There's dissent amongst the middle-aged heroes of yore in Manchester. In a scene familiar to anyone who has made the mistake of going on-line after a few drinks, Stone Roses/Primal Scream bassist Gary ?Mani? Mountfield had some rather choice words for his ex-bandmate Peter Hook last week.
Things must have got rather tense in Freebass, the band that until earlier this year also featured Smiths? bassist Andy Rourke, before tarmac-voiced Mani lost it on twitter.
There was a time when a man could have a rant about his bandmates, safe in the knowledge that it wouldn't go much further than a disinterested manager… however, this is the age of the internet.
Where once the bile would remain amongst friends, some probably never imagined that quotes such as…
?3 things visible from space, great wall of china, peter hooks wallet stuffed with ian Curtis blood money, man citys empty trophy cabinet!?
?he’s a self centred sellout reduced to hawking his mates corpse around to get paid. And he can’t play?
and
“we were all laughing behind his back watching the stupid wank struggle to do the same old shit he’s done for the last 30 years !!?
…would get quoted days later on websites all over the world.
Whilst music can probably survive the break-up of a band featuring three bassists, can their friendship? These are pretty brutal swipes at Hook who in May performed Joy Division?s ?Unknown Pleasures? album in its entirety.
Mani has since asked for Hooky?s forgiveness;
“I wish to apologise unreservedly to Peter Hook and his family regarding comments made on a social networking site, which was totally out of character for me. It was a venomous, spiteful reaction to a lot of things that are going on in my life right now and I chose to vent my frustrations and anger at one of my true friends in this filthy business, and ventured into territory which was none of my concern?.
To be fair, that is pretty graceful as far as apologies go, and it has reportedly been accepted.
There isn't very much of value to be learned from this story apart from the heartening idea that male friendship is a beautiful thing and can survive such outbursts.
Oh, and the possibility that Mani may well be behind Madchester-backlash-blog Fuc51?
This post was written by BadVibes who has a better moustache than you for certain.