Ludus

Among the Manchester acts emerging from the post-punk period that drew relatively little notice stood Ludus. Arthur Kadmon, who had previously played guitar in Manicured Noise, assembled the band in 1978; its original lineup included Philip Tolman on drums (formerly of the Nosebleeds), bassist Willie Trotter, and vocalist Linder, whose real name was Linda Mulvey. A familiar figure in Manchester circles, Linder created sleeves and posters for Buzzcocks and Magazine while cultivating a close friendship with Morrissey that left a marked influence on him. The group made its first appearance on Richard Boon’s New Hormones imprint in 1980 via the 12-inch single The Visit, which was followed months later by the single My Cherry Is in Sherry. By the release of the 1981 five-song cassette Pickpocket, the roster had shifted to Linder, guitarist and bassist Ian Devine, and drummer Graham Dids. That cassette preceded the single Mother’s Hour and the band’s first full-length album, The Seduction. The second LP, Danger Came Smiling, surfaced in August 1982. The outspoken Linder, known for appearing onstage in a dildo and slices of meat—her menstrual egg timer even received a catalog number from Manchester’s notorious Factory label—gradually stepped back from music in favor of deeper engagement with visual arts.