Versus Cancer

infobox music festival
music_festival_name = Versus Cancer


caption = "Breasts Check? Testicles Check?"
location = Manchester Evening News Arena
years_active = 3
founders = Tom Smetham, Stephen Chapman, Nova Rehman and Andy Rourke
dates = Annually
genre = Indie rock
website = [http://www.versuscancer.org versuscancer.org]

Versus Cancer is an annual concert, reportedly now the largest annual anti-cancer charity concert in the United Kingdom. It raises money predominantly for Cancer Hospital Christie Hospital in Manchester to assist research for effective alternative treatments but acts more as a blanket charity aiming to help fund hospitals or organisations that may require assistance. [ [http://www.versuscancer.org/funding-projects.php Funding Projects] ]

In 2005 "Manchester Versus Cancer" was founded by Andy Rourke (bass player from The Smiths), Nova Rehman his manager and long term friend, Tom Smetham a former ITV Granada Regional Television producer and Stephen Chapman a former ITV Granada Reports News journalist. It is now known as Versus Cancer.

History

Great Northern Productions

"Versus Cancer" began as Great Northern Productions Ltd. Originally formed by Andy, Tom, Stephen and Nova, "Great Northern Productions" was a production company created to film music and documentaries. Great Northern Productions was preparing to create an alternative musical buzz in the city when tragically Novas sister Nina was diagnosed with cancer.

At a Great Northern Productions meeting in a local Manchester pub, the decision was finalised to put on a small charity gig to raise some money for Christie Hospital who was treating Nina. Badly Drawn Boy agreed to play and the concept a small local gig was created.

As more bands signed up, the small gig was put to the side and a large scale concert was formulated. The Manchester Evening News Arena was the biggest venue available and one which could raise the most money. The Manchester Evening News Arena is widely known as a boxing venue where posters advertising fights would illustrate a bout between two fighters with a "Vs". The artists being from Manchester and the enemy being Cancer, the name "Manchester Vs Cancer" was born. Great Northern Productions was then split into the charity Great Northern Aid Trust and GNA Trading Ltd, the company who's function was to put the concert on.

Great Northern Aid Trust/Versus Cancer

Andy Rourke and Nova Rehman became the directors of the charity Great Northern Aid Trust and working with colleagues Tom and Stephen at GNA Trading Ltd began to get bands together using Andy’s little black book contacts.

GNA Trading Ltd

Tom Smetham and Stephen Chapman became the directors of GNA Trading Ltd. Tom was working with Tony Wilson on his annual In The City (festival) music convention and agreed the free use of his office and all facilities due to the worthiness of the cause. Once the arena was booked, GNA Trading Ltd pulled in favours from across the spectrum of the TV and Music industry in order to organise and film the event event.

Tom and Stephen left GNA Trading Ltd in late 2007 to head to where they became producers of The Tube (Radio Series) for "UK1 Productions" and broadcast on Channel 4 Radio. They still produce the televisual element of the show today. Katharine Mainprize and James Ward took on the role of GNA Trading Ltd directors. Joel Perry of Mondiale Publishing became more integral to the organisation following the 1st concert and is now production manager. He negotiated the official blessing of then Prime Minister Tony Blair (who wrote an introduction to the official programme opposite Tony Wilson.

Projects and campaigns

The money raised by "Versus Cancer" has gone towards raising funds for several different projects. Every year there is an awareness campaign aimed at young people to encourage them to check for lumps on breast and testicles. In 2008 a "check your moles" advert appeared with other billboard ads which feature in the weeks coming up to the event.

Patrons

Patrons of the charity include all three the leaders of the main political parties in the UK. Prime MInister Gordon Brown, Conservative Party leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrats leader Nick Clegg. Other patrons include Peter Hook.

Mick Rock Exhibition February 9 2006

Manchester Vs Cancer exhibited the full gallery of the prints taken by Mick Rock on the evening of the 2006 concert at Vox Pop record shop on Thomas Street in Manchester (now called Cup). The prints along with the guitars and amp signed by all the artists on the night were all aimed to be auctioned to raise money for the charity.

The event

The concert takes place near the start of the year at the Manchester Evening News Arena in Manchester UK.

First concert 28 January 2006

Shortly after New Year, New Order were announced. T-Shirts and programmes were designed and printed plus two of the guitars signed by the bands were signed by Noel Gallagher and Liam Gallagher as they couldn’t make the event.

