Ex-Stone Roses singer Ian Brown and cad-for-hire Liam Gallagher will join Freebass – a bass guitar – œsuper-group’ consisting of Andy Rourke (ex-Smiths), Peter Hook (New Order) and Gary – œMani’ Mounfield (Primal Scream) – for the Manchester Versus Cancer charity concert.

The fundraising gig takes place at Manchester’s MEN Arena on 23 February, and also features the un-shabby talents of The Verve, Happy Mondays and Inspiral Carpets.

“This year’s show is going to be talked about for years to come,” Andy Rourke predicted. “We’ve got some of the biggest bands of the moment lined up, as well as some legendary acts.”

If nothing else, the concert might answer that niggling question: were Ian Brown and Liam Gallagher really separated at birth?

Interestingly, Freebass is expected to also perform at various UK festivals this year, including Glastonbury and V. Maybe we’ll see them in Australia some time? Just don’t let Hooky near the decks!