Mark Jordan on Queerchester, Punk, Acid House & Working with Derek Jarman

In this fascinating interview, Manchester artist and filmmaker Mark Jordan shares his unique experiences from the 1970s punk era through the rise of acid house and the influence of the LGBTQ+ community on Manchester’s cultural landscape. Known for his work on the Queerchester documentary, Mark opens up about his early days working at Eric’s nightclub in Liverpool, where he encountered iconic bands like the B-52s and Jilted John. He fondly recalls meeting these music legends both in the early days and later in life at festivals like Granada.

As punk began to wane, Mark’s crowd gravitated toward the emerging gay disco scene, where he found a new form of expression. He notes how Manchester always felt more progressive than other cities at the time, with places like the Hacienda and Number 1 club offering space for both punk and gay culture to thrive. Mark reminisces about DJs like Tim Lennox and the intimate vibe at early Hacienda nights, where you could walk right up to the DJ booth and chat with the DJ. He laughs about the freezing nights spent in the Hacienda’s Gay Traitor bar, wrapped in overcoats, listening to the same records on loop, including New Order and Theatre of Hate.

Mark also reflects on his work with Derek Jarman, a filmmaker and artist who had a massive influence on him. He recalls how Jarman admired his work and invited him to document his final paintings as he was going blind. Mark had the honor of naming some of Jarman’s paintings, with “Dizzy Bitch” being one that stuck. Mark also shares memories of taking the legendary Quentin Crisp to lunch, revealing how Crisp was a different, more reserved person off-camera.

The interview takes a deep dive into the intersection of Manchester’s music and gay scenes, particularly with the rise of nights like Flesh at the Hacienda. Mark notes how these events were revolutionary for the LGBTQ+ community, breaking away from the hidden venues with blacked-out windows, and drawing crowds from all over the UK, including London. He praises Tony Wilson for being a forward-thinking pioneer who helped extend club hours for events like Flesh, which marked a significant shift in both the music and gay culture scenes in Manchester.

Reflecting on the word “queer,” Mark, a former punk, shares how he finds it more subversive than the term “gay” and discusses the impact of queer culture on the city’s identity. His show, dedicated to Derek Jarman, boldly embraced controversial terms like “queer” and “bum boy” in the artwork’s frames, sparking a reaction at the Cornhouse gallery. Mark closes by sharing his love for bands like The Adverts, Alcatraz, and his favorite Sex Pistols track, “Submission.”

Don’t miss this captivating conversation about two revolutionary eras in music and their ongoing legacy in Manchester.

Here is the Link for his Queerchester documentary

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