Manchester v Cancer

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Manchester v Cancer was a benefit concert that was held on January 28, 2006, at Manchester's MEN Arena, in aid of cancer research at the Christie Hospital in Manchester, Europe's largest cancer research and treatment centre.

The concert was organised by ex-Smith Andy Rourke when he found out that his manager's sister and father had both been diagnosed with cancer. Rourke aimed to raise £1 million from the concert. Rourke stood in the wings for most of the night modestly and it was apparent that he was unwilling to engage in any Bob Geldof indulgence.

The early sets were very short and direct with Nine Black Alps and Badly Drawn Boy among the highlights. Badly Drawn Boy played a timeless intro of Madonna's Like A Virgin which entered into his beautiful song Silent Sigh. His vocals were crisp clear as he strutted his way through his hits including Disillusion.

Originally it was rumoured that Andy Rourke would be playing alongside fellow ex-Smith Johnny Marr at the concert, but Marr dispelled this myth, saying that he would in fact be playing with his band The Healers. Johnny Marr entered the stage with his new band and performed There Is A Light That Never Goes Out by his old band, in his own unique style and the audience were ecstatic. He proceeded to play three songs by The Healers including Down On The Corner from his Boomslang album. Then to finish a short but sweet set, Rourke joined The Healers on stage to perform How Soon Is Now?. Marr's renditions of the Smiths' songs were incredibly well-received. Many members of the audience were visibly moved to tears when Marr introduced Rourke and that it had been "too long"

Doves collaborated with a number of artists during the night. They were joined by Bernard Sumner and Johnny Marr for a cover of Lou Reed's hit Vicious. They also played a number of their own songs including Snowden and Black And White Town. New Order were in many ways the perfect headliner for the night. They came and played a set of old Joy Division classics including She's Lost Control, Transmission and Love Will Tear Us Apart. They gained an electric atmosphere in the arena even through the slower songs which Ian Curtis had already made his own over 26 years ago

[edit] List of Artists

New Order
Doves
Badly Drawn Boy
Johnny Marr and the Healers
Andy Rourke
Nine Black Alps
Bez & Domino Bones
Graeme Park
Elbow
Utah Saints
808 State
MC Tunes
Mr Scruff
Mani
Stephen Fretwell

Official photographer for the event was Mick Rock.

At the event, Andy Rourke joined Johnny Marr and the Healers on stage for a performance of The Smiths' How Soon Is Now? Immediately prior to the song's performance, Marr announced to the audience that Rourke's presence on stage would mark the first time the two had performed in public together since 1987. As part of the show's finale, both Marr and Rourke played together alongside New Order and The Doves on a mass rendition of The Happy Mondays' song Wrote For Luck, lyrics being sung by Mondays' frontman Shaun Ryder.

[edit] Tickets

Tickets for the event were put on sale sale at 10am on Saturday, 17th December 2005 and cost £40. The upper tier of the venue was also opened due to popular demand, and tickets for the upper tier were priced at £25.