Peter Kay tells Manchester Arena concertgoers to ‘move forward with love’ as emotional Noel Gallagher sheds a tear at memorial gig
NOEL Gallagher shed a tear at an emotional reopening of the Manchester Arena - as Peter Kay told the crowd at a benefit gig: "We can’t let the terrorists win."
Victims families joined thousands defiantly attending the star-studded We Are Manchester gig in memory of the 22 people killed by a suicide bomber in May.
Introducing headline act Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Peter Kay said: “We can’t let the terrorists win. We’ve got to remember the good times and let them outweigh the bad.
"The victims will never be forgotten but we have to move forward with love and not hate, and that's how we win."
The Bolton-born comedian described the last four months as "incredibly painful" before adding "that's why your here, because we can't let the terrorists win."
Noel Gallagher performed hits by his new band as well as Oasis classics.
Before performing Don't Look Back in Anger he told the crowd:"It's amazing everyone rallied around the song I'm going to play now.
"It's become some sort of anthem for defiance and every time we sing we win. So sing like you have never sung before"
The defiant mum of Manchester terror victim Olivia Campbell had said "we are not scared" as she entered the concert this evening.
Charlotte Campbell, whose 15-year-old daughter died in the blast, said: "We have had to come back to show defiance, to show we are not scared and we don't want Manchester to be scared.
"Music was Olivia's life. If she had been still here today she would have been walking through those doors with us, showing her defiance, that they may have got her but she's not beaten. She's here with us.
"It's a massive mix of emotions, there will be tears, there will be laughter, but the main thing is we are here. We have proved no one is going to beat us."
In a poignant moment Mayor Andy Burnham started the night at Manchester Arena by reading the names of the innocent concertgoers killed in the atrocity.
Poet Tony Walsh led tributes reciting This is the Place he said: "The world is watching, the world is listening and the world now knows that this is the place.
"We are beautiful, we are multi-cultural, we are Manchester, we are magnificent and we are back."
Walsh said it would be a special, emotional night before telling concertgoers to get to their feet and cheer for one minute.
There had been emotional scenes as concertgoers joined huge queues outside the arena this afternoon surrounded by armed cops forming a ring of steel.
This evening's event will raise funds for a permanent memorial to the innocent concertgoers killed in the blast.
Those attending faced additional screening and bans on backpacks, large bags and some electrical items amid tight security.
Families who lost loved ones and those injured in the suicide bombing three-months-ago were among the 14,000 crowd at the sold-out gig who were entertained by stars including Pixie Lott, Blossoms, Bugzy Malone, The Courteeners and Noel Gallagher.
Oliva Campbell's mum was at the event after revealing earlier this week she had been unable to get a ticket prompting an outcry.
"Revisiting Manchester Arena and seeing the place where my life changed for ever is something I couldn't event think about doing a few months ago.
"Nevertheless, surrounded by my family and best friends, we allowed ourselves to gain closure from the difficult visit and [it] truly showed me and Laura how lucky we were that night."
She added that life should never be taken for granted and tweeted a recommendation to others affected by the attack to revisit the arena.
Millie spent more than two weeks in hospital following the bombing and was one of more than 100 people injured - 22 died in the horrific blast.
The concert, "We Are Manchester", will pay tribute to the victims of the attack. The youngest, Saffie Roussos, was aged eight.
James Allen, the venue's general manager, said: "May's events will never be forgotten, but they will not stop us, or Mancunian music fans, from coming together to enjoy live music."
The line-up for this evening's concert was headlined Noel Gallagher, formerly of Oasis, one of the most successful bands to emerge from Manchester.
Also performing was local poet Tony Walsh, known as Longfella, who moved crowds to tears at a vigil in central Manchester the day after the attack with his poem "This Is The Place" which celebrates the spirit of the city.
Grande will not take part, having performed at a previous benefit concert, "One Love Manchester", which raised funds for victims.
The June 4 concert, which took place at a cricket ground in Manchester, also featured artists including Justin Bieber, Coldplay, Miley Cyrus and Pharrell Williams.
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