OFFICIAL NEWS

Music legend Ian Brown put some celebrity glamour into the opening of north Manchester's latest Caribbean restaurant.Ian gave his backing to the new branch of Buzzrocks, on Moston Lane, owned by restaurateur Andy Anderson.Despite being busy promting his headline gig at Manchester's Parklife Festival next month, the singer found time to grab a plate full of jerk chicken and dumplings.

He said:
"I’ve been eating at Buzzrocks for 20 years – he’s got one in Moss Side and now he’s expanding with this shop up in Moston."So his wife asked me if I’d go and open it. I was like, ‘what an honour’, I eat there three times a week. Me sons are raised on it – first thing me sons wanna do when I see them is go to Buzzrocks."

He can get his fill of Caribbean grub now – as he’s moved back up to Manchester permanently after leaving his London home. And there’s a lot of love for his home city.

He says:

"We’ve got people from all over the world that live in Manchester, but we all get on. There’s no black or white or Asian or gay or straight or young or old, we’re all part of the Republic of Mancunia. I think we’re the most forward-looking city in the world in that attitude – more so than New York, way more so than London because people are dead tribal in London. I’ve lived in 14 addresses across Manchester and I love it all."

So predictably he’s looking forward to the huge homecoming gig at Platt Fields on June 11 alongside fellow Manchester names Bad Lieutenant, Peter Hook, The Whip, A Certain Ratio and Mike Pickering. But alas, his hectic schedule has meant a fixture clash when it comes to the World Cup.

He says:

"I’m in the next Adidas advert and Adidas invited me first class, three nights in a five star hotel in South Africa for the final. When is it? July 10. I’ve got a flippin’ show in Belgium on July 10 so I can’t do it. I could have had a first class trip to the World Cup final and I’ve had to turn it down cos I’m playing in some field in Belgium. I can’t have people buy tickets and then let ‘em down, so it’s Belgium for me."

England fans won’t be delighted to hear his predictions though...

"I think it’ll end in tears," he prophesies. "Support Brazil from the start and you’ll be alright, you’ll still be laughing in the end. D’ya know what, I’ve never really backed England in anything, I’ve gotta be honest."

But, in true Ian Brown style he admits: "Now, if it was a Republic of Mancunia team, I’d cancel the Belgium gig..."