Martin Ryan was born in 1955 in Stockport where he still lives with his wife Kate. They have 3 grown up children. In 1976 as a 20 year old rock music fan he regularly checked out local bands on the Manchester pub rock circuit. 1977 would prove a defining year as he began the short-lived Manchester punk fanzine Ghast Up alongside fellow punk convert Mick Middles thus beginning an involvement with the fabled Manchester scene that revolved around several bands and local luminaries such as Paul Morley and Kevin Cummins who frequented the mythical Sunday nights at the Electric Circus. Martin has written for the NME as well as contributing to several Mancunian publications, including the legendary City Fun fanzine that ran from 1978 through to the mid-eighties. He has been called on to provide his knowledge of the Manchester music scene to authors, film researchers and university students.
