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Fans stunned as rock royalty Alice Cooper buys Johnny Depp a present in Afflecks

'A little surreal' is an understatement.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 11th July 2023

Fans and traders alike have been left delighted after actual Alice Cooper popped in to Manchester’s landmark shopping emporium, Afflecks.

The rock legend visited the eccentric retail destination to buy a present for his friend and bandmate, Hollywood actor Johnny Depp.

Alice Cooper was seen browsing at Modern Streets Apparel with his wife Sheryl Goddard and photographer Kyler Clark.

The stars were in Manchester with their band Hollywood Vampires, who performed at the AO Arena on Saturday night.

The shop’s owner Jack Parkinson said that Cooper dropped just over £100 on t-shirts that featured a group of skeletons around a coffin shape.

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In a video shared by the shop, the rock icon says: “It’s for Johnny Depp. Is he a large?”

To which Jack responds: “Don’t ask me!”

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Jack then starts printing the t-shirts, emblazoned with the slogan ‘All my friends are dead’.

He wrote: “Alice Cooper coming into the shop to buy a t-shirt for Johnny Depp was a little surreal yesterday. Had a good chat and he grabbed photos with fans, what a rock legend.”

Modern Street Apparel specialises in punk-inspired t-shirts and accessories that are hand-printed to order, in store.

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Fans have been expressing their excitement over the shopping trip since the video was circulated online.

One video shared from inside Afflecks shows a fan literally dropping to his knees to worship at Cooper’s feet – a totally valid reaction, to be honest.

The pair then share a hug, before the fan gets on his knees and asks Cooper to bless him.

They wrote: “One of the greatest days of my life that I got to be blessed by his majesty @alicecooper and the universe enlightened my path by his presence got taken to goth and rock heaven.”

One person wrote: “I think I would’ve just fainted and ceased to exist.”

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Another said: “How did you not squeal like a girl! I would not be cool.”

Someone else wrote: “I bet that has been the most surreal experience of your life. Amazing dude!”

And another comment said: “That is insane!!!! Love it. I’m going to be stalking photos of Johnny Depo now waiting for him to wear the shirt.”

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Featured image: Instagram, @modern.streets.apparel

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Co-op Live boss issues statement as troubled Manchester venue takes ‘a short pause’

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The boss of Co-op Live has issued a statement after the venue was hit with further delays. Credit: The Manc Group

The top dog at Co-op Live has issued a statement addressing the immediate future of the venue, which last night announced more high-profile event changes.

The enormous new arena out by the Etihad Stadium confirmed that Take That – who were lined up to play a whopping SEVEN shows at Co-op Live – would be moving their five May gigs across to established venue the AO Arena.

It follows the postponement of Olivia Rodrigo (Friday and Saturday), Keane (Sunday) and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie (called off on Wednesday with fans already queueing outside) – not to mention Peter Kay and The Black Keys.

The Co-op Live has now said it will be taking ‘a short pause’ from events while it works to make the state-of-the-art space safe and secure for fans and artists.

Details of all the rescheduled shows, new dates and venue changes are towards the end of this article.

An independent inspection of the arena ceiling will be taking place in the next fortnight.

Earlier this week, part of an air conditioning unit fell from the ductwork in the ceiling of the bowl during A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie’s soundcheck, thankfully before any fans had entered the building.

The venue has apologised again, saying ‘we are aware our actions have frustrated and angered ticket holders’.

Take That is one of the acts affected by Co-op Live's delayed opening
Take That is one of the acts affected by Co-op Live’s delayed opening
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie moves Manchester gig from Co-op Live to AO Arena after cancellation
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie moves Manchester gig from Co-op Live to AO Arena after cancellation

In a statement it also said that the ‘significant impact’ on fans would be addressed and recognised, at the request of naming rights partner The Co-op Group – details on what that will look like will follow.

Tim Leiweke, Chairman and CEO of Oak View Group (which owns and operates Co-op Live), has now also released a statement offering his ‘sincere apologies’.

He said: “As many of you will know, it’s not been the smooth start we had planned for, and I know that has caused a huge amount of disruption and frustration to thousands of people.

“On behalf of all of us at Oak View Group, I’d like to express my sincere apologies to all those that have been affected. We understand that there is work to be done to rebuild your trust in us.

“This starts now and at the request of the naming rights partner, The Co-op Group, we will be addressing impact on affected ticket holders, details of which will be shared soon.

“I’d like to reiterate my sincerest apologies to everyone that has been affected by the delays around the opening of Co-op Live.

“The team here is working incredibly hard to get the building up and running, and we look forward to welcoming you to the arena from 14 May 2024.”

