I was thinking about the Academy and thought NMA must have been one of the first gigs I saw at the venue. A quick google reveals that the two shows they did in October 1990 were only a fortnight after the venue had been opened!
To be honest I've never liked the Academy - its a big barn of a venue. BUT the upside is that you can fit a lot of people inside as it is a big barn of a venue. I always thought it was a shame that there was nowhere like Brixton Academy in the North which is a decent 4,500 capacity venue. Though I've never been to the Apollo with the seat removed (in my youth the bouncers had a shoot to kill policy if you moved from your seats).
Anyway - enough moaning - its a great line up and just before Xmas 
JohnnyM... my first NMA gig was at Manc Acdemy in 1990, 'Impurity' tour... possibly the same gig? If so, damn, what an experience...
I agree that MA1 is a bit of a soul-less venue, although the fact that I've been there so many times means it has rather of a lot of affection in my heart... it's a shame that Liverpool Royal Court doesn't put on gigs anymore, that was a cracker of a venue! Imagine Brixton Academy but a lot smaller...