I'm Simon. Most people call me Funky Si and I've played drums for many iconic Manchester bands over the years. These include 11 years recording and touring the world with The Fall, and drumming for Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown on his solo material. I also worked with Johnny Marr and Morrissey on the Smiths' first ever studio recordings before turning down the chance to join them.
I know the streets of Manchester. Every corner has a story: a gig, a hangout, a band that nearly was, a rehearsal space or a studio. Some of the stories are mine, most belong to the city. These tours are from my own personal perspective. No Hi-vis or megaphones. Come and join me on a walk through my beloved city, Manchester.
I've also written my memoir, You Can Drum But You Can't Hide, and I have a podcast, Funky Si's A to Z of Manchester. Follow the links on here.
It was brilliant
Si's memoir takes you through four decades on the Manchester music scene. The early Smiths demos, his long stint with The Fall, touring with Ian Brown, and all the bands, gigs and characters in between.
It was a Mastermind contestant correctly identifying Simon as the original drummer of The Smiths that finally prompted him to write the book. He reckoned it was about time he told the rest of the story himself!
Buy the Book
Every week Si brings tales from forty-plus years on the Manchester music scene. Stories from the studio, the road, and the clubs that shaped the records you know.
Around two hours on your feet, finishing with a stop at the pub where there's time to relax and ask any questions.
Central Manchester, sent in your confirmation email and easy to find. We ask everyone to arrive 10 minutes before the start time so we can set off promptly.
Roughly 5km, gentle pace, mostly flat.
Four decades of bands, venues, scandals and a few things best left off the record.
It's not a museum and it's definitely not a coach trip. It's a couple of hours walking round the city with someone who was on the inside of it, and is happy to tell you exactly how it really went.
Sat 2 Jan, 10:30 AM
This walk started life as my tour for The Fall Future's and Pasts Festival, and those stories are still at the heart of it. Eleven years behind the kit with Mark E. Smith gives you plenty to tell. But the city keeps pulling in other tales as we go: the Roses, Ian Brown, the day I turned down The Smiths, and the clubs, rehearsal rooms and studios where it all happened. Two hours, gentle pace, my Manchester.
Sun 3 Jan, 10:30 AM
Forty years of playing drums in this city leaves you with stories on every corner. This walk is the lot: The Fall years, recording with Johnny Marr and Morrissey on the very first Smiths recordings, touring the world with Ian Brown, and the characters I met along the way. Not a history lecture. Just me, walking you through the places where it happened.
Sat 23 Jan, 10:30 AM
Forty years of playing drums in this city leaves you with stories on every corner. This walk is the lot: The Fall years, recording with Johnny Marr and Morrissey on the very first Smiths recordings, touring the world with Ian Brown, and the characters I met along the way. Not a history lecture. Just me, walking you through the places where it happened.
Sat 30 Jan, 10:30 AM
This walk started life as my tour for The Fall Future's and Pasts Festival, and those stories are still at the heart of it. Eleven years behind the kit with Mark E. Smith gives you plenty to tell. But the city keeps pulling in other tales as we go: the Roses, Ian Brown, the day I turned down The Smiths, and the clubs, rehearsal rooms and studios where it all happened. Two hours, gentle pace, my Manchester.
Sat 6 Feb, 10:30 AM
Forty years of playing drums in this city leaves you with stories on every corner. This walk is the lot: The Fall years, recording with Johnny Marr and Morrissey on the very first Smiths recordings, touring the world with Ian Brown, and the characters I met along the way. Not a history lecture. Just me, walking you through the places where it happened.
Sun 7 Feb, 10:30 AM
This walk started life as my tour for The Fall Future's and Pasts Festival, and those stories are still at the heart of it. Eleven years behind the kit with Mark E. Smith gives you plenty to tell. But the city keeps pulling in other tales as we go: the Roses, Ian Brown, the day I turned down The Smiths, and the clubs, rehearsal rooms and studios where it all happened. Two hours, gentle pace, my Manchester.