Co-op Live’s full statement reads: “Ticket holders and fans. Following the events that led to the cancelled A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie show on 1 May, we have decided to take a short pause to events at Co-op Live to fully ensure the safety and security of fans and artists visiting the venue.

“This time will allow for an independent inspection of all elements of the arena ceiling.

“We have worked with promoters to limit the impact on fans, keeping as many shows as possible in Manchester.”

As for the rest of Co-op Live’s opening gig programme (the next scheduled show is Elbow on 14 May), it continued: “At this time, we do not expect further impact on our opening season.

“We are aware our actions have frustrated and angered ticket holders.

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“We know you’ve incurred significant disruption, and are finding a way to help make it right.

“We are taking the pause to think about the best ways to do that.

“Our naming rights partner, the Co-op Group, has also expressed the importance of ensuring that the significant impact on ticketholders is recognised and addressed, with more detail to follow soon.”

New dates and venue changes for Co-op Live’s rescheduled gigs

  • Peter Kay – original dates 23 and 24 April. Rescheduled dates 29 and 30 April. NEW DATES 23 and 24 May.
  • The Black Keys – original date 27 April. New date 15 May 2024.
  • A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie – original date 1 May – new date 4 May and venue change to AO Arena.
  • Olivia Rodrigo – original dates 3 and 4 May – new dates to be announced.
  • Keane – original date 5 May – new dates to be announced.
  • Take That – original dates 7, 10, 11, 12 May – venue change to AO Arena.
  • Take That – original date 8 May – new date 9 May and venue change to AO Arena.

Take That’s June dates remain unaffected.

Ticket holders for each event will be contacted by their point of purchase, and refunds will be available if preferred.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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Manchester’s AO Arena scoops up Take That gigs as Keane’s Co-op Live gig is cancelled in ongoing venue saga

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Take That gigs moved to AO Arena as Keane's Co-op Live are cancelled

Manchester’s existing arena, the AO Arena, has stepped in to host more concerts that have been postponed by Co-op Live, with yet another act being rescheduled too.

First it was announced earlier today that A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie would be moving to the AO Arena, and now Take That’s five-night run that was set for the Co-op Live this May has also had a venue change.

Their two June dates at the new arena are said to be unaffected.

The Co-op Live‘s official opening has been hit with several delays, with events like Peter Kay’s double bill, Olivia Rodrigo and The Black Keys all already postponed over the last week or so.

Issuing a statement after rescuing multiple Take That shows, AO Arena general manager Jen Mitchell, said: “It wouldn’t be a Take That tour without a stop-off in Manchester, so it’s great to welcome the band and their fans back to AO Arena for five nights, in the heart of this wonderful city.”

The venue has naturally welcomed the sudden flood of extra names being added to its already strong lineup for 2024, doing its best to minimise inconvenience for gig-goers who have made travel arrangements, booked hotels etc.

As for the group themselves, they also responded to their tens of thousands of fans expecting to see them from this weekend onwards.

Confessing that they’ve had to make ‘the difficult decision’ to switch venues and although ‘it’s not one [they’ve taken lightly], they wanted to give fans as much notice as possible’, adding: “We thank you for your understanding and we’ll see you all soon”.

Meanwhile, Noughties favourites Keane have sadly had to shelve their Manchester show for the foreseeable following the venue’s continuing ‘technical issues’.

Announcing the news on their social pages on Thursday evening, they admitted that they were ‘absolutely gutted’ but that the decision was ‘entirely beyond our control’.

Take That’s full statement reads: “Given the ongoing technical issues around the opening of Co-Op Live we have taken the difficult decision to move our May shows to the AO Arena where we have enjoyed many great nights over the years.

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but we wanted to give our fans as much notice as possible.

“We’re mindful many of you will already have travel and accommodation plans in place, so we have chosen this option to minimise inconvenience to as many people as possible. Our dates in June in Manchester remain unaffected.

“All bookings will be transferred to the new venue as below and, except for Wednesday 8th May, we are pleased to say that all the dates remain the same.”

Notably, the huge new venue by the Etihad Stadium had to turn away fans who were already queueing for A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie on Monday 1 May, after part of an air conditioning unit fell from the ceiling onto a (thankfully) empty arena floor.

Question marks had already been hanging over whether some upcoming gigs would be able to go ahead and now it seems that they will be taking place – just not at the Co-op Live…

Manchester’s decades-old AO Arena, the largest indoor venue in the UK (until the Co-op Live opens), will be welcoming A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and Take That instead.

It’s an interesting twist when so many people having been pitting the two venues against one another over the last weeks and months.

Co-op Live recap – cancelled shows, rescheduled dates, and more from chaotic opening night

Read more:

Featured Images — The Manc Group/Press Images

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