Wigan writer and artist crowd-funding new graphic novel about Manchester's music

Brian Gorman’s new book Atmosphere: A Graphic Novel About the Post-Punk Manchester Music Scene, includes in its pages a host of the big names who came from the North West and went on to music stardom.
By Andrew Nowell
Published 12th Jun 2020, 15:45 BST
Brian Gorman with Tony DavidsonBrian Gorman with Tony Davidson
Brian Gorman with Tony Davidson

New Order, Mick Hucknall, The Fall, The Drones, V2, The Smiths andBuzzcocks are just some of the acts that Brian has included in the new novel.

It is not the first time that the city’s sounds of the 1970s and ’80s have inspired Brian’s work as the new graphic novel is a follow-up to the acclaimed New Dawn Fades: A Graphic Novel About Joy Division and Manchester.

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Brian is hoping to get Atmosphere on the shelves this autumn, but has launched a crowd-funder as he needs some help from the music nd literature-loving public to make it a reality.

He said: “I am raising funds to enable me to work full-time on the book, and to publish it independently.

“It will take me several months to complete, which will include extensive research, writing, artwork, design, and PR.

“This graphic novel would simply not be possible without using a crowd-funder, plus it gives me complete freedom as a creator.

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“As well as signed and personalised advanced copies of the book, there are a range of exclusive perks that contributors can sign up for.

“These include having their name in the ‘Thanks to’ section of the book, and VIP invitations to the book launch and afterparty, at an iconic Manchester venue.

“They can also be immortalised with their likeness as a character in the story, and there are a range of original ink sketches and pages of artwork from the book.”

Brian is promising readers an enthralling trip through Manchester’s history up to the present day as well as thinking about the city’s future.

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The book will include a mixture of Brian’s original black and white artwork, full colour illustrations and paintings

The novel will also feature a foreword from Tony Davidson, also known as TJ Davidson, whose rehearsal studio on Little Peter Street was a hub for the Manchester scene where many iconic bands honed their skills.

Atmosphere follows New Dawn Fades in exploring Manchester’s musical exports, with the previous work enjoying considerable success both as a stage play and then as a graphic novel.

Born in 1964 in Wigan, Brian has produced a string of graphic novels, including one about cult TV show The Prisoner and Patrick McGoohan who co-created and starred in it.

To find out more about the new crowd-funder or contribute, visit www.indiegogo.com/projects/atmosphere-a-graphic-novel#/

Related topics:ManchesterWiganNorth West