The Madchester Music Scene And VIVA Pay Tribute To The Legend And Nicest Man In The Room – Howard Marks

VIVA Ems | 12th April 2016

Sunday evening we heard the devastating news that Howard Marks had died aged seventy, after his battle with cancer. Described by the press as ‘the most sophisticated and charming drugs baron of all time’ and ‘a true modern-day folk hero,’ they also said, ‘He sounds like Richard Burton and looks like a Rolling Stone.’ Howard spent his last years as a successful author, raconteur and stand-up performer telling his life’s tales of smuggling drugs and seeking to legalise cannabis.

His bestselling autobiography, Mr Nice, was published in 1996 and he followed it last year with Mr Smiley My Last Pill And Testament in which you can read about his extraordinary, exciting, fully-packed life or you could watch the film, Mr Nice, starring Rhys Ifans as Howard.

The VIVA girls first met Howard in Leeds six years ago at his bar, Azucar. After a very entertaining interview, which you can read HERE, we stayed in contact with the loveable Mr Nice who became a big supporter of VIVA Magazine – attending our events and writing a few articles for us.

One fond memory was an event we hosted for Howard in the Light Boutique Hotel’s fifteenth storey penthouse one sunny yet rainy evening in the summer of 2013 featuring the Fun Lovin Criminals. Howard Marks Talks 15 Storeys High Above Manchester, see the video footage below…

Before Howard got seriously ill, he was in the process of putting together a feature for VIVA about his experiences and love for the Madchester music scene. He also included some of his earlier antics (such as the time he addressed the Annual Dinner of the Linen Guild stark naked) and summers in Ibiza with Mancunian band the Happy Mondays. Unfortunately the feature was never completed due to his illness but he did send us some amazing images from his old-skool picture albums for us to publish exclusively…

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Howard addressed the Annual Dinner of the Linen Guild completely stake nakedHoward gardeningHoward MarksOn the front cover of Loaded Magazine in IbizaHoward outside his garageHoward MarksHoward DJing in IbizaPoster from ManumissionHoward at Glastonbury Festival 2007Howard In Ibiza with friendsHoward MarksHoward with Kelly Jones from StereophonicsHoward Marks with P.A.I.N.

When talking to Howard about the feature he was planning to compose – highlight memories included Ibiza in June 1999 – he explained, “Along with Irvine Welsh and Kris Needs, I was Writer in Residence at the Pink Pussy motel and wrote the fliers for the 1999 Manumission season. It was the biggest and most extravagant party in the world. The fliers were flash and were kept by the punters for souvenirs. They weren’t like the ones you find on the floor anywhere else in the world.”

Manchester band Happy Mondays opened Manumission at Privilege in June 1999 which led to a sixty-four hour, non-stop party that went down in Ibiza history.

Shaun Ryder of the Happy Mondays, “I will miss him. Howard genuinely was a nice bloke, an all round nice guy.”

Bez, (Happy Mondays) “I have lots of fond memories with Howard and, until our paths cross again, ships in the night.”

Howard Marks & Happy Mondays

Howard with Bez & Rowetta & Shaun Ryder from Happy Mondays Facebook page

Kermit Leveridge from Black Grape was a friend-for-life to Howard, you couldn’t get a word in edgeways when these two cheeky chaps were together. Howard was a big fan of Kermit’s work, especially his new stuff with Blind Arcade and Super Weird Substance with Greg Wilson.

Kermit said, “Howard was the most intelligent and by far the most interesting person I have ever known. He had a way of explaining things that would just bring total clarity to my mind. We would talk for hours about everything from philosophy and politics to Ant porn and femtotecnology. He was also very kind and thoughtful, always willing to take those extra few minutes to speak to people who stopped him in the street or if he was halfway through a meal.

Howard helped me through my own ‘dark night of the soul’ and was always there when I needed advice or just an ear to bend. I will miss his dulcet Welsh tones. (I could listen to Howard speak for hours) I joked that when he was really stoned his voice got so deep only whales and dogs could hear him. I feel honoured to have been able to call him ‘Brother.’ I’m gonna miss you Shadowman.”

Howard & Kermit photo by Elspeth Mary Moore

Howard & Kermit photo by Elspeth Mary Moore

Howard was massively into his music. He loved hanging out in the music scene, bands loved to collaborate with the Welsh man by either featuring his spoken words on their tracks or his face on their album covers or cameo parts in their music video’s. One such well know album cover was the Fuzzy Logic album by The Super Furry Animals. Howard was also in a band called P.A.I.N and explained to VIVA that one of his favourite gigs in Manchester was playing at the Twisted Wheel Club back in the seventies.

His last music collaboration was with Dylan Thomas and record label Ogenesis where Howard read a Dylan Thomas poem set to music. The record is called ‘Do Not Go Gentle’ and will only be out exclusively on green vinyl for ‘Record Store Day’ this Saturday. More information HERE.

