Eastern Bloc was established in 1985 by John Berry and Martin Price. Martin later pursued a music career and became a founding member of the Mancunian dance act, 808 State. The store was originally located in Afflecks Palace and moved to its current location on Stevenson Square in 2011. It quickly became a cultural icon and a vital part of the Manchester music scene. From the beginning, Eastern Bloc did things differently and the store was known for its unique attitude. The first carrier bag featured a rant written by Martin Price, stating their position:

“Earwig Co-op Records introduce their new shop, the Eastern Bloc. The Eastern Bloc majors in the independent labels releases and fills the gap with only the best of the rest. Why support the big-boy tory shops like the plaza and precinct brigade when you can support the real alternative service at the Eastern Bloc. We have installed a headphone booth so you can check your records before you purchase. We will gladly stock your own tape, record, fanzine and will provide a noticeboard for your own posters, gig information, etc. Eastern Bloc has no interest in being just another boring music supermarket, we want to put the interesting and creative music in the foreground where it rightfully belongs. Why buy that spoilt yuppie another expensive speedboat? Come and check out the shop that puts you and the music first. No need to wade through all this shit to get to the good stuff at Eastern Bloc”

You get the idea. Eastern Bloc quickly became known as a musical landmark in the late 1980s. It played a key role in launching bands like the Inspiral Carpets and hosted in-store signings with The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays, contributing to the 'Madchester' era. The shop also promoted new dance music and was one of the few UK stores at that time to import dance music from around the world. Eastern Bloc was heavily involved in the early careers of A Guy Called Gerald and K Klass. Many well-known individuals have worked behind the counter or been regular customers at the shop. Local and international DJs often visit to get their hands on the latest vinyl promos. Customers have included Laurent Garnier, Jon Da Silva, Mike Pickering, Graeme Park, Sasha, Chemical Brothers, Anthony Shake Shakir, Pepe Bradock, Eric Morillo, Josh Wink, Jon Carter, and Carl Cox. Eastern Bloc is one of the world’s most respected, renowned, influential, and notorious music stores. Today, the store is still owned by John Berry and the staff are all passionate about music. They still sell vinyl, specializing mainly in house, techno, drum & bass, jungle, dubstep, and electronica. The store also now features a unique cafe where customers can enjoy hand-roasted coffee, specialist teas, homemade cakes, and a varied menu. Customers can explore the charm of the Northern Quarter’s pedestrianised square, treat themselves to a variety of delicious dishes, browse unique vinyl and merchandise, relax at the lively bar and experience captivating live performances.

Photo: John Berry (Left) Martin Price (Centre) and Mick Power (Right) outside the store on Oldham Street, circa 1986.