Always known as a rough place. Ernie Tyson ran it with a rod of iron. Jack Branelli remembers that if there was any trouble 'one punch from Ernie and they'd be on the cabbages' - a reference to the vegetable stalls that lined Oak Street.

The George and Dragon had table service and the waiters wore white aprons. It was immensely popular and known as a services pub during the war when Americans, Canadians, Australians, French as well as British soldiers, market traders, factory workers and shoppers all used it. Italian prisoners of war and deserters were rumoured to come in. Often the band carried on playing during air-raids ' especially when the raids became more common.
Many boxers used the saloon bar at the back - Jack Branelli remembers Jackie Brown the world flyweight champion from Harpurhey. There were also the gangs 'the Hamilton gang from Angel Meadow including Jazzer Hamilton' considered a dangerous character to cross - but who once dueted on a love song with Flo Brannigan

Photograph of George & Dragon circa 1970s

It was at this point that Steve Morris, saxophonist, jazz fan and entrepreneur moved in with a bold idea to develop the old George and Dragon as a jazz venue. A discussion with Johnny Roadhouse persuaded him to stick with the name Band on the Wall and along with partner Frank Cusick he bought the pub and re-opened in 1975.
Jazz in the early days included the mixture of established names and up-and coming local and national musicians seen today, and included No Mystery, Norman Beaker, Gags and piano player Joe Palin.
Punk was the most popular music in the late 1970s and Steve Morris wisely decided to subsidise his jazz interests by encouraging this and other music. Mondays soon became known as New Manchester Review nights providing a focus and support for a local political and music magazine of the time. Bands who played under this title included John Cooper Clarke, The Passage, A Certain Ratio, Joy Division (who played the night they first got a syn-drum) The Fall, Buzzcocks, John the Postman and The Distractions. Mark E Smith of The Fall was a strong supporter of the Monday night venture. Big In Japan played on Monday 13 February 1978 and whilst the name is not so well known they included future well-known musicians Jayne Casey (of Cream nightclub, Liverpool), Ian Brodie of The Lightning Seeds, Holly Johnson of Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Bill Drummond, manager of the Teardrop Explodes and later a member of KLF.

The 1980s
1982 saw a brief shut-down and re-opening due to a buy-out by the Northern Branch of the Jazz Centre Society. There was also some internal redevelopment work. The saloon bar was now altered to a wooden raised platform making use of a job-lot of tables and seating apparently from an old Burger King restaurant in Northenden!
1982 also saw the first use of the Dizzy Gillespie logo, real ale installed and a regularly printed programme of events was put out. The re-opening gig was from The Distractions. Other performers that year included Alexis Corner, John Peel, Kevin Coyne, Melvyn Poore, 'solo tuba and tapes', Don Weller, P.M.T. and Electra Complex ' part of the Women in Entertainment night, The Fall ' three nights on the 3, 4, 5 May with Icelandic support band Purkur Pillnikk (featuring a young Bjork on vocals), Southern Death Cult - who ended up as stadium rock band The Cult, Albertos y los Trios Paranois, Gordon Giltrap, Nico - three nights on 6,7,8 September, Michael Nyman, Slim Gaillard, Lol Coxhill, Steve Lacey and Keith Tippett, Jimmy Witherspoon and Prince Far-I.
In 1987 the balcony was installed, and in 1991 founder of the new Band on the Wall Steve Morris died after a long illness.

The 1990s
The last decade has seen a greater concentration on quality jazz performers at the Band on the Wall. There has also been an increasing emphasis on bringing out new young talent through the Well North of London rock showcases and a growing programme of Inner City Music workshops and outreach work.

{Gina Brannelli, daughter of Flo and Jack Brannelli. Goddaughter of Rudi Mancini  Rudi, together with Flo and Jack are responsible for the incredible modern accordion history of Gina Brannelli, her profound musical education, her national and  international competition successes, and today her involvement in every part of the accordion industry as an Artiste, appearing all over the World, Accordion Festival Organiser, National and International Adjudicator. Director of an Accordion importation and Resale Company, and Fashion House, her position on the Council of the only specialist accordion college in the UK, Past Chairperson of the National Accordion Organisation, and current Executive position, and her successful Academy of Accordion tuition comes from these roots, and she will always be the first to tell you exactly that. Gina adored her Godfather, and although he has passed on, he will always be her inspiration.  He inspired 3 generations of accordionists, A  humble musician, who made everybody else feel special was the finest accordionist of his time, his  name  written firmly in the accordion world foR EVER

The children here, also come from accordion backgrounds from that era, and we salute you Rudy for making all this possible.

William Langton, Daizilee Pattison, Julie Langton, Nancy Langton, Sarah Jane Langton, Soraya and Santana O'Connor