141:(bass player from The Smiths), Nova Rehman his ex-manager, Tom Smetham a former ITV Granada Television producer and Stephen Chapman a former ITV News journalist. It is now known as Versus Cancer. It was set up as a response by Andy and Nova to Nova's Sister Nina and his Father Sheik Abdur both being diagnosed with bowel cancer and the first two concerts were initially funded by Nova. Sadly they both succumbed to the disease.
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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 involved with the organisation following the first concert and worked closely
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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) and was very much driven by Tom Smetham. The prints along with the guitars and amp signed by all the artists on
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Playing to a smaller crowd than expected due to lower ticket sales perhaps due in part to Snow Patrol performing two last minute shows in
Manchester three weeks prior to the event and withholding permission to use the band's name for promotional purposes, until their own shows had been completed.
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In 2007 shortly after the concert, Tom and
Stephen left Versus Cancer to pursue other projects. Nova, in a departure from his long-time work in the music industry is currently working with green investment funds and creating bespoke products for the energy industry, two fintech payment processing
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agreed to play and the concept of a small local gig was created. It was at Peter Hook's insistence that Nova write a letter to New Order which was read out at a band meeting which crystallised the event into what it became. It was New Order's stamp of approval that gave momentum to the event.
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Versus Cancer have been prominent in DJ/House parties promoting the event. The night after the 2007 show, 2 clubs held sponsored DJ nights, with 808 State playing at club Po Na Na, Charles Street, Manchester; and DJ Lowrider playing at the Night & Day club, Oldham Street, Manchester.
821:"Thanks Pranks and Party Pants"..23 May at the Ritz in Manchester was actually Nova's Birthday party, with proceeds going to the Charity. Performers included Echo and the Bunnymen, a reformed Chameleons with Aziz Ibrahim and Andy Rourke, Badly Drawn Boy, Frazer King and others.
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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.
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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.
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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 to raise awareness of the disease. Later it was agreed that [Christie Hospital would become a major beneficiary.
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In 2009 Andy Rourke quit his band project with Mani and Peter Hook called
Freebass and moved to New York. Tom Smetham now lives in Los Angeles as a producer and Stephen Chapman developed new regional projects working with large NW based companies.
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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
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It has been reported that the
Charity will some years off from live work whilst working on a new formula for fundraising and execution of new joint venture projects aimed at prevention of cancer through various media.
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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 of contacts.
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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
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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
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Despite most ofl the Versus Cancer concerts being filmed, only the Scottish show has been broadcast. Speculation of a DVD has been in the pipeline for years but no material being shown to date.
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were both scheduled to play but had to pull out, for family illness and scheduling difficulties, respectively. Nova's father also lost his battle against bowel cancer days before this concert.
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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 Sticks,
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and documentaries. Great Northern Productions was preparing to create an alternative musical buzz in the city when tragically Nova's sister Nina was diagnosed with cancer.
204:" was born. Great Northern Productions was then split into the charity Great Northern Aid Trust and GNA Trading Ltd, the company whose function was to put the concert on.
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to assist research for effective alternative treatments but acted more as a blanket charity aiming to help fund hospitals or organisations that may require assistance.
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to perform "The Butterfly Collector" and Noel (whose semi-acoustic set involved a large string section) performed The Smiths' "There is a Light that Never Goes Out".
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With most of the original staff having moved on to other projects it is not expected that Versus Cancer will regain its original momentum.
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The finale delivered the most unusual collection of Manchester legends ever performing together on one stage. A rendition of the
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were announced. T-shirts and programmes were designed and printed plus two of the guitars signed by the bands were signed by
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by Truth Creative (a Manchester-based Brand Consultancy) to open it up to a wider audience and increase global appeal.
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set and included the song "Twenty Four Hours," claiming its first live outing since the death of Joy Division frontman
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on elements of the second show with Dave Lawrence, the production manager. He negotiated the official blessing of then
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and Bernard Butler who played Butler's biggest hit, "Yes", as a duet with Denise Johnson and The Smiths' "Still Ill".
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concert with the Halle Orchestra and Youth choir for the Manchester International Festival performed exciting sets.
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A 2008 concert took place in Scotland on Friday 28 November 2008. It was originally due to take place at the
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the night were all auctioned to raise money for the charity at a gala dinner in 2008 based at the MEN arena.