Talking of Record Store Day, Howard mentioned DJ Greg Wilson’s ‘Super Weird Substance Presents. A Vinyl Happening For Record Store Day’ event that he attended at Dry Bar in Manchester back in 2014. The day consisted of live DJ sets from EVM128, Walter Ego, Derek Kaye, Organic Gav and GW alongside vocal jams from Katherine and Carmel Reynolds and performances from Howard and Kermit.

Greg Wilson said, “When I picked up Howard from Piccadilly station to take him to our Record Store Day Happening at Dry Bar, he casually mentioned that Dry was where he held his first book presentation for ‘Mr Nice’ in 1996 – the serendipity of the connection really setting things off on the right foot. It was a joy to have him with us, just his being there made the room that much brighter. He was so gracious throughout that day, happily chatting to people and having his picture taken with so many – the charm of the man was overwhelming.”

Elspeth Mary Moore, Kermit, Howard & Greg Wilson

Elspeth Mary Moore, Kermit, Howard & Greg Wilson

The last time Howard set foot in Manchester was for Peter Hook & The Light gig at Christ Church in Macclesfield. They were performing the complete works of Joy Division, celebrating the life of Ian Curtis.

As the editor of VIVA I also attended the gig that night. Personally, I didn’t know much about Joy Division (Sorry Hooky, ha ha) so I cheekily asked Howard to do the review of the evening for VIVA instead of me.

Howard said, “I had the privilege, not only of Hooky’s warm friendship but also of his unshakeable professional commitment to deliver. Several people had warned me of how difficult he was to work with when we were about to tour together. I found him the easiest person conceivable. He should have been a dope smuggler. Whatever he says he will do, he will, particularly when there’s an audience, to whom he feels an unstoppable sense of duty to satisfy.” You can read Howard’s full review of that evening HERE.

Howard & Peter Hook

Howard & Peter Hook

“Howard was like the father you never had. He was encouraging, generous, supportive, protective and loving. The last time I saw him was in Macclesfield in last May and it was lovely to see him. He was great company and he’s one of those people that as soon as you were with him, it felt like he’d never been away. I will miss him greatly.” Peter Hook.

Rowetta from the Happy Mondays, who was also performing at the gig that evening with Peter Hook & The Light, took to Facebook saying,

“The last time I saw Howard, he introduced Peter Hook & The Light before they performed the complete works of Joy Division at Christ Church, Macclesfield and then he watched us with Emma Wilkinson, Karl Power and Twinny. Manchester loved him.” 

You can watch a short film clip of this gig and Howard HERE.

There has been a lot of love on social media for this famous and loveable drug smuggler from friends and fans paying their respects with these same descriptions continuously popping up: genius, legend, charming and simply a down-to-earth guy.

VIVAEms said, “I will always be grateful to Howard who saw potential talent in me and took me under his wing by becoming my DJ mentor. He enabled and inspired me with my DJing career which has got me to where I am today.

We DJ’d together at festivals and he let me raid his coveted and vast music collection. One of the last records Howard shared  with me, which he absolutely loved and I had never heard before, was this beautiful song from 1971 ‘Love The One You’re With’ by The Isley Brothers.

RIP Howard Marks, hope the grass is just as green for you on the other side, This tune’s for you…”

VIVA’s HOWARD MARKS TRIUBUTE GALLERY:

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Howard with the VIVA GirlsHoward & Kermit from Black GrapeHoward signing Ed Wilkinson's bookKermit from Black Grape & Howard, photo by Karin AlbinssonHoward & Peter Hook preforming at FAC 251Howard with Mani from the Stone RoseVIVAEms, Karin Albinsson, Kermit, Howard & Bez in the Light Boutique hotelHoward at a VIVA event, photo by Karin AlbinssonHoward with Rowetta from the Happy Mondays, photo by Karin AlbinssonHoward with Fun Lovin Criminals Fast & Frank, photo by Karin AlbinssonHoward getting told off by VIVA girl Becs haha! Photo by Karin AlbinssonHoward & son Patrick at a VIVA eventHoward at Will Wilkinson's photography exhibitionHoward preforming at the Lowry in Salford Quays, photo by Elspeth Mary MooreHoward & VIVAEms DJing at Beat Herder Festival, photo by Karin AlbinssonChilling with Mr Nice, photo by Elspeth Mary MooreHoward Marks Talks 15 Stories High Above Manchester, photo by Karin AlbinssonFlashback to Howard Marks & Peter Hook at FAC 251. Photo by Mark McNultyHoward getting his VIVA read on, photo by Karin AlbinssonHoward DJing with VIVAEms & BezThe late Rachel Reed, VIVAEms & Howard at  Dry bar

VIVA Loves: this Howard Marks drawing by artist Tony Husband…

Howard Marks drawing by artist Tony Husband

Howard Marks drawing by artist Tony Husband