An extremely rare Banksy art work will be on display at the Art of Banksy exhibition when it arrives in Manchester.
The piece – Leopard and Barcode – hasn’t been publicly seen for more than a decade but has been anonymously offered on loan for the occasion.
The Art of Banksy will be the world’s largest Banksy exhibition, taking shape in a 1,200 sq metre purpose-built structure in the heart of MediaCityUK and celebrating one of the world’s most renowned and influential artists.
Presented in association with HOME, it will feature 145 authenticated Banksy works from 2002 to 2017, on display in a way not possible in a museum or gallery.
The Art of Banksy exhibit is coming to Salford. Credit: artofbanksyexhibit
The Leopard and Barcode was originally sprayed onto the side of a house near Bristol, in either 1999 or 2000.
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It was almost lost forever when the house was scheduled for demolition, but a local architect swooped in and saved the piece, chiselling it off the wall.
The artwork spent years wrapped in a blanket under the architect’s spare bed, and was only displayed once in a school.
Organisers say they are delighted to include the piece in the coming Art of Banksy exhibition.
A curator said: “It’s a privilege to be able to show this rare early work.
“It comes with a fascinating story and it’s great that people will have the opportunity to see it again.”
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Leopard and Barcode will be displayed in the foyer of the exhibition, which means the public can go and see it free of charge.
Other artworks included in the exhibition include Girl With Balloon (2002) in three different colour variations, Flower Thrower (2003), Rude Copper (2002), and Brace Yourself (2010).
The Art of Banksy will show how art has the power to affect social change, inspire the public and lay bare the undercurrents of social issues.
It will be at the Piazza in MediaCityUK between 21 October 2022 and 8 January 2023.
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The exhibition has been produced by GTP Exhibitions Ltd and will be presented by The Art of Banksy Touring Ltd in association with HOME. The exhibition is not curated or authorised by Banksy.
Tickets are priced from £19.50 (concessions available) and can be booked online at artofbanksy.co.uk or over the phone, on 0343 208 1838.
Featured image: Supplied
Art & Culture
Oasis, Joy Division and New Order named as 2026 inductees into world-famous Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Emily Sergeant
It’s official – three of Manchester’s most iconic bands are joining history.
That’s because it’s been announced today that both Oasis, and Joy Division/New Order (as one act) are being inducted into the world-famous Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 cohort, which is not only a huge deal for the bands individually, but also for our city’s music legacy.
It would not be an understatement to say that these past few years have been some of the biggest in Oasis‘ career, given the fact that they played all across the world 2025 on what is one of the biggest reunion tours of all time – including five nostalgia-drenched gigs in Manchester’s Heaton Park last summer.
But despite everything they’ve done over the past three decades, this could still be one of the iconic Manchester band’s greatest achievements.
Announcing Oasis’ induction this week, a statement on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame website reads: “Oasis are one of the most successful and influential acts of all time. Exploding out of the 1990s UK music scene, they reclaimed big, brash, hook-filled rock & roll with their anthemic sound, cool swagger, expertly crafted lyrics, and electrifying live performances – eventually selling over a hundred million records.
“Their songs have become England’s go-to anthems, sung in unison by fans at sporting events and social gatherings and inspiring countless bands.”
The Gallagher brothers reunion last year was also noted by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as being one of the key reasons for their induction, proving that the band’s influence ‘remains as strong as ever’.
I wanna thank all the people who voted for us it’s a real honour ever since I was a little kid and singing in the shower I’d dream about 1 day being in the RnR hall of fame it’s true what they say anything is possible if you have a dream LG x
It’s not just celebration for Oasis, of course, as two of Manchester’s other most revered bands, Joy Division and New Order, have also been chosen as 2026 inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
A statement on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame website about Joy Division and New Order’s joint induction reads: “Joy Division and New Order were postpunk pioneers and electronic dance-floor innovators, inspiring thousands of bands and becoming a beacon for millions of listeners.
“Spearheading the late 1970s Manchester music scene, their story is a remarkable tale of revolution, metamorphosis, and influence.
“Their dark and droning transmissions ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ and ‘Blue Monday’ were foundational to both dance music and alternative rock, and they still resonate deeply with outsiders and adventurous souls.
“They were innovative musicians who created something revolutionary and massively influential – not once, but twice.”
The 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on 14 November at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
Featured Image – Jill Furmanovsky (Publicity Picture)
Art & Culture
Morrissey claims sole credit for The Smiths’ iconic Salford Lads’ Club photo shoot idea
Danny Jones
Morrissey is once again raising the issue of credit and disputes over The Smiths’ legacy, as the controversial former frontman has now claimed that their iconic photo shoot outside of Salford Lads’ Club was entirely his idea.
The 66-year-old lead singer turned solo star from Urmston is no stranger to sparking debates and attracting controversy, and it seems his latest is to do with one of the most iconic images in British music history, let alone just Greater Manchester.
The Davyhulme-born bard and divisive artist goes on to claim that the other co-founding members of the iconic Manc band initially viewed as more of his “lunacy” – the suggestion seemingly being (as it often is with Morrissey) that they simply didn’t understand the ‘genius’ at the time.
Many of his most die-hard fans still believe that most don’t and never will.
He even jokes that, in another life, it could very well have been something entirely different and random, such as the Kellogg’s factory in Trafford, basically suggesting that other members would have simply followed suit.
In his words, he argues that “now millions of people come from all over the world to be photographed on that very spot, it is claimed as a Smiths idea. It wasn’t, it isn’t, and it never shall be.”
Once again, this is by no means the first time he’s called into question, ‘who did what’ and/or who owns what bit of intellectual property; in fact, there was apparently another one of these instances with Johnny Marr only recently.
‘Moz’ and Marr have been at loggerheads pretty much ever since the group disbanded back in 1987, and still look to be far away from seeing eye to eye on virtually anything.
Daisy Jackson -
4th October 2022 