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Tom Smetham and Stephen Chapman became the directors of GNA Trading Ltd. Tom was working with his friend
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As more bands signed up, the small gig was put to the side and a large scale concert was formulated. The
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New Order became the first band to confirm the show..swiftly followed by Johnny Marr and then Doves.
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took to the stage with Rourke for the first time in nineteen years with an acclaimed version of
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from Elbow. Doves also played R Dean Taylor's "There's a Ghost in My House" and "Vicious" by
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advert appeared with other billboard ads which feature in the weeks coming up to the event.
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was announced as headline, the arena was a sell-out. Official photographer this time was
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The second concert built on the success of the first with another large Manchester bill.
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THE Charlatans are the latest act confirmed for the Versus Cancer charity gig.
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was the biggest venue available and one which could raise the most money. The
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The decision to still hold the event was apparently not an easy one although
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who had performed earlier returned to the stage for the finale with
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Already 2007 had been clouded by the shockingly fast demise of
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with former Top of The Pops producer Chris Cowey as director.
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were joined onstage by Peter Hook for New Order's "Ceremony".
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and Rourke where they promptly tore the house down with
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companies, a technology incubator and a funding entity.
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552:. The Charlatans were on the bill as was Ian Brown.
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722:", which was aptly chosen for the occasion.
376:History was made during the first year when
936:. 10 January 2007. Manchester Evening News.
292:Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
1033:Learn how and when to remove this message
457:anthem "Wrote For Luck" was performed by
450:to perform "The Only Rhyme That Bites".
16:2006–2009 British annual charity concert
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1077:Music festivals in Greater Manchester
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394:There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
338:The main concert takes place at the
325:Mick Rock Exhibition 9 February 2006
176:was a production company created to
567:", "Can't Get Out of Bed" and the
366:as they could not make the event.
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606:anthem "I am the Resurrection" .
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909:Christie Hospital Press Release
769:Fourth Concert 12 December 2009
690:The finale was Rourke bringing
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655:Third concert 23 February 2008
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350:First concert 28 January 2006
340:Manchester Evening News Arena
198:Manchester Evening News Arena
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69:Manchester Evening News Arena
817:Other Versus Cancer concerts
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550:Kevin Cummins (photographer)
532:Second concert 30 March 2007
354:Shortly after the new year,
710:up to perform The Smiths' "
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165:Great Northern Productions
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878:held an event featuring
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637:(+Paul Weller), Finale.
297:. Other patrons include
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716:Love Will Tear Us Apart
643:Andy and Jez Williams (
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241:The Tube (Radio Series)
28:Infobox recurring event
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33:considered for merging
718:" and John Lennon's "
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426:with Marr on guitar.
967:improve this article
538:Manchester Vs Cancer
267:The money raised by
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751:Fun Lovin Criminals
714:", Joy Division's "
573:Power to the People
388:" Marr opened with
565:Town Called Malice
273:"check your moles"
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569:John Lennon
557:Paul Weller
526:Utah Saints
522:Graeme Park
497:Johnny Marr
459:Shaun Ryder
384:' classic "
378:Johnny Marr
315:Rob Hallett
257:Tony Wilson
233:In the City
229:Tony Wilson
213:Andy Rourke
139:Andy Rourke
88:Andy Rourke
65:Location(s)
22:‹ The
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1023:March 2008
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898:References
862:DJ Parties
696:Peter Hook
511:), Finale
467:Peter Hook
422:, sung by
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631:Ian Brown
596:Ian Brown
571:classic "
563:playing "
505:New Order
477:808 State
444:808 State
370:Mick Rock
356:New Order
334:The event
78:2006-2009
31:is being
832:because
747:The View
735:The Farm
665:The View
448:MC Tunes
420:Lou Reed
133:In 2005
83:Founders
60:Annually
35:. ›
24:template
1007:scholar
888:Example
876:Embrace
849:Artists
743:Athlete
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615:Artists
473:Artists
434:Madonna
279:Patrons
160:History
116:concert
94:Website
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857:Travis
855:, and
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880:Dodgy
803:Elbow
783:James
645:Doves
559:with
501:Doves
481:Elbow
412:Doves
321:ITB.
57:Dates
47:Genre
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671:and
649:Mani
641:DJ's
600:Mani
518:Mani
507:(as
436:'s "
362:and
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103:.org
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874:of
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