Whether it's impromptu appearances from Manchester legends Noel Gallagher, Mani or Andy Rourke, or simply because the captivating former Stone Roses frontman is educating his followers with crazy pearls of wisdom, life is never dull. But nothing could prepare the crowd at the brand-spanking new Academy - a great venue by the way - for the drama that unfolded here.

Swaggering onto stage surprisingly early, the ever-cool Brown blasted through tracks from latest offering 'The World Is Yours' as well favourites from his 'Greatest Hits'. Yes, we all know at times his vocals are, shall we say, ropey - but does it really matter? Music purists certainly think so but the wild reactions of his loyal army, which greet King Monkey's every move, proves otherwise.

Even though Brown has carved out an impressive solo career spanning two decades since the Madchester heyday, quite a feat considering he was panned by critics as the weakest cog in the all-conquering Roses machine, many of the mop-haired, Adidas-clad crowd stand intently waiting for Roses' classics like 'Waterfall' and 'I Am The Resurrection'. Unfortunately Brown didn't get that far tonight.

Midway through 'Sister Rose' some idiot, for reasons only the brain-dead fool could tell us, decided to leap over the barrier and pull Brown off the corner of the stage. Stood in the middle of the scrum at the front it was hard to see what happened but when the singer failed to bounce back up within seconds it was obvious that something wasn't right. Perpetrator kicked out, roadie announces that the unlucky Brown has been rushed to hospital, gig over.

Well it was Friday the 13th after all.

Jonathan Jurejko