Fans at a gig in Sheffield were left open-mouthed on Sunday night after they looked up to see that none other than Johnny Depp had appeared on stage.
Depp, who has recently been embroiled in a very public defamation trial with his ex-wife Amber Heard, shocked and delighted music fans when he made a surprise appearance alongside his close friend Jeff Beck in the city over the weekend.
Seemingly out of nowhere, the Pirates of the Caribbean actor emerged alongside Beck, electric guitar in hand, to rock out on stage just days after the closing arguments were heard in his trial
The 58-year-old actor – who has been keeping a low profile throughout the court case – appeared triumphantly alongside his good friend Jeff Beck during a concert held on Sunday night, reports The Sheff.
The pair proceeded to rock out to their 2020 hit ‘Isolation’ – a remake of John Lennon’s original hit, first released in the 1970s – with Depp delivering a funky electric guitar solo, before performing renditions of Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Little Wing’ and Marvin Gaye’s classic ‘What’s Going On.’
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Fans erupted online with excitement at seeing Depp take to the stage with his guitar and close friend, just days after the closing arguments were heard in his highly publicised court case with his ex-wife, Amber Heard.
Sharing a picture of the gig on Instagram, one person wrote ‘Wasn’t expecting this, I thought he was in court but turns out he’s in Sheffield with Jeff Beck.’
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Before becoming a famous actor, Depp had begun his career as a musician. His mother gave him his first guitar aged 12, at which point he began playing in various bands.
Image: @salveogvm/Twitter
He later dropped out of high school, aged 16, to become a rock musician. before ultimately making it in Hollywood as a famous actor eight years later, when his career was launched by his role as a teen heartthrob in 21 Jump Street.
Despite his success as an actor he has continued to pursue his music and, alongside Alice Cooper and Joe Perry, went on to form the supergroup Hollywood Vampires in 2015.
Depp has kept a low profile throughout his court cart with his ex-wife, reportedly going to stay at Joshua Tree due to the ‘stress’ of it, so it came as a shock to many to see him taking to the stage …and in Sheffield, of all places.’
He is currently suing Amber Heard for Defamation after she wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post about her experiences with Domestic Abuse in 2018.
The court case has been live-streamed throughout its procedures, leading to huge amounts of media coverage and fan speculation.
Both parties lawyers made their closing arguments on May 24 and the jury has since been sent away to deliberate. They are expected to return to continue discussions on Tuesday, May 31.
Feature image – @salveogvm/Twitter
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The View, Brooke Combe, Corella and more join the Neighbourhood Weekender 2023 lineup
Danny Jones
More acts have joined the Neighbourhood Weekender lineup for 2023 and as well as some big names, it looks like there’s going to be even more Manc music on show this year. You love to see it.
Neighbourhood 2023 is already shaping up to be an absolute belter with the likes of Pulp, The Kooks, Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbot, The Wombats, Anne Marie and countless other huge others already announced for this year.
But if there’s one thing we know about the Warrington weekender it’s that there are always more surprises down the line, right up until the last minute, and to whet your appetite for the festival favourite.
The latest from the organisers is that several new artists are now joining the NBHD lineup, such as Scottish stars and veritable indie veteran The View, fellow compatriot Brooke Combe (one of the most exciting new soloists we’ve heard in a long time), The Goa Express from Burnley and 14 other acts.
One of the names we’re most excited to see playing on the Sunday are local lads, Corella. Named after an indigenous Australian bird, the rock and indie quarter are former BIMM students who are quickly becoming one of the most talked-about groups in the city.
The Manc musicians went on to survive lockdown together, writing new tunes and even hosting virtual live gigs called ‘Club Corella’ every weekend throughout the pandemic. God, we don’t half love this kind of graft, especially in hard times. Well in, lads.
Since then, they’ve gone from strength to strength and now, fresh from their sellout gig at Gorilla — which they hailed as “a dream come true” and a “moment we will never forget” — they’ll be following it up with a full Weekender slot in just a couple month’s time.
If their performance at Gorilla and at last year’s Neighbourhood Festival in the city is anything to go by, they’re going to absolutely smash it.
Neighbourhood Weekender 2023’s lineup is sounding more and more like it could go down as a year you don’t want to miss.
The weekend of gigs kicks at the beautiful Victoria Park in Warrington on 27 May and last until the following Sunday. However, to make things even better there’s also going to be a massive warm-up show featuring The Stone Roses’ Ian Brown, Happy Mondays and more.
Featured Image — The View (via Twitter)/Corella/Brooke Combe(via Instagram)
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Busted announce huge 20th anniversary arena tour, including Manchester date
Daisy Jackson
Busted have announced a huge new arena tour to celebrate their 20th anniversary and greatest hits.
The comeback tour was finally announced this morning after the trio had teased some big news yesterday, sending their fans into a tailspin.
Busted’s new tour will take them across the UK this September, including a night at the AO Arena on 24 September to wrap up the run of shows.
The group, consisting of James Bourne, Matt Willis and Charlie Simpson, formed back in 2000 and dominated the charts with songs like Year 3000, Air Hostess, and What I Go To School For.
They released two studio albums before splitting in 2005 when drummer Charlie left to focus on rock band Fightstar.
And although Busted did return with two more albums (Night Driver and Halfway There), this latest arena tour announcement has sent fans wild.
Joining Busted on the 20th Anniversary and Greatest Hits Tour will be fellow boyband royalty Hanson, as well as New Hope Club and The Tyne.
The boys will also release a 15-track album featuring new recordings of their biggest hits, including a new version of Loser Kid with Simple Plan.
In a nostalgic video trailer released this morning, Charlie said: “It’s about celebrating what Busted meant to the fans and it’s about us being able to go out and share that experience with them.”
Busted. Credit: Publicity photo
Frontman Matt added: “I think at the end of the day we just wanna go out and play really f**king cool shows. That’s what I really wanna do.”
Reacting to the announcement, one person wrote: “Not to be dramatic but I’ve waited my whole bloody life for this.”
Another said: “Heart palpitations obsessed as a 8 year old, cried to my local radio when you broke up now 27 with three kids down the line still obsessed still tempted to ring the local radio crying.”
Tickets will go on sale on Friday 31 March.
Busted 20th Anniversary and Greatest Hits tour dates
September 2 – Plymouth, Pavilions September 3 – Cardiff, International Arena September 5 – Swansea, Arena September 6 – Bournemouth, BIC September 7 – Brighton, Centre September 9 – Birmingham, Utilita Arena September 10 – London, The O2 September 12 – Bridlington, Spa September 15 – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena September 16 – Newcastle, Utilita Arena September 17 – Leeds, First Direct Arena September 19 – Aberdeen, P&J Live September 20 – Glasgow, OVO Hydro September 22 – Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena September 24 – Manchester, AO Arena
Georgina Pellant -
30th May 2022 
