Kirks’ Boys From The North
Many but perhaps not all of the eagle eyed fashionistas amongst you will have noticed the three Mancunian Rock Star Legends who’ve been out and about in Kirks Originals this summer past. Like many of those who reach the level of uber-celebrity, they all only need one name to introduce them. If we were to say Liam, Mani and Bez, one presumes that’s all we need to say. Mentioning Oasis, The Stone Roses, Primal Scream and the Happy Mondays seems somewhat superfluous.
Not that the three don’t share apparent similarities of style. The iconic nonchalant swagger, the Mancunian dischevelled chic of the hair alongside the devil may care, media baiting, headline generating, day to day rock shenanigans of these three unite them as a group of style icons clearly enhanced by their liking and endorsement of Kirks glasses.
And what a Summer it has proved for all three of them. Ex Stone Rose and Primal Scream mainstay, Gary “Mani” Mountfield, the all round gregarious ambassador for the Mancunian good life has been typically hard at it, both in the studio and grafting live. Currently mixing the Primals new album for release early next year in Primrose Hill, our Mani has hardly taken a hiatus from being a grade A rock legend. If it wasn’t baiting Malcolm Glazer about the Manchester United takeover, wowing the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan, playing havoc at Glastonbury in true Primal style or DJ-ing across the UK and Europe, then Mani was to be found kicking back and spreading himself across the gossip columns and cooler gigs, adorned generally in his Kirks Originals glasses.
Quoteth Mani – “They’re the sexiest bins I’ve ever had on my head. They’re brilliantly designed, well made, sharp and they make you look cool as you like. They’re banging glasses.”
As to whom Mani regards as the most stylish man in rock? Step forward one Liam Gallagher who chose to parade himself in Kirks glasses on the summer cover of Q Magazine. 2005 has seen Liam and Oasis return almost to the “Morning Glory” heights of their success with a well-received album “Don’t Believe The Truth” and extensive tour dates. Apparently unable or unwilling to keep himself out of the papers for more than a few days at the time, Liam’s paper filling antics recently have included spats with Pete Doherty, claiming to be bigger than Elvis and moving out of London despite having spent most of the year touring. Oasis followed their small club dates earlier in the year with a more typical arena tour that has taken up most of the year and most of the world visiting the States, Europe, Asia and Australia by the time the Cardiff Millenium Stadium extravaganza comes up in December 2005. One imagines 2006 may be slightly less hectic but with the Gallaghers, who only knows?
And now onto Mark Berry, known better and ubiquitously as Bez. Re-energised and re-invigorated by his triumph on Celebrity Big Brother, Bez has managed to recast himself as way more than just a freaky dancer. Taken to the heart of the populace with his sweet endearing and home spun philosophy on Big Brother, his new band Domino Bones have become more and more established with gigs throughout the country and some in europe Their activity included Get Loaded in Scotland, the Budweiser tent at Glastonbury, headlined D-Percussion in Manchester and will be supporting Ian Brown this autumn in Manchester, London and Dublin.
Not that the Happy Mondays are slouching either with headline arena gigs in Barcelona, London, Manchester and the Get Loaded Festival in August. In fact, with a new line up and his old mate Sean Ryder in tow, the Mondays are in a far stronger position than for many years. With The Happy Monday’s ‘Playground Superstar’ featured in the new movie ‘Goal’ a UK tour scheduled for October and America next year there is no stopping these boys.
An unabashed style icon, Bez has always combined street style with high fashion, long before it became the vogue. Having been pictured in his Kirks in Big Brother, the Gumball Rally and at the Get Loaded festival this Summer, Out of them and he remains, along with the other two boys from the North, some of Kirk Originals most favourite devotees.
Quoteth Bez – “Kirk Originals… they’re the nicest pair of shades I’ve ever had, on or off my face”
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