Ian Runacres - Biography

Ian, by contrast could be described as one of the original movers and shakers of the indie pop world. In some ways that description still applies because he's since moved a couple of times and is receiving treatment for the shaking. He was born in Wolverhampton in 1960 and from an early age determined that he would overcome the social impediments associated with owning a midlands accent. A proficient guitarist, Ian was the main song-writing force in Dislocation Dance, and acted as musical director for their recent reunion tour of Japan. This in turn led to a reunion album ... of sorts. For the new album, Ian worked with Phil to create a hybrid of the DD sound, including a moderne reworking of their hit "You'll Never Never Know". Andy Diagram, DD's trumpet player, said that if they wanted him to play on it they could "go and whistle". So they put flute on it, which is nearly the same.

After DD had died, Ian founded BOP, a cassette only label that specialised in two types of bands: those that no-one wanted to hear and those that would inevitably make a pile of cash for some other label. Ian has no regrets though - not half! BOP also put out a monthly magazine with free sampler cassette and is particularly proud of the issue that came with a free piece of the Berlin Wall. "It really was the Berlin Wall" he says, countering rumours that it just chunks of the demolished Turkey Lane estate, Collyhurst, Manchester.