Here is my story of growing up in Moss side Manchester in the 1970s & 80s told through paintings, stories, videos and nostalgia. The paintings and videos of my Moss Side collection highlight life growing up in Moss Side in the 1970’s and 1980’s. I remember having good times and bad times growing up in Moss Side. But overall, I found lifelong friends there and had a happy childhood. This collection is to help rebalance the negative portrayal of Moss Side in the 1970s and 1980s. It is my way of trying to turn a negative into a positive.
Some of the eleven paintings of Moss Side by me, Andrew Alan Matthews. Signed limited edition prints available.
Four paintings in the story are posted separately here: Penny for the guy; The Den in the Moss; Street football in the Moss and Mind yer car Mr.
Painting – Where the good things are
My first painting of ‘Where the good things are’ (shown above) highlights me and my friend Ricky searching old cobbled alleyways for discarded pushbikes to sell in Nevs second hand shop on the corner of Claremont Road and Cowesby street.
Story and video –
Where the good things are Rick Cowie and me Collecting old pushbikes In rubbish filled alleyways of Moss Side in the 70s and 80s We would fix em up Ricky shouting hammer hammer Didn’t have a stammer sold em to Nevs second hand shop On the corner of Cowesby street and Claremont road We weren’t old lookin for gold Yeah made money to buy Treats on the streets Football cards you flicked at a wall, Fireworks, bangers, jubleys, bubblies black jacks and sweets We did feats on these mean streets yeah where the good things are
Painting – Nevs Second Hand Shop
This is a depiction of Nevs second hand shop on Claremont Road in Moss Side in the 1970s and 1980s. We used to sell pushbikes to Nev that we had rebuilt from discarded pushbikes found in the rubbish filled alleyways. We would get scalextric tracks and toy cars and money from him for selling the bikes to him. We would often see people chopping up drugs in the back of his shop. Nev used to rent his back room out to a reggae band, we would dance on the streets and play football as the band practised. Painted in Acrylic and ink and using a pallette knife to give depth to the artwork. Impressionistic urban cityscape.
Story and video –
Nevs second hand shop Claremont Road Moss Side in the 70s and 80s we found old push bikes in rubbish filled alleyways in the moss it was boss me and rick fixed em up sold em to Nev got Scalextric tracks , toy cars and money to get the honey yeah sweets and treats on the streets he used to do drugs for thugs cokin and smoking im not jokin yeah a reggae band at the back of his shop danced on the street in the summer heat played football, kick can, knock and run it was lots of fun shared a jubbly or two god help you if you were last in the cue yeah Nevs second hand shop in the moss it was boss
Painting – Moss Side Carnival
Moss Side has a Carnival every year. As a child I remember it being colourful and there was always a great party atmosphere mixed with drug dealers selling their wares. I also remember a Pimp that used to ride down Great Western Street in his open top pink Cadillac with leopard skin seats and perched on the back were his three bitches (prostitutes) advertising their services.
Story and video –
Moss Side Carnival in the eighties Happens every year People sellin their gear Yeah drugs and beer Dealers sellin their gear Full of colour An African beat on the street Feel the heat of the people you meet It’s a treat life at full beat No retreat The Moss side carnival in the eighties A pimp rides around In his pink cadilac His bitches sittin on the back of Leopard skin seats Yeah prostitutes selling there wares Stop and look and stare Like huggy bear Yeah the Moss Side carnival in the eighties Happens every year Plenty of beer people sellin their gear
Painting – Georges Barbers in the Moss
We used to go to George’s barbers to play on the Arcade machines and play pool. We worked out that if you put a electric gas fire lighter in the money slot it would register free credits on the machines and we would play for hours not spending any money, until the owner worked out what we were doing. they eventually put alarms on the machines to stop us doing this.
Story and video –
Georges Barbers in the Moss Afro carribean barber Cuts hair in the chair The kids stop and stare play pool in the back of his shop it was top couldn’t afford an haircut when I was a kid hair all over the place what a disgrace yeah georges barbers in the moss arcade machines in the back space invaders attack galaxians and phoenix my favourite games put an electric gas lighter in the slot free credits and games for hours in showers Kids hustling the system And on a mission Yeah penny pinchin as George is cutting the hair in the chair Yeah georges barbers in the moss It was boss
Painting – Mr Floods Toy Shop
A depiction of Mr Floods toy shop that was on Claremont Road Moss Side in the 1970s and 1980s, Mr flood was a kind man, I used to buy airfix kits and toy soldiers and spent hours painting and making them. the shop was darkly lit and smelly as he had cats and a parrot on a perch as you entered the shop, he was also a pigeon fancier and had a coup in his back yard. He took me and ricky on holiday one year to his caravan in wales. Painted in Acrylic and ink using a pallette knife for depth to the artwork. Impressionistic Urban cityscape.
Story and video –
Mr Floods Toy Shop Next to my mate Rickys house on Claremont road in Moss Side in the 70s and 80s they were the greatest Mr flood a small kind man did all he can Used to buy airfix kits and toy soldiers Spent hours making and painting em played with em for hours in showers Mr Floods toy shop was darkly lit and smelly He Didn’t have a telly An old fashioned toy shop Of times gone by had Cats and a parrot on a perch A pigeon fancier Had a coup in his yard It wasn’t hard to like this old man did all he can Took me and rick to a caravan in wales Dilapidated and full of moths Cutting the grass and cleanin up Yeah Mr Flood A kind old man did all he can To help the kids in the Moss it was boss
Painting – Bonfire night in the Moss
Bonfire Night is a depiction of a piece of derelict land at the back of our house on Princess Road Moss Side (since been demolished). I remember the street glowing orange and the heat was intense. We had great fun sharing treacle toffee, playing dunking the apple and putting potatoes in the bonfire and setting off fireworks and sparklers. Painted in Acrylic and ink with paintbrush and pallete knife using the croquis method for the characters to show movements. Urban Cityscape.
Story and video –
Bonfire Night in the Moss derelict land at the back of our house 222 princess road It was old terraced streets and bonfires ablaze in a haze of smoke people havin a joke Streets glowing orange the heat was intense makes common sense shared treacle toffee and dunkin the apple potatoes in the fire what a bonfire guy fawkes on top makin you stop yeah bangers and fireworks lightin up the night what a sight sparklers and writin your name in the air withought a care people missin good old days in the moss in the 70s and 80s were the latest and greatest screamers, bangers and fireworks lightin up the night what a sight gates going missing fireworks a hissing treacle toffee and dunkin the apple its not the big apple its bonfire night in the Moss just boss
Painting – the Moss Side riots
A depiction of the Moss Side Riots in the 1980s. We heard an explosion whilst sitting in the living room in 222 Princess Road. There was a riot taking place, looters were robbing the shops. turning cars over and firebombing them. My family and I sat outside on deckchairs with cups of tea watching the events unfold. Rioters and families were emptying the shops, filling up trolleys with food and goods, returning time and again. Two families started arguing in the street over a settee and 2 chairs and fights took place. My friends saw somebody with a gun and Ricardo Cowies Dad was on top of his truck with a baseball bat fending off the thugs. There was a lot of unrest within the black community with stop and search practices by the police and a programme called Roots stirred a lot of racial tension in the area as well.
Story and video –
The Moss Side Riots Heard an explosion a riots taking place Yeah it’s the eighties Looters robing the shops Turning cars over and firebombing We sat outside on deck chairs with cups of tea on me knee We didn’t flee Rioters looting the shops filling up time and again then two families argue on the street Over a settee Black maria comes calling People are ballin Friend saw a man with a gun, wasn’t fun Yeah black unrest in the Moss Over stop and search Racial tension running high An outcry Yeah the Moss Side riots in the eighties might happen again so think again
Painting – The Egertons in the Moss
My friends family in Moss Side
Story and video –
The Egertons In the Moss Had a green grocery shop in the Moss A family business that did the business There older now a life filled with love They’ve stood the test of time for all time Had a few tears ups and downs Albert and Hilda Had three kids Mark, Mike and Pete Always on heat on the street They Banged the ball on the street with there feet Yeah kids in the moss it was boss All Grown up now got there own lives and wives yeah a family unit with kids and grand kids to carry on the family name yeah the Egertons Remember the days in the Moss Cos it was boss So as you go through life Remember your family and friends love you So here’s to you all Your family and friends wishes you well So Take care stop and look and stare at this Painting cos your family surround you with love on there mind cos your all kind and with the Moss on me mind just want to say to you all we had a ball Yeah the Egertons n the moss Just boss
Painting – Man City Maine road boys from the Moss
A story about growing up in Moss Side Manchester City, Maine Road, A cityscape / landscape painting looking back on past times when I was a child, remembering when I used to live and play in Moss Side, City used to open the gates at half time allowing the local kids to watch the second half of the game for free. We had great fun running down the tunnels and watching the game. My favorite player was Colin Bell. Painted in Acrylic with pallette Knife and ink outline using the croquis method to bring the characters to life, showing a bustling crowd going to a game.
I hope you like the artwork, stories and videos please feel free to leave feedback and comments on my website andrewalanmatthews.co.uk
Eleven paintings of Moss Side past by Andrew Alan Matthews. See more, with signed limited edition prints available.
