Superfan to lift the lid on life with Macc Lads
ASUPERFAN has written a book about his time with one of the country’s most controversial bands.
Lance Manley is set to release his memoirs, ‘Beer, Sweat and Blood: On Tour with The Macc Lads’.
The book tells the story of his early relationship with the Macclesfield band, from first listening to them in a friend’s bedroom as a teenager to following the raucous group on tour around the UK.
Lance, who has written 14 other books, said he had an urge to write down his unofficial account of his time with the band. It also coincided with the announcement earlier this year that the band was reuniting.
Lance, who now lives in Rome, first heard the band’s music in 1988 at the tender age of just 17.
From then on he said he was hooked and in 1991 began following the band on and off around the country.
Lance said: “The first time I saw them was in Manchester. Mr friend K2 got us on the guest list and it turned out they were short for security and we asked to do it.
“After that I followed them around for three years.”
But Lance told the Express it wasn’t like being around a normal band - it was an ‘entirely unique experience’.
Lance is using the book to look back at some of the band’s elaborate pranks - of which he was a victim - and eventful gigs.
He said: “They were always playing pranks on each other. They would sometimes leave people after a gig somewhere on purpose, 200 miles from home.
“In 1991 I had ordered a new EP from the shop and they sent it to me. When I came to open it they had put a cling-filmed parcel of poo inside, along with the merchandise I had ordered.
“It was an entirely unique experience and I have never heard of a band like that being about before.”
Lance, 47, said he wanted to share his experience of what it was like to be so close to his heroes.
He said: “It was a glorious time. I want people to know just how much fun it was. When you are part of an experience that is so unique people ask what it was like.
“They were the biggest influence on my adolescence bar none. They made me realise that self expression can be anything you want it to be.”
The book is set to be released on Kindle and in paperback on Sunday, July 1.