THE Hacienda World Tour descended on the Villa Marina, Douglas, last night. Chief reporter John Gregory was there to see the Happy Mondays and take a journey back down memory lane . . .

AS soon as I stepped into the Villa Marina last night it felt like the millennium never happened.

Sadly missing the set by The Soviet - who I have heard great things about - I arrived to see "Madchester" legend Peter Hook - of New Order and Joy Division fame, performing a DJ set with the logo of the world famous, and now long gone, Hacienda club in the background.

At least I thought it was Hooky - he was shrouded in darkness so it was difficult to tell. There were some classic late 90s dancefloor tunes being played - Underworld's Born Slippy and Faithless' Insomnia.

Immediately I was taken back to my younger days. In fact it was like I had been transported back in time, apart from everyone was now that little bit older with mortgages and children and responsibilities we didn't have when we heard this music for the first time.

That didn't stop many of us dancing like it was a random year between 1987 and 1997.

I suddenly wondered - when I am 60 and have a party is this the music that we will all get up dancing too?

I had gone to the Villa to see the Happy Mondays and while I never saw the band the first time round I did see the band formed from the ashes of the Mondays, Black Grape, who were at the time riding high on the success of the now classic It's Great When You're Straight . . . Yeah! album at the Phoenix Festival in Stratford-Upon-Avon in 1997.

Being born in Salford - and living just 15 minutes out of Manchester itself - I was more than aware of the Madchester scene in its heyday. But I can't lay claim to nights out at the Hacienda - though I often used to park outside it for visits to the Cornerhouse Cinema on the corner of Oxford Street or to go to press preview nights at the nearby Palace Theatre.

There was something special about Manchester in those days and there still is - but that era produced some great bands and great music in general.

So, it was fantastic to hear Shaun Ryder (Bez wasn't there - he has recently been in prison for assaulting his ex-girlfriend) perform Kinky Afro, one of the stand out tracks from the now 20 years old Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches album.

Likewise I am glad they performed Black Grape's Reverend Black Grape. There was a good atmosphere at the Villa and Shaun looked well.

Sadly I had to leave before the end - but it was a great journey down memory lane and a fab night. Would I like to see more of these kinds of events? To quote a Happy Mondays album title Yes Please!