Sat 20 Feb, 10:30 AM
Forty years of playing drums in this city leaves you with stories on every corner. This walk is the lot: The Fall years, recording with Johnny Marr and Morrissey on the very first Smiths recordings, touring the world with Ian Brown, and the characters I met along the way. Not a history lecture. Just me, walking you through the places where it happened.
Dates sell out. Leave your email and we'll let you know when new ones go up.
Sat 31 Oct, 10:30 AM
A Halloween special! This walk started life as my tour for The Fall Future's and Pasts Festival, and those stories are still at the heart of it. Eleven years behind the kit with Mark E. Smith gives you plenty to tell. But the city keeps pulling in other tales as we go: the Roses, Ian Brown, the day I turned down The Smiths, and the clubs, rehearsal rooms and studios where it all happened. Two hours, gentle pace, my Manchester.
Sat 7 Nov, 10:30 AM
This walk started life as my tour for The Fall Future's and Pasts Festival, and those stories are still at the heart of it. Eleven years behind the kit with Mark E. Smith gives you plenty to tell. But the city keeps pulling in other tales as we go: the Roses, Ian Brown, the day I turned down The Smiths, and the clubs, rehearsal rooms and studios where it all happened. Two hours, gentle pace, my Manchester.
Sat 14 Nov, 10:30 AM
My book takes you through forty years in Manchester music. This walk takes you to the places themselves. We stop where it happened and I read the passage that goes with it, then fill in what did not make the page. The Fall years, the first Smiths recordings, the Roses, Ian Brown, and the clubs and rehearsal rooms in between. Two hours, gentle pace, starting and finishing at The Innside on First Street. Part of Louder Than Words Festival.
Sun 15 Nov, 10:30 AM
My book takes you through forty years in Manchester music. This walk takes you to the places themselves. We stop where it happened and I read the passage that goes with it, then fill in what did not make the page. The Fall years, the first Smiths recordings, the Roses, Ian Brown, and the clubs and rehearsal rooms in between. Two hours, gentle pace, starting and finishing at The Innside on First Street. Part of Louder Than Words Festival.
Wed 25 Nov, 10:30 AM
Forty years of playing drums in this city leaves you with stories on every corner. This walk is the lot: The Fall years, recording with Johnny Marr and Morrissey on the very first Smiths recordings, touring the world with Ian Brown, and the characters I met along the way. Not a history lecture. Just me, walking you through the places where it happened.
Sat 5 Dec, 10:30 AM
This walk started life as my tour for The Fall Future's and Pasts Festival, and those stories are still at the heart of it. Eleven years behind the kit with Mark E. Smith gives you plenty to tell. But the city keeps pulling in other tales as we go: the Roses, Ian Brown, the day I turned down The Smiths, and the clubs, rehearsal rooms and studios where it all happened. Two hours, gentle pace, my Manchester.
Sat 12 Dec, 10:30 AM
Forty years of playing drums in this city leaves you with stories on every corner. This walk is the lot: The Fall years, recording with Johnny Marr and Morrissey on the very first Smiths recordings, touring the world with Ian Brown, and the characters I met along the way. Not a history lecture. Just me, walking you through the places where it happened.
Wed 16 Dec, 10:30 AM
This walk started life as my tour for The Fall Future's and Pasts Festival, and those stories are still at the heart of it. Eleven years behind the kit with Mark E. Smith gives you plenty to tell. But the city keeps pulling in other tales as we go: the Roses, Ian Brown, the day I turned down The Smiths, and the clubs, rehearsal rooms and studios where it all happened. Two hours, gentle pace, my Manchester.
A Funky Si gift voucher works on any tour, and they pick the date. The city’s music history, told by someone who helped make it.
Questions about the tours, or anything else? Drop us a line.
Thanks , we’ll be in touch.
Fancy a more personal wander round the city with Si, just for your group? Tell us what you have in mind, birthday, work do, or a get-together, and we’ll build a private tour around you.
Private toursYou Can Drum But You Can't Hide
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