But behind the chintzy curtains, an RAF veteran and panel beater called Ken Patten had handbuilt one of the most pioneering electronic studios in Europe. In return for a £15 recording fee, he helped some of Sheffield's most important bands form their nascent sounds - from Pulp to ABC, Heaven 17 and the Human League, as well as less-heralded acts such as the Doncaster Wheatsheaf Girls Choir.
Now, two former teachers from Sheffield have made a documentary celebrating "one of the great untold stories of British pop music". Premiering at the Sheffield DocFest this week, they paint Patten's home on the Ballifield estate in Handsworth as the unlikely crucible of South Yorkshire's electro scene and Patten its thrifty resident genius.
This story is from the June 28, 2022 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the June 28, 2022 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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