Virgin Prunes Live at the Haçienda

A live performance of Nico and Blue Orchids recorded at the Warehouse in Preston, UK, in 1982.

On 16 February 1983, Divine performs a seven-song set at the Hacienda Club in Manchester. His peroxide blond hair sticks in all directions; he's dressed in a skin-tight, short, off-one-shoulder, sparkling dress that he says he got from the Queen, who wouldn't wear it. The set includes Gang Bang (the name-game song), Jungle Jezebel, Born To Be Cheap, Alphabet Rap, Native Love, Shake It Up, and, for an encore, Shoot Your Shot. The band, whom we never see, is techno-rock. Between songs, Divine chats up the audience, usually talking about sex.

The film begins with 'New Dawn Fades'. Audio of speeches of Hitler are played alongside interviews of Chief Constable of Manchester. Montages of photographs, adverts and Manchester street scenes. Part of a Joy Division performance at Bowdon Vale and a rehearsal are shown. (Film only available in fragments)

This DVD combines two concerts filmed at the Hacienda in 1983. Both were previously available on separate VHS releases. Shoot Your Shot is more dimly lit, but Divine really revs up the show toward the end, with the audience crowding the stage for the closing "Love Reaction." Recorded nine months earlier, Live at the Hacienda is better lit and Divine is more animated throughout. Both concerts feature a hardworking, sweating Divine obscenely bantering with the audience. Both concerts are about 40 minutes and feature Divine performing "Jungle Jezebel," "Born to be Cheap," "Alphabet Rap" and more.

The electronic band from Düsseldorf performs at The Haçienda in Manchester on July 7th, 1982.

Two live performances recorded in 1981, assorted clips and promotional videos.