Mick Rock was brought on board as the official photographer. A world first took place at the concert, where the audience could donate towards the charity by texting a code shown on the big arena screen between bands to download Mick’s backstage photos seconds after they were taken.

History was made during the 1st year when Johnny Marr took to the stage with Andy Rourke for the 1st time in 19 years with a perfect version of The Smiths classic "How Soon is Now?" Marr opened with "There is a Light" to the surprised crowd. Rourke dedicated "How Soon is Now?" to Nina.

New Orders performance was purely a Joy Division set and included the song "Twenty Four Hours" claiming its first live outing since the death of Joy Division front man Ian Curtis. It was their last televised performance before their split in July 2007.

Notable collaborations included Doves (band) performing "There Goes The Fear" with Johnny Marr and Guy Garvey from Elbow. Doves also played R Dean Taylors "There’s a Ghost in my House" and "Vicious" by Lou Reed sung by Bernard Sumner with Johnny Marr again on guitar.

Badly Drawn Boy began "Silent Sigh" with a verse and chorus of Madonnas Like a Virgin" and later appeared a 2nd time to perform with Doves.

808 State appeared with MC Tunes to perform "The Only Rhyme That Bites".

The finale that delivered the most unique collection of Manchester legends ever performing together on one stage. A rendition of the Happy Mondays anthem "Wrote For Luck" was performed by Shaun Ryder, Bez, Doves, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke, Wags and Badly Drawn Boy.

ArtistsDomino Bones, 808 State, Elbow, Stephen Fretwell, Nine Black Alps, Badly Drawn Boy, Johnny Marr and The Healers, Doves, New Order (as Joy Division), Finale

DJs
Mani, Graeme Park, Utah Saints, DJ Tintin

econd concert 30 March 2007

The second concert built on the success of the first with another large Manchester bill. "Manchester Vs Cancer" had been re-named "Versus Cancer". Noel Gallagher was announced as headline. The arena was a sell-out. Official photographer this time was Kevin Cummins. The Charlatans were on the bill as was Ian Brown.

Collaborations on the night included Paul Weller with The Charlatans playing "A Town Called Malice" and the John Lennon classic "Power to The People". Weller also appeared towards the end of the night with Noel Gallagher to perform "The Butterfly Collector" and Noel (whose semi-acoustic set involved a large string section) performed The Smiths "There is a Light".

There was a rare outing for David McAlmont and Bernard Butler who played The Smiths "Still Ill" and their biggest hit "Yes".

Echo & The Bunnymen were joined onstage by Peter Hook for New Order’s "Ceremony"

Ian Brown who had performed earlier returned to the stage for the finale with Mani and Rourke where they promptly tore the house down with the Stone Roses anthem "I am the Resurrection"

The final line up

Artists The Scratch, Hippy Mafia, McAlmont & Butler, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Charlatans (+ Paul Weller), Ian Brown, Noel Gallagher (+Paul Weller), Finale. [ [http://moreresults.factiva.com/results/index/index.aspx?ref=MN00000020070110e31a0000j THE Charlatans are the latest act confirmed for the Versus Cancer charity gig.] . 10 January, 2007. Manchester Evening News.]

DJ'sAndy and Jez Williams (Doves), Mani, DJ Tintin

Third concert 23 February 2008

Whereas the previous years had been predominantly Manchester orientated artists, the third year of Versus Cancer enlisted the influence of a younger musical generation. The Enemy, The View, Athlete and The Fratellis all made an appearance.

Already 2007 had been clouded by the shockingly fast demise of Tony Wilson who died only months after contracting kidney cancer. During the finale of the third concert, an image of Tony appeared on the screens to cheers from the crowd. Tom Smetham and Stephen Chapman filmed the concert through "UK 1 Productions" with former Top of The Pops producer Chris Cowey as director.

The finale was Rourke bringing Badly Drawn Boy, Peter Hook, Aziz Ibrahim, David Potts from Monaco, Denise Johnson and drummer Steve White up to perform "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I want", "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and aptly chosen for the occasion "Instant Karma".

Large inflatable testicles were released into the audience.

The final line up

ArtistsThe Sticks, The Farm, Inspiral Carpets, Athlete, The View, Fun Lovin Criminals, Happy Mondays, The Fratellis, The Enemy, Finale

DVD

All the concerts were filmed with a DVD release expected in 2008.

References

External links

* [http://www.versuscancer.org/ Official Website]
* [http://www.versuscancer.org/funding-projects.php/ Charity and Awareness Campaign]