter Sylvester died 16th December #otd in 1988. He died from complications arising from the AIDS virus and left all future royalties from his work to San Francisco-based HIV/AIDS charities.
Sylvester in his Ritz sweater on a plane, November 1971.
Sylvester in his Ritz sweater on a plane, November 1971.
December 16, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Disco star, the great singer-songwriter Sylvester died 16th December #otd in 1988. He died from complications arising from the AIDS virus and left all future royalties from his work to San Francisco-based HIV/AIDS charities.
Sylvester in his Ritz sweater on a plane, November 1971.
Sylvester in his Ritz sweater on a plane, November 1971.
December 9th #otd in 1961 the first time the Beatles played in southern England. Billed as a Battle of the Bands. Representing Liverpool - the Beatles. Representing London - Ivor Jay & the Jaywalkers. I wonder who won? It must have been very close...
December 9, 2025 at 8:07 AM
December 9th #otd in 1961 the first time the Beatles played in southern England. Billed as a Battle of the Bands. Representing Liverpool - the Beatles. Representing London - Ivor Jay & the Jaywalkers. I wonder who won? It must have been very close...
RIP Martin Parr. What an amazing body of work he leaves us. Always had a lot of fondness for his photo of the shenanigans one evening at the Union Hotel, Manchester. 1974.
December 7, 2025 at 1:56 PM
RIP Martin Parr. What an amazing body of work he leaves us. Always had a lot of fondness for his photo of the shenanigans one evening at the Union Hotel, Manchester. 1974.
December 7th 1938, newspaper report on the dissolution of Bette Davis’s marriage with Harmon “Oscar” Nelson. The stated reason for the divorce? The actress read too much.
The report goes on to say: Harmon “usually just sat there while his wife read ‘to an unnecessary degree.”
The report goes on to say: Harmon “usually just sat there while his wife read ‘to an unnecessary degree.”
December 7, 2025 at 10:25 AM
December 7th 1938, newspaper report on the dissolution of Bette Davis’s marriage with Harmon “Oscar” Nelson. The stated reason for the divorce? The actress read too much.
The report goes on to say: Harmon “usually just sat there while his wife read ‘to an unnecessary degree.”
The report goes on to say: Harmon “usually just sat there while his wife read ‘to an unnecessary degree.”
Very few St George’s flags around, not even rain soaked and miserable-looking. However, in Manchester earlier today a Che Guevara flag was flying.
December 5, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Very few St George’s flags around, not even rain soaked and miserable-looking. However, in Manchester earlier today a Che Guevara flag was flying.