Mike Pickering, founder of legendary Manchester band M People, is not happy that one of their songs was used at the Conservative party conference.
The musician said the group were ‘very angry’ at the sight of Liz Truss walking out to their tune Moving On Up.
He also described the Tories as ‘despicable’, ‘awful people’, and ‘freaks’ in an enraged rant.
The PM chose M People’s 1993 banger as her intro music for the closing speech at the political event – though thankfully refrained from dancing, unlike her predecessor Theresa May.
Ironically, former lead singer Heather Small’s son was elected as a Labour councillor in May.
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Twitter immediately erupted, alerting Mike to the PM’s song choice.
Liz Truss walking out to M People’s Moving On Up today. Credit: ITV News
And he was very quick to set the record straight, insisting ‘no permission had been given for that’ and that they were ‘very angry’.
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He then added that he didn’t want his song to be used ‘as a soundtrack to lies’.
Mike tweeted: “So apparently we can’t stop Truss walking out to our song, very weird! So sad it got used by this shower of a government.
“BTW Truss labour used it with permission in 90’s. I don’t want my song being a soundtrack to lies.”
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He has since appeared on LBC to further tell his side of the story – and he didn’t hold back.
Mike told presenter James O’Brien: “I’m not have that woman or that party having anything to do with my music. I wouldn’t have had that.”
Liz Truss walked onstage to deliver her Conservative Party Conference speech to the sound of M People's 'Moving On Up'.@themike_p, the band's founder, tells James O'Brien why he's not happy.
He clarified that the Tories can use songs without permission – but if M People had known it was coming, they could have sent cease and desist letter to the venue itself.
He said: “We’re all in fear that these freaks are gonna use our music!
“There’s a few things really. New Labour used it all the time, with our permission, and also the lyrics – ‘you’ve done me wrong, you took a sip from the devil’s cup, move on out of here, pack your bags and leave’.
Busted at Manchester’s AO Arena — tickets, support acts, stage times and more
Danny Jones
Guys, we don’t know if you heard but Busted are back on tour— or, more accurately, back on top and they’re bringing all the hits and unparalleled energy levels to Manchester’s AO Arena for a second night in less than a week.
The Busted boys played an initial sold-out show last weekend but had to add a second Manchester date due to the massive demand and although they received rave reviews the first time around, it might as well have been a warm-up for the main event which is already shaping up to be a belter.
With some seriously good supports, another soon-to-sell-out crowd of 20,000+ and the trio now having had a ridiculously good practice run only a few days ago, Busted at the AO Arena night two is going to be insane.
That being said, here’s everything you need to know about their 20th-anniversary tour date and greatest hits show.
If you’re still scrambling around in the hope of getting a last-minute ticket to hear the likes of ‘Year 3000’ and ‘What I Go to School For’ live, you’re in luck: there’s still a very small handful of tickets to be snapped up if you’re quick enough.
There are still a few seats floating about, ranging from £42.50 to £53.50 on Ticketmaster, and you can obviously splurge on the AO Arena’s Champagne Experiences in the Electric Lounge if you fancy it.
As always, if you end up missing out you can also check out resale sites like Twickets and TicketSwap, we advise steering clear from ticket touts at all costs.
You better do one better if you’re going to night two — don’t let us down!
Support acts
Busted have brought some truly great support acts along with them this time, including 90s and 2000s US pop favourites, Hanson — remember them?
As well as the equally iconic trio, Manc pop band New Hope Club are playing the home crowd too. Go on the local lads!
Throwing together some of the era’s most iconic pop-rock together with another three-piece from the modern generation, you’re getting a proper value-for-money and for-all-ages show this Saturday.
As for when you can expect to see each of these fantastic acts take the stage, doors will open from 6pm and New Hope Club will be getting things started at 7:30pm.
Finishing a quickfire set just a few minutes before Hanson, the American throwback best-known for ‘MMMBop’ with be playing from 8pm until 8:30pm — and you might even have a surprise in store. We’re saying nothing else…
Then, at 9pm, the main event gets underway with Busted set to play up until curfew around 11pm and we literally can’t wait.
20th Anniversary and Greatest Hits setlist
Thanks to the ever-reliable Setlist.fm (and the fact we already had multiple members of The Manc office go along to the first night), we even know what they’ll be playing:
Air Hostess
Meet You There
Loser Kid
You Said No
Everything I Knew
MMMBop (Hanson cover)
Sleeping With the Light On
Good One
What I Go to School For
Who’s David
Falling for You
Thunderbirds Are Go
She Wants to Be Me
3am
Crashed the Wedding
Encore
Video (Brit Awards 2004)
Teenage Kicks (The Undertones cover)
Interlude
Year 3000
All the hits — what more could you ask for? Oh yeah, and did we mention they’re number one!?
Featured Image — Busted/@chazzadnitt (via Instagram)
Music
Take That ticket prices labelled ‘crazy’ as band add fifth Manchester date
Daisy Jackson
Take That have added a fifth date to their run at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena, but fans have expressed disappointment at the ticket prices.
The beloved Manchester boyband, consisting of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen, will be performing at the brand-new venue in May 2024.
Although general sale on Take That tickets doesn’t begin until 9.30am on Friday 29 September, the pre-sales that have been happening this week have been flooded with people trying to grab tickets.
The demand has been so high, pre-sales for all five Co-op Live dates have already sold out.
And those who got to join the virtual queues first were quick to kick off at the ‘ridiculously expensive’ tickets for Take That’s This Life On Tour tour.
One person wrote (and I don’t know why she’s directly targeting Gary Barlow here): “Wow, @GaryBarlow the price of the Take That tickets are totally out of reach for a lot of us this time round . Two tickets approx £490, that’s a food shop for 5 weeks . Enjoy the profits.”
Another person said: “You know what @takethat you don’t need to charge a bloody fortune for the tickets, you’ve got enough cash yourselves and not every artist does it. I went to see Paolo at the Hydro 3 times for the price of 1 ⫩ ticket Ripping off your fans! Tickets are 4 times the price of 2015.”
Someone else said: “Prices are crazy…first time in 30 years that I’m not even trying for tickets.”
Another person commented: “Prices are ridiculously expensive, I got through to buy tickets for Birmingham but refused to pay £70 to sit at the very back of the arena.”
Take That ticket prices for Manchester
Take That Premium Floor Seat Package (includes a gift, a limited-edition city-specific signed print, a souvenir laminate, and an exclusive VIP tote bag) – £242.70 including booking fees.
Take That Premium Tiered Seat Package (includes a gift, a limited-edition city-specific signed print, a souvenir laminate, and an exclusive VIP tote bag) – £242.70 including booking fees.
Seats – £129.50
Seats – £107.50
Seats – £91.00
Seats – £69.00
Take That will be taking to the stage at Co-op Live on 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 May 2024 as part of the ‘This Life On Tour’ tour.
The trio will be joined by Olly Murs as the support act in Manchester.
General sale tickets for Take That are available through Co-op Live from 9:30am on Friday 29 September, and you can grab them here.
Daisy Jackson -
5th October 2022 
