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Main event: banding together

Conrad Astley
27/ 1/2006

The Smiths reunion may never happen, but the next best thing will take place this weekend as Andy Rourke and Johnny Marr take to the stage along with a handful of Manc legends fighting cancer. Conrad Astley spoke to the musician who arranged what could be an unforgettable night.

WHEN Andy Rourke decided to organise a charity gig, he had in mind a low-key affair in the Northern Quarter.

The former Smiths bass player was moved to arrange the Manchester Versus Cancer concert towards the end of last year, after hearing how his manager's sister and father both had the disease.

But when he began flicking through his phone book, telling the old names he was organising the concert, things quickly got out of hand.

"It's turned into a bit of a beast," he said.

"But a good beast.

"Initially it was meant to be a small gig somewhere like the Night And Day Café, and we'd raise a few hundred quid.

"But as I got in touch with people, I realised we were going to need a bigger venue."

Not only will the event now take place in Europe's biggest indoor concert arena, but it will boast a line-up reading like a who's who of Manchester's musical past and present.

The city's glorious past is represented by New Order, performing a set of Joy Division tracks, dance legends 808 State and Utah Saints, former Stone Roses bass player Mani, and infamous double-act Shaun Ryder and Bez.

Meanwhile, more recent Mancunian artists taking part include Badly Drawn Boy, Doves, Elbow, Nine Black Alps, Stephen Fretwell and DJ Mr Scruff.

"It was easy to get people to come on board," said the bass player, who also lost an uncle and a grandparent to cancer.

"There's no-one who doesn't have a story about a friend or relative who's had it. Manchester's got the highest rate of cancer in the UK.

"There'll be a few interesting collaborations and cover versions on the night. New Order's Joy Division set is going to be a real one-off.

"I can't remember any time when there's been all these bands together in the same place."

Andy hopes the event will raise a million for Withington cancer centre Christie Hospital, through ticket sales and the release of a subsequent DVD, but has very specific ideas about where he wants the cash to go.

"One thing we have said to Christie is we don't want it to be spent on chemotherapy," he said.

"It's going on gene therapy instead, which is a newer way of dealing with it and is based on getting your body to fight cancer naturally.

"I've seen how debilitating chemo is. A lot of people just go on chemo until they die, and we need to find a better way."

Despite the impressive line-up, the performance which has provided the most inspiration is his own - playing alongside fellow ex-Smith Johnny Marr for the first time since the band split up in 1987.

The guitarist was taking part with his band The Healers, but the pair decided to get together to do an old Smiths track.

Andy performed what he described as a "comedy version" of This Charming Man with Badly Drawn Boy recently, accompanied by a tinny organ, but this may be a slightly more emotionally-charged performance.

"I don't think I'm going to burst into tears," he said.

"But it's something I'll be looking forward to. It'll feel a bit strange on the night."

Although the collaboration has sparked rumours of a Smiths reunion, Andy is quick to dampen any speculation.

And when asked whether another ex-Smiths member currently residing in LA was invited, he simply responded with "I don't think there'd have been any point".

The band's break-up was famously acrimonious, followed several years later by a bitter court case over disputed royalties, and Andy said he only spoke to Johnny again for the first time last year.

"It all went a bit pear-shaped with the court case," he said.

"I eventually decided to track him down and try to meet up and make up.

"But The Smiths was something that happened years ago. This has got much more to do with mine and Johnny's friendship than anything else."

Manchester Versus Cancer takes place tomorrow (Saturday) at the MEN Arena.